Kindness on the Calendar at Aaron School
Sydney Dreyfus, School Counselor at 45th Street
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, founded in 1995 in Denver, Colorado, started the Random Acts of Kindness Day with the purpose of focusing on the positivity that surrounds us every day. It was deemed that February 17th was the day for these random acts to occur. As such, the month of February is considered by many to be Kindness Month.
Here are some ways that we commemorated Kindness Month at our 45th Street campus:
- Middle school students make daily announcements over the PA system year-round, providing staff and students with important information about school functions and special events. Students incorporated inspirational “kindness quotes” in their PA announcements to set the tone for the day during the month of February.
- On February 16th, many students and members of staff arrived at school wearing blue, a color that represents peace, harmony, loyalty and sincerity.
- Each day in February, students were assigned a kindness task to complete. Kindness tasks included giving a compliment to a classmate, inviting someone new to play with during a free period, holding a door open for someone, and making a thank you card for a classmate or teacher.
- Parties were held in every classroom on Valentine’s Day to celebrate friendship! In addition to snacking on sweet treats and participating in themed games and activities, students exchanged Valentine’s Day cards and handwritten notes with compliments and positive words of encouragement.
Additionally, kindness can be taught, modeled and encouraged to children at home throughout the year:
Gratitude Practice: Expressing gratitude can teach children to reflect on all the good everyone has. Practicing gratitude is a powerful tool that can positively impact their overall well-being, social relationships and emotional development. When children recognize the kindness and support they receive from family, friends, and community members, they develop a deeper appreciation of the world around them.
Empathy: Teaching children to understand, validate and be kind to themselves and others supports healthy self-esteem and emotional well-being. Empathy helps children develop positive relationships by understanding other people’s feelings, experiences and perspectives.
