Robinson Students Embrace 'Kindness Challenge'
Feb 01, 2017 10:03AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Embracing a nationwide movement, Robinson Elementary School students last week took part in The Great Kindness Challenge - a positive, proactive
bullying prevention initiative that involves millions of students during the last
full week of January every year.
The Robinson students each received a checklist of 24 acts of kindness at the beginning of the week. Within four days the students performed 4,352 acts of kindness, ranging from smiling at 25 people, to inviting a new friend to play, to helping someone when they fall down, and more.
Additionally, the Robinson Student Council made kindness cards for every school in the district and for the school district offices to promote being kind. Fourth grader Jessica Tell wrote a kindness pledge that every student signed.
Over the course of the week, a series of special guests - including Fox Sports announcer Rob Stone and LA Lakers announcer Chris McGee - spoke during the morning announcements with advice on how to be kind. Curt Onalfo, head coach of the LA Galaxy, appeared at a January 27 school-wide assembly to talk about being kind and having good sportsmanship.
“This national program is a terrific way to promote kindness at California’s public schools. The challenge also matches perfectly with the California Department of Education’s ongoing efforts to meet the social and emotional needs of the whole child,” said Tom Torlakson, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The Great Kindness Challenge was created by Kids for Peace to provide schools a tool for creating a positive school environment. In 2016, more than five million students participated and performed over 250 million acts of kindness nationwide.
Kids for Peace is a global 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides a platform for young people to actively engage in socially conscious leadership, community service, arts, environmental stewardship and global friendship.
The Robinson students each received a checklist of 24 acts of kindness at the beginning of the week. Within four days the students performed 4,352 acts of kindness, ranging from smiling at 25 people, to inviting a new friend to play, to helping someone when they fall down, and more.
Additionally, the Robinson Student Council made kindness cards for every school in the district and for the school district offices to promote being kind. Fourth grader Jessica Tell wrote a kindness pledge that every student signed.
Over the course of the week, a series of special guests - including Fox Sports announcer Rob Stone and LA Lakers announcer Chris McGee - spoke during the morning announcements with advice on how to be kind. Curt Onalfo, head coach of the LA Galaxy, appeared at a January 27 school-wide assembly to talk about being kind and having good sportsmanship.
“This national program is a terrific way to promote kindness at California’s public schools. The challenge also matches perfectly with the California Department of Education’s ongoing efforts to meet the social and emotional needs of the whole child,” said Tom Torlakson, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The Great Kindness Challenge was created by Kids for Peace to provide schools a tool for creating a positive school environment. In 2016, more than five million students participated and performed over 250 million acts of kindness nationwide.
Kids for Peace is a global 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides a platform for young people to actively engage in socially conscious leadership, community service, arts, environmental stewardship and global friendship.
