Who is your hero? That was the question asked and answered by first graders at Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford (SSDS), who go to dress up and act out the lives of their role models at the West Hartford day school’s annual “Hero Show” one recent afternoon. The show was the culmination of several months of research and stage preparation, during which the students learned the importance of respecting differences and identifying the qualities that make a hero.

This year, twelve students presented a broad range of heroes from all walks of life, demonstrating how these exceptional individuals have impacted our world and made it a better place. Their “heroes” included Thomas Edison, Anne Frank, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr., Sandy Koufax, Sally Ride, Neil Armstrong and Margot Fonteyn.

“This is one of the school’s favorite traditions,” said first grade teacher Joyce Ben-Kiki. “We have the opportunity to enjoy watching the first graders express their admiration for their personal heroes and role models. I am amazed at how talented these kids are and how much they learn, grow and understand the values we are trying to communicate.”