About 300 Whiting Elementary School students and staff gathered Thursday at precisely 1:15 p.m. in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record and raise awareness for autism. 

"It's all across the nation," said autism teacher Kelly Stevenson, who led the synchronised, multinational Bubbles 4 Autism event in Whiting. "There are schools in Arizona, schools in Canada."

Stevenson said that the effort, sponsored by the nonprofit organization Families for Autistic Children Education and Support, helps raise student awareness. 

"They get to see that every bubble is someone else who knows about autism," she said. "It brings a face to the name."

A new world record will be declared if 37,000 bubble blowers are confirmed to have participated.

Bubble solution was prepared by special education teacher Skye Mulligan's class. Though this was the ninth year for the Bubbles 4 Autism event, it was the first time that a Manchester school has participated. 

More information on FACES 4 Autism and its mission is available on its website.