To the editor:

On Friday, students in our public schools were released around 11 a.m. For many kids, this means they'll be making the walk from school into town, stopping for ice cream and baseball cards. I, like many parents, remind my kids to stick with their friends, and to be respectful as they duck in and out of their favorite shops. As one of my friends often reminds me "even when my kids are out of my sight, I know there are eyes on them, and most likely, I'll get a report back."

Looking out for each other: it's what we do here. If you look for it, you'll see it all the time. Last week, my daughter was part of the "Newsies" performance at the Nock. On each night of the show, there was a line out the door, waiting to buy tickets. Many were there to see a family member, and most were there to support a friend, neighbor, or a friends' child. It was wholesome, and grounding. It's just what we do here.

Over the winter, we took our kids, 11 and 13, to the Newburyport boys basketball game against St. Mary's. The crowd was electric and roared at every play. We enjoyed watching the boys on the bench cheer on their teammates almost as much as we delighted in watching the players on the court. I was only sad for the opposing team that they didn't have their own student section that was as wincingly entertaining as our own. Showing up is just what we do here.

On May 13, we have an opportunity to show up, once again, for each other.

The 40 assets published by The Search Institute, guides my practice as a clinician working with families. The assets look at the broad spectrum of factors that influence youth development and contend that the more assets a child has, the less likely they are to abuse drugs or be violent. Some of the assets include: No. 13 — "Neighborhood Boundaries: Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring children's behavior" and No. 18 — "Youth Programs — Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in the community".

Let's allow this vote to be a testament for the community we are, a place where showing up for each other is just what we do here.

MEGHAN HOLLAND MCDONALD, LMHC

Newburyport