Have you noticed the random words of affirmation throughout the school? Throughout the week of October 10th- October 13th we celebrated kindness. The whole point of this week is to spread kindness throughout the entire school. What you may not have known is that the purple ribbons and stickers that students were handing out to their students symbolized more than just a promise to be kind. The activities that spread kindness throughout the week were our school’s contribution to the “Start With Hello” initiative founded by the Sandy Hook Promise.
According to their website, the mission of Sandy Hook Promise is to “educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Through their programs they intend to teach young people and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others.
On Tuesday, we had Promise Day. Students came down to a table by the senior cafeteria during their lunch periods. They had the chance to write down a promise about how they will make the world a better place. They wrote them on a sticky note and stick it on the promise board. Students appeared to have just as much fun reading other people’s promises as they did writing them. It was inspirational to see the range of promises being made. While some promises were more personal, for example, “Help my parents;” others spoke to more broad issues like, “Stand up for animals.”
On Wednesday, it was Connect Day. At a table by the senior cafeteria, right in front of the promise wall, teachers, staff, and security were standing by waiting for students to connect to. There were slips of paper with questions on them for students to ask the adults and for adults to ask the students. One teacher commented that similarities between her and the student that she was speaking with were surprising. “It is crazy to think there are people walking around this building that are just like us– but we have no idea. It is amazing the difference a conversation can make.”
On Thursday, there were paper bags of affirmations that were hung all around the school. If you reached into the bag you could pull out a nice affirmation or some words of encouragement.
On Friday, it was Pay it Forward Day. On this day kindness was paid forward throughout the day. One student reported helping a friend with homework. Another shared some candy with a friend. In discussing the day with a group of students, it was mentioned how buying things for people is often associated with paying it forward, but it is just as meaningful to simply spend quality time with others.
Even though Kindness Week has ended, we ask that you continue to show kindness everyday in your life. The difference that it can make in the lives of others is immeasurable.
