Washington School Celebrates Kindness Day

The practice of kindness at Washington Primary School isn’t just some lofty goal, it’s a daily expectation, day after day, week after week from September to the end of June – and even over the summer. Washington recently celebrated Kindness Day.

“We began the day with virtual announcements and a Kindness video,” Washington Principal Dr. Michelle J. Richards said. “The students were able to identify acts by the characters in the video that didn’t show kindness and think about how they could show acts of kindness in similar situations.”

Dr. Richards and teacher Lauren Whitney collaborated to create the “Be the ‘I’ in Kindness” mural. Throughout the day, faculty and students took pictures in place of the “I” in the word KINDNESS.

“Kindness goes along with the theme of the month ‘Collaboration & Cooperation,’” Dr. Richards said. The Washington song for the month includes the verses “When we cooperate, that’s when do our part. When we collaborate, we create together!”

The Principal’s Book of the Month for November is “Clack, Clack! SMACK!,” by Traci Sorell. It ties nicely into the kindness initiative.

“It is a Cherokee stickball story about a boy and his team working together,” Dr. Richards said. “We now call this ‘stickball game’ lacrosse!”

Later in the school, Washington will feature the Kindness Challenge, which will encompass acts such as smile at your bus driver and tell them they rock; offer to help someone clean up a mess; say hello to someone new; hold the door for someone.

“At Washington Primary School, demonstrating kindness is embedded in our Washington Expectations,” Dr. Richards said. “As part of our morning announcements, we review the Washington Expectations. Expectation No. 1 is to ‘Be kind to others: Speak words that make others feel good.’”