Students spend a week spreading kindness

Activities revolve around spring, anti-bullying theme

By Penny Gruetzmacher

Correspondent

Students and staff at Walworth Grade School had a flurry of activities during Kindness and Anti-Bullying Week, March 12 through 16. The theme was: Celebrate Spring by Stopping Bullying.

The week began with a kick off assembly that included a ribbon cutting ceremony with the reveal of the Buddy Bench donated by Scherrer Construction and a related skit. There was also a show choir and solo performance, kindness speeches and special guest, Walworth police officer Jess Lewin.

“The kids ran the entire assembly with the back up from teachers,” advisor Jennifer Ott-Wilson said.

Ott-Wilson said Kindness Week is held every other year as it alternates with Red Ribbon Week.

Other Kindness Week activities at the school included:

• Walworth’s Garden of Kindness – a display in a hallway that allowed students to work collaboratively to create a school-wide display showing their commitment to kindness;
• Anti-Bullying/Kindness bracelets – each student was given a bracelet, donated by Scherrer Construction in an effort to spread the anti-bullying message;
• Door decorating – each classroom was given the opportunity to decorate their door with a message related to anti-bullying/kindness;
• Kindness Dress Up Days – each day of the week a different theme was followed including: Monday, superhero (dress in superhero clothes or as someone students considered their superhero); Tuesday, stay active and be kind (exercise/sport clothes): Wednesday, follow the golden rule (treat others as you want to be treated, twin day): Thursday, unite against bullying (each grade dressed in a unified color): Friday, friendships feel warm and fuzzy (pajamas);

The week came to an end with the showings of Trolls for students through second grade, and Wonder for students in third through eighth grades. They were followed with a discussion about the messages shared in the movies, about kindness, tolerance and empathy.

Lee Knoble-Janney, school counselor, said students took the kindness theme to heart.

“Mrs. Wilson and the eighth graders put up the Kindness Garden. The fifth and sixth grade Random Acts of Kindness students read a book and made a superhero art project with the Kindergarten students,” Janney said.