Garden City schools teach the power of words through the E Pledge and character work
Garden City’s Stratford and Homestead schools are incorporating elements of the E Pledge into their kindness initiatives and character education programs. The E Pledge, created in honor of Ethan Falkowitz, is a commitment where students and staff promised to complete 100 small acts of kindness in 100 days. This initiative aims to foster a more compassionate and inclusive environment while encouraging students to work together to make a meaningful difference.
Stratford students “signed” the E Pledge by committing to actions that Ethan lived by: displaying integrity, spreading kindness, and being responsible and compassionate. The students decorated cut outs of the letter E and displayed them throughout the building and classrooms.
“The E Pledge has been a powerful and meaningful experience for our students,” said Mr. Chris Hartigan, principal of Stratford School. “By integrating its mission with our Stratford pillars of character, students have found a strong sense of purpose in their character work. They have enjoyed learning about the impacts of their actions alongside Ethan’s compassion and kindness.”
At Homestead School, students were introduced to the E Pledge and kindness initiatives in a developmentally appropriate way by their social worker, Mrs. Martinez. Since November, the Homestead community has embraced a spirit of generosity and compassion, participating in various activities such as filling gratitude jars, collecting food and toys for donation drives, singing to elderly residents at a retirement home and creating compliment cards and Valentine's for Veterans. Additionally, students have been gathering used, broken and unwanted crayons to be recycled, supporting their Girl Scouts in earning their Silver Awards. The school is decorated with heart-shaped decorations displayed on courtyard windows, each one representing an act of kindness shared among students.
This year, Homestead School concluded their E Pledge of Kindness’ 100 Days of Kindness with their Random Acts of Kindness Week. As a celebration of the students’ commitment to kindness, they counted all the kindness hearts collected throughout the initiative, demonstrating their responsibility, respect, citizenship and perseverance.
“We are proud that all Homestead students continue to live out our Pledge of Kindness daily,” said Principal Dr. Suzanne Viscovich. “We are honored that our students are participating in the E-Pledge of Kindness— a meaningful initiative inspired by the legacy of Ethan Falkowitz— and a program that encourages students to commit to positive actions and values such as the ones that are our Homestead Expectations: responsibility, respect, citizenship, perseverance.”
Through the E Pledge, students at Homestead and Stratford schools are not only learning valuable lessons in kindness and character but are also carrying forward Ethan Falkowitz’s legacy of compassion by creating a positive and supportive community.
