Fifth-graders at Robert R. Rojas Elementary School were on a mission to ensure every student felt included, valued and never left out.
To celebrate No One Eats Alone Day in February, students such as Ailyn Arvizu encouraged their fellow Roadrunners to welcome new friends to their lunch tables and help end loneliness.
“It's so cool because you get to meet new people, people that you didn't know. You get to have more friends,” said Arvizu, a fifth grader and student council secretary.
Rojas Elementary School joined 2,500 schools nationwide in celebrating the No One Eats Alone® initiative, which aims to foster connections, end social isolation, and ensure no student eats alone.
With support from Superior HealthPlan, the school launched a weeklong celebration beginning Feb. 9. Fifth-graders gathered in the school's cafeteria, where they were recognized for their leadership by guest speakers City of Socorro Police Chief Robert C. Rojas and UTEP Head Football Coach Scotty Walden.
Walden encouraged students to believe that they can make a difference in someone else's life.
“Next time you see somebody in this cafeteria sitting by themselves, you might be the bright spot in that person's day to make a difference. Man, some days I went to school, I was like, ‘Man, I wish somebody would just ask how I'm doing.’ And you know what? That made my day!” Walden said.
Schools received free Belonging Boxes from the Sandy Hook Promise, which contained materials to promote meaningful connections among students, including a “Connect the Dots” mural activity. Students asked each other questions to get to know one another better, such as “How are you kind?” They wrote their answers on round pieces of paper, or "dots," and posted them on a mural for other students to read.
“You're kind in many different ways. But one of the ways is just don't be rude, be nice,” Arvizu said.
Throughout the week, the fifth-graders also had lunch with students from lower grades to help create a welcoming environment.
PE Coach Arturo Galindo said the event helped build community by bringing students together during lunchtime.
“We just teach kids that it's not right to eat alone, that everybody should have a buddy. If you see someone during lunchtime eating alone, go ahead and sit with them, make friends. And inclusivity is what we're trying to show everybody around here,” Galindo said.
The school first celebrated No One Eats Alone in 2024. This was the third year that fifth-grader Riley Dixon participated in the event. He said that not only did he enjoy working as a team to organize the event, but he has also noticed that he has become more understanding.
“The main whole thing is no one eats alone. So, we try to include them in games and activities. We eat with them,” Dixon said.
“We meet a lot of people, so I've gotten friendlier, I learned my manners, and learned how to have teamwork overall,” he added.