KINDNESS INITIATIVES
BE KIND
Throughout the year we will focus on different Kindness Initiatives. Below are the descriptions of different initiatives that will occur throughout the year.
Be Kind Wall/Kindness Ambassadors
The wall is back and ready for signatures! Schirra community members recognize students who do something above and beyond that is kind. After the nomination, students' sign their names to the Be Kind Wall, receive a certificate to send home and a sticker. They become kindness ambassadors and encourage others to continue our Be Kind Initiative.
September Lessons
The book Hattie Harmony Worry Detective was read to students and a follow-up activity was completed. This book focuses on the first day of school worries and some great coping skills that can be kept in their toolbox.
Week of Respect - October 2nd-6th
Students learned about inclusion. diversity and acceptance through the book What Color is My Patka?, followed by a video from the author reiterating that message of understanding, educating ourselves about a variety of topics and inclusivity.
School Violence Awareness Week - October 16th-20st
Students learned about compromise using the book The Great Compromise. This book helps students understand how to compromise with others and come to a resolution. Follow-up discussions and activities are completed.
World Kindness Day - Monday, November 13th
Students received a bingo card with different acts of kindness. After completing their random acts of kindness, students completed a reflection sheet and had their bingo board signed by a family member. Students were excited not only by completing their acts of kindness but also by the responses they were getting from others who were on the receiving end of their kindness.
Inclusive Schools Week - December 4th-8th
Throughout the week, students were exposed to different activities such as a snowflake activity highlighting students' unique qualities, human bingo which joined younger and older students together, and discussing how to be inclusive. Community readers joined our festivities and shared a book with different grade levels. In Art, students created a school-wide mural based on a book. The week ended with our Unity Parade led by a banner highlighting artwork from every student.
The Great Kindness Challenge - January 22nd-26th
Students joined many around the world in taking part in the Great Kindness Challenge. Throughout the week, students completed random acts of kindness from a list provided by The Great Kindness Challenge. At the end of the week, students reflected on their acts, how it made them feel, how it improved our community and how they will continue in the future.
National Random Acts of Kindness Day - Saturday, February 17th
Students listened to the book Doug the Pug which tells the story of real-life dog Dug and how he spreads kindness to others. The book encourages students to continue the kindness ripple.
Choose to Include - Wednesday, March 6th
SEPTA's #WeAreOne - Ongoing
Previously, students in Play Unified learned to sign "We Are One" using Adaptive American Sign Language and shared with their classmates. Schirra students had the opportunity to take part in the Community Art Project Quilt and create their own square. The district-wide display was hung in the Administration Building. Some Play Unified members shared what #WeAreOne means to them and a video was created and shared via Twitter.
We have other initiatives that we will be working on as we go through the year. Stay tuned!