Baldwin Union Free School District Celebrates P.S. I Love You Day

The schools across the Baldwin Union Free School District celebrated P.S. I Love You Day, an annual awareness initiative observed on the second Friday of February. Organized by the Long Island-based nonprofit P.S. I Love You Day, Inc., the special day encourages wearing purple to oppose bullying and promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The local organization hopes P.S. I Love You Day serves as a poignant reminder in schools that everyone is special, loved, and never alone.

This year's theme, “Be the Light,” draws inspiration from Long Island’s iconic lighthouses, symbolizing the beacons in the darkness. Students and staff are encouraged to reach out, listen, and be present for those who may feel isolated.

At Baldwin Middle School, students participated in a “spirit week” to promote unity and positivity: Monday featured green attire for mental health awareness; Tuesday’s blue and gold represented teamwork; Wednesday involved wearing clothes with positive messages; and Thursday promoted the “Be the Light” theme through neon or bright colors. The week concluded on Friday, February 13—this year’s official P.S. I Love You Day—with students wearing purple in solidarity. During their Community Circles, the middle school students also crafted individual purple hearts with affirmations for one another to read.

“At Baldwin Middle School, P.S. I Love You Day is more than wearing purple. It is a reminder that every word we speak, and every action we take has the power to lift someone up,” explained Dr. Erica D. Taylor, principal of Baldwin Middle School. “When we choose kindness, write messages of encouragement, and lead with love, we create a school where every child and adult feels seen, valued, and supported.”

Meadow Elementary School's celebration also involved a week of planned activities. A special assembly supported by the PTA focused on the mind-body connection and the significance of kindness to others but also to oneself. The students were encouraged to be supportive friends and neighbors, while also emphasizing that acts of kindness of any size will have a positive impact. Other events included intervisitations in which older grades collaborated with the younger grades to compose kindness/love notes. Second graders also assembled “Kindness Grams” to help raise money for the Kajiado Children’s Home. Additionally, district officials, including security officers, were invited to read books about kindness and love to the Meadow students.

On the P.S. I Love You Day itself, Steele Elementary School hosted a special event to honor the occasion, reinforcing the district’s collective commitment to compassion, inclusion, and support for all. During a special assembly at Plaza Elementary School, students and staff were a sea of red and pink as they, too, honored PS I Love You Day, reminding our community of the importance of kindness, connection, and looking out for one another.

Overall, the week leading up to Valentine’s Day—a holiday also dedicated to spreading love—brought awareness to the importance of kindness, connection, love and support across Baldwin’s school community, a positive start to the winter recess.

This story was also covered in the Baldwin Herald>>