Walking up to M.B. Lamar Middle School this week, students and visitors are greeted by a striking sight: vibrant yellow and gold ribbons lining the school’s main entrance, fluttering in the morning breeze.
The mid-September display serves a deeply meaningful purpose, bringing the campus together to observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Students and staff have joined forces to honor the brave young fighters currently in the battle, celebrate the resilient survivors, and remember the precious angels who left us too soon.
To the Lamar Middle School community, yellow and gold are far more than seasonal decorations. Gold is the international color for childhood cancer awareness—chosen specifically because children are priceless and represent our most precious future.
Leading the project on campus is Ms. Mendez, the school’s Communities in Schools (CIS) Site Coordinator. Wanting to give students a hands-on way to take action, Ms. Mendez encouraged them to tie yellow ribbons along the front gates and entrance pathways to help spread awareness throughout the neighborhood.
"When our students walk through those gates every morning, those ribbons serve as a constant reminder that no family faces this fight alone," shared campus supporters during the event.
With pediatric cancer remaining a top health challenge facing young people across the country, grassroots initiatives like this bring crucial attention and empathy into everyday school life. The simple act of tying a ribbon sparked meaningful conversations among students about support, resilience, and community care.
As these gold ribbons line the entrance of M.B. Lamar Middle School throughout the rest of the month, they stand as a powerful symbol of unity...proving that even small gestures can send a massive message of love and support to those who need it most.