Students observe Random Acts of Kindness Week
Published 9:00 pm Thursday, February 22, 2024
Highland Home Elementary students observe Tie Dye Day during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Photo Submitted.
Special Education teacher Heather Sanders and her class, known around campus as “The Kindness Krew”, embraced a unique method to spreading kindness by painting rocks with uplifting messages and then strategically positioning them across the campus with the aim of inspiring others. Pictured is student Hope Warlick. Photo submitted.
Mr. Ellis, custodian at Luverne School, shares a heartwarming moment with fourth-grader Marcus Jones during Random Acts of Kindness Week, exemplifying the spirit of compassion and connection within the Luverne School community. Photo submitted.
Students at Highland Home School participated in themed dress-up days during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Photo submitted.
Collin Smith,Fourth grader at Luverne School, gives intervention teacher Crystal Alsbrooks a handmade card and a sweet hug. Photo submitted.
Winners of the kindness coloring contest at Highland Home School received colored cups bearing uplifting phrases like “Be the change you wish to see in the world!" and "Stand up and speak out for what's right!" along with other goodies. Pictured are (left to right) K4 student Londyn Scrushy, K5 student Casteil Taylor-Malone, first-grader Jenna Russell, second-grader Haven Grey, third-grader Ashley Cirilo Ortiz, fourth-grader Levi Williams and fifth-grader Esdrael Guadalupe. Photo submitted.
Administrator at Luverne Omar Hamilton smiles in response to a heartfelt gesture during Random Acts of Kindness Week, as fourth grader Libby Albritton presents him with a handmade, extra-large card and words of gratitude, Photo submitted.
Brantley student Haley Mitchell promotes kindness by wearing a sweatshirt sold by Career Academy students. Photo submitted.
By Haley Mitchell Godwin
Morgan Freeman once said, “How do we change the world? With one random act of kindness at a time”.
Students across Crenshaw County celebrated National Random Acts of Kindness Week, which took place Feb. 12-17. The week-long celebration aimed to promote kindness and positivity, fostering a sense of community and making the world a better place, one small act at a time.
National Random Acts of Kindness Week encourages individuals worldwide to embrace kindness in their daily lives, promoting a culture of empathy and goodwill. The unofficial holiday urges people to recognize the transformative power of small acts of kindness in building a better society.
At Highland Home School, students participated in themed dress-up days, such as “Peace, Love and Kindness/Tie-Dye Day” and “Crazy for Kindness/Crazy Hair Day.” A coloring contest awarded winners with colored cups bearing uplifting phrases like “Be the change you wish to see in the world!” and “Stand up and speak out for what’s right!”
According to Cody Walters, High School Counselor at Highland Home School, students eagerly tuned in every morning for the Kindness announcements, where they learned about different ways to be kind, including ways to be kind to oneself.
“Showing kindness to the world starts with ourselves,” Walters said. “The first step is to begin engaging in acts of kindness on a daily basis while also practicing self-compassion. It can be something as small as holding the door open for someone or simply saying “thank you”. Kindness begins with each and every one of us and building a more positive self-image greatly improves our overall well being and ability to spread kindness.”
At Career Academy, students kicked off their Random Acts of Kindness Week by creating heartfelt cards for residents at the local nursing, health, and rehabilitation center. Sweatshirts and t-shirts were sold by Career Academy students to help spread the message of kindness and over fifty Crenshaw County students and faculty wore them proudly last week.
Heather Sanders, Special Education teacher at Luverne School, and her students took a creative approach to kindness by engaging in rock painting. Each rock bore messages of positivity, and the students strategically placed them around the campus, hoping to inspire those who come across them. Sanders encouraged the community to share their discoveries by taking pictures of the rocks and posting to Facebook.
Also in on the action was the Luverne Elementary Club who delivered handmade cards to teachers that expressed appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the school’s educators.
The initiatives, undertaken by students across Crenshaw County during National Random Acts of Kindness Week, highlight the enduring power of compassion and positivity, and as Morgan Freeman wisely noted, changing the world begins with the simple yet profound act of kindness, a sentiment embraced wholeheartedly by these students.
