Kindness Matters

By: Vanessa Wright

Kindness Week is coming back to Peeples Elementary School January 25-29, 2016.  This is the second year that Peeples has participated in this national challenge (www.greatkindnesschallenge.org).  Kindness Week is a positive approach to anti-bullying.  There are so many programs that are structured in such a way to say “don’t do this, don’t do that”. 

We are simply telling kids to be kind and to look for opportunities to help others.  We want to eradicate bullying before it begins and this is a wonderful preventative initiative.  Several students will be participating in the recording of an original “kindness” song, the school has applied to achieve the world record for the longest paper chain of kindness.  Each time a student performs a random act of kindness, they will add a paper link to the chain.  The chain will serve as a visual reminder to the students that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a huge impact.  Peeples is very excited to welcome Mike Buchanan, co-author of the book The Fatboy Chronicles (thefatboychronicles.com). 

He will be reading excerpts from the book to the students and there will be a screening of the film that is open to all parents and students in the area.  Peeples is also welcoming Didgeridoo Down Under (www.didgrevolution.com) a wonderful anti-bullying and character education assembly.  Friday January 29 we are inviting any PTC/Fayette county police, fire, EMS, active & retired military, press, local sponsors, radio and FCBOE members to join us in creating a human kindness tunnel to welcome the students to school and let them know how proud we are that they are choosing kindness.  Here is a glimpse of what the students did last year.  6th grader Lillyanne Beatty sang the song that accompanies the video.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ7kRLBsfN8

This is such an important issue, one that is very near and dear to my heart.  I am thrilled that this event has garnered so much support from the community and that Peeples is gaining recognition for this event.