The fifth graders at Old Hammondtown School spread the love on Valentine’s Day by presenting town employees with their very own valentines.

The idea to have the students make valentines for the different town departments came from fifth grade teachers Amy Casi and Stacy Barrows.

“We were looking for something new to do to give back to the town,” Barrows said. “We wanted the kids to recognize all the work that goes into Mattapoisett.”

The students made valentines for 176 employees and Associate Principal Kevin Tavares handed them out at lunchtime.

Almost 25 town employees came to the school to take the valentines back to their coworkers.

“We didn’t think all these people would come,” Casi said. “It was awesome. We just kept getting all these emails.”

After a successful first year, Barrows said she hopes to continue doing it.

“This is a new tradition,” she said.