Revere High School’s (RHS) Active Minds and Save Promise clubs collaborated and made the “Just Say ‘Hello’” week in order to promote mental wellness within the school.

Active Minds, advised by Emily Rion, a guidance counselor at RHS, and Save Promise, led by Bonnie Simonelli, the at-risk student coordinator, kicked off the school year with “Just Say ‘Hello” in the week of September 15 through September 19. “Just Say ‘Hello’” was a newer project for both the clubs that was meant to encourage people to interact with their peers at school.

“It’s a great way to kind of see those kids who are isolating themselves,” Simonelli said.

Ben Jancha, the student adviser of Active Minds, shared similar thoughts on how important saying “hello” can be.

When you say hello to someone new or someone who’s struggling, “that can make lasting friendships. It can save someone’s life, even,” Jancha said.

Near the cafeteria, Active Minds hung a sign spelling “ello,” voiding the ‘H.’ The idea was to have two students shake hands to form the ‘H,’ representing the unity that comes from saying hello. Save Promise had people wear green on Wednesday the 17.

“Every day there’s [going to] be some little activity that goes on,” Simonelli said.

“Just Say ‘Hello’” was also an opportunity to further draw attention to RHS’s see something, say something policy.

Simonelli said, “If [students] say something and bring it to us, we’ll take care of it.” Though this is always the case, the clubs made sure that the message came across effectively.

Active Minds and Save Promise collaborated for the first time with “Just Say ‘Hello.’” Both clubs share similar goals to create a safe space within the school and promote mental health awareness.

Rion said that Active Minds was made for “reducing the stigma of mental health through education and awareness.” Save Promise focuses on this as well as the “inclusion of other students,” Simonelli said.

Despite their shared goals, Active Minds and Save Promise had interacted very little before this.

In fact, Jancha said, “We hadn’t found out about [Save Promise] until about a week ago.”

Active Minds’ and Save Promise’s new collaboration aimed to promote mental health awareness and celebrate togetherness.