Emily, a Brookwood Elementary School fourth-grader, knows just what to do if someone is mean or rude to her.
“I would be kind to them,” she said, “because maybe there’s something going on with them. So, I would still be kind to give them an example.”
Examples of kindness are easy to find this week, Jan. 25-29, as many of the division’s elementary schools celebrate the Great Kindness Challenge. The nonprofit organization Kids for Peace established the weeklong event in 2012 to challenge students across the U.S. to devote one week to performing as many acts of kindness as possible. The organization’s website describes the initiative as “a proactive and positive bullying prevention initiative that improves school climate and increases student engagement.”
School counselors are leading the kindness initiative in their schools with creative themes and activities to celebrate and encourage kind deeds.
At Malibu Elementary, it’s “Cool to be Kind,” and the whole family is involved. Parents received letters to help students create paper “kindness snowballs” on which they write the acts of kindness they have done throughout the week. Students added their snowballs to the school’s winter wonderland display featuring a Malibu surfer snowman. Giving hugs, holding the door open for a friend and helping others when they are bullied were among the acts of kindness shared by students.
Pembroke Meadows Elementary students are showing kindness by creating homemade Valentine’s Day cards for military veterans. Each card includes a personalized message to thank veterans for their service.
Red Mill Elementary wants the entire community to celebrate kindness this week. The fence along Sandbridge Road displays red cups that spell a message the students and staff hope everyone will embrace – “Kindness!”
Laura McMahon, Lynnhaven Elementary school counselor, views the week as way to reinforce character lessons students learn throughout the year and to encourage everyone to be more mindful about being kind.
“It’s designed to really have everybody focused on it. We’re all supposed to be kind all year long, but it’s a conscious, intentional focus on what’s going on that’s good,” said McMahon. “It’s easy to find the wrong thing or the negative thing, but we have a lot of kind students and staff members, so it’s just nice to all be on the same page with it.”
McMahon, like many other school counselors, created or adapted a kindness challenge checklist so students can see examples of kind deeds and check them off as they complete them. Smile at your teacher today. Help a younger student. Say “thank you” to people that help you. Help a parent without being asked. Be kind to yourself and eat a healthy snack.
“I encourage students to think about the simple things like saying ‘good morning,’ smiling and acknowledging people. Those things are easy, but it is the little things that make a big difference,” said McMahon.
Lynnhaven students illustrated acts of kindness, and McMahon put together large kindness “quilts” displayed in the hallway. The artwork is also being shown on video announcements that scroll on television monitors throughout the school day.
“I drew a picture of a student who sits with another student who was by herself,” said third-grader Kali. “I also say ‘good morning’ to my teacher every morning and smile at her.”
Classmate Summer drew a picture of a student picking up a paper dropped by another student. Other quilt panels feature student kindness thoughts: helping someone, being nice to others, being respectful, brightening up someone’s day and standing up for someone.
Near the entrance of Brookwood Elementary School a kindness tree fills the wall. Its leaves are colorful handprints on which students and staff have written acts of kindness they have done.
I helped my teacher put away work. I helped my mom do the dishes. I helped my sister with her homework. I cleaned up the kitchen with my sister. Listened to my teacher. I made a new friend.
“Even though you can’t see each individual hand and what it says, you still know the purpose behind it,” said Brookwood’s school counselor Melanie Womble. “A lot of people have been going by and saying how uplifting it’s been to see it. The kids are just so excited to see it.”
Womble initially planned to take down the tree in a few weeks, but students and staff have asked if it can be kept in place all year.
“This has been the best week,” said Brookwood principal Christine Alarcon with a smile. “I feel so appreciated and I have received lots of notes.” More importantly, she adds, she’s noticed that everyone around the school is being very intentional about kindness. “I hear students saying, ‘Let me help you with this,’ or ‘Let me help you with that.’”
Brookwood school nurse Sheri Devins has also received thoughtful notes throughout the week. “Write a thank you on a Band-Aid for the nurse,” is an item on the school’s kindness challenge checklist.
“Oh, it makes me feel so thankful that the students appreciate me. It makes you feel good,” Devins said looking over the notes and Band-Aids from students.
And what happens when the Great Kindness Challenge is over?
“I just hope they continue to be kind throughout the school,” said Womble. “I’ve already seen it. The teachers tell me the students are going out of their way to be kind to one another, giving compliments, helping one another – and not just to check off something on the list, but to feel good about themselves. I definitely see, just in a few days time, that they want to help each other and be there for one another.”