HOWELL — A group of 400 students and staff members at the Newbury School gathered on the soccer field and linked pinkies recently to raise awareness about the importance of having an annual mammogram.
The Newbury School and other schools in the Howell K-8 School District celebrated Pink Out Day on May 27 to encourage women to schedule an annual mammogram.
It was part of Howell’s participation in the Paint the Town Pink initiative.
During May, women are encouraged to have a mammogram and to make a donation through Meridian Health’s pink donation banks. The donations allow women who cannot afford to have a mammogram to receive one, according to the Paint the Town Pink website.
Pupils from Noreen Omelczuk’s fourth-grade class were among the youngsters who took part in the “Pinky Promise Chain” at the Newbury School.
“The chain did not only consist of students, but staff joined in, as well. The symbolism of linking pinkies was to make a pinky promise to get a cancer screening,” Omelczuk said.
“Each school was able to come up with its own idea to celebrate Paint the Town Pink, so at Newbury the teachers formed a committee and thought of making this chain,” she added.
Principal James Quinn was surprised to find that the Newbury pupils decorated his car with pink ribbons and pink streamers to emphasize the importance of the district’s Pink Out Day.
“The kids thought it was cool to have the opportunity to put on this surprise for their principal and they had fun with the pink chalk they were given to decorate the school,” Omelczuk said.
She said Pink Out Day allowed the pupils to understand more about the importance of breast cancer detection.
“It really encouraged these students to tell their moms, grandmothers and loved ones to get a cancer screening. It is important for children to also understand the term mammogram and to know the importance of it,” Omelczuk said.