My relative Tacey Takamoto, who lives in America, posted a message on Facebook.

Quite often American messages that get circulated are over-the-top sentimental or in-your-face patriotic.

Tacey doesn’t use Facebook a lot but the message she posted struck a chord.

It was simple and made a point worth considering as the school holidays draw to a close:

“Special request to all kids returning to school: if you see someone who is struggling to make friends or being bullied because he/she doesn’t have many friends or because they are shy or not as pretty or not dressed in the most ‘in’ clothes – please step up. Say hi or at least smile at them. You never know what that person might be facing outside school. Your kindness might just make a big difference in someone’s life.”

Starting a new school can be scary. It’s a good message to bear in mind.