‘Wonder’ Assembly at Belmont Promotes Kindness, Empathy

Fifth grade students at Belmont Elementary School recently finished reading the book “Wonder” by R. J. Palacio. On Jan 23., fifth grade classes participated in a powerful and inspiring presentation from Dina Zuckerberg, director of family programs at MyFace and the organization’s Wonder Kindness Project.

Founded in 2015, MyFace created the Wonder Project Program to address bullying and promote inclusion by teaching students about facial differences. The program is based on the best-selling novel “Wonder” and is designed to foster empathy, understanding and kindness toward anyone who may look or live differently.

During the visit, Dina shared real-life stories and personal experiences, along with stories of children with facial differences, helping students gain a deeper understanding of how their words and actions can impact others. The presentation encouraged fifth graders to reflect on what it means to be kind, to stand up for others and to celebrate differences rather than fear them.

Through engaging discussion and meaningful storytelling, students learned practical tools from the Wonder Project to help create a more inclusive school environment. The program’s mission is to empower students to take action and eliminate bullying. The visit left a lasting impression and reinforced the importance of compassion, empathy and respect.