LAMS WEB Crew and LAHS Natural Helpers created valentine’s for Veterans during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Photo by Bernadette LauritzenWhile a variety of local schools participated in Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 9-13, the lions at Mountain Elementary took kindness to a whole new level.
“Random Acts of Kindness is a fun and easy way to show students how their kindness makes a difference for themselves as well as others,” Mountain Counselor Jen Schmierer said. “Kindness impacts the giver, the receiver, and the observer.”
A project that began as a school opportunity slowly made its way into the community with those random acts reaching well past the playground. The week began with an early morning concert, followed by Schmierer’s introduction to the week and bracelets distributed to the student body to remind them that, “Kindness Rocks,” and they are the ones who can make it happen every day.
Schmierer then put Kindness Cards into play, allowing students to present their recipient a card with a website address where random acts of kindness could be displayed for all to see. The students were presented with four cards and asked to do two kind deeds in school and two in the community. Families and community members can then log into the school website and see what good deeds are underway.
“We are tracking our Mountain of Kindness, and the community is welcome to view her Mountain Movement by visiting www.laschools.net/mountain,” Schmierer said.
The kindness could then be seen on the playground as Physical Education Teacher Tony Hinojosa generated a list of interactive games for the school. The games allowed the opportunity for older students to facilitate games and teach the younger ones.
“They are teaching sportsmanship skills, how to include others, and how to solve a conflict,” Hinojosa said. “It was heartwarming to see the number of 5th and 6th graders who want to be mentors.”
The Student Council and Parent Teacher Association will take the next steps once weather warms. Student Council members will don smocks and paintbrushes to create outdoor board games, while the PTA has agreed to sponsor the funds for the game board pieces. Plans for the painting portion are underway and large scale chess and checkers will be at the ready.
