Memorial students celebrate P.S. I Love You Day

Students and staff at Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School took part in the twelfth annual P.S. I Love You Day on February 11. Created in honor of Brooke DiPalma’s late father, a retired NYPD officer who took his own life when she was 14 years old, the day spotlights mental health awareness while promoting kindness. This year’s theme was “One Step at a Time.”

Members of Memorial’s Believe in the Rights and Values of Everyone (BRAVE) Club began preparations for the day in January through a video conference with DiPama. DiPalma shared the tragic origins behind the special day and its uplifting mission to spread kindness and support others. Students then shared their plans for this year’s event.

When the special day arrived, the school was washed in a sea of purple with students and staff wearing purple shirts, the lobby and halls strewn with purple signs and streamers, and all students were handed a purple ribbon and a card explaining the significance of the day as they entered the building. Members of the BRAVE club also placed a positive message on each classroom door in the building to greet students and staff and put a smile on their faces. As an added bonus, members made tie-dye purple face masks to help Memorial celebrate.