Olweus Activity – 11/13/15 World Kindness Day “The world is FULL OF kind people … If you can’t find one, BE ONE” #WorldKindnessDay

What is World Kindness Day and how did it originate? Kindness Day was born when a collection of humanitarian groups came together on November 13, 1997 and made a “Declaration of Kindness”. Likewise, on Kindness Day everyone is encouraged to make a similar declaration. Donating books, food or clothes to your local community is a great way to celebrate. However, pledging to commit just one act of kindness is worthwhile: hold the door open for a stranger, compliment the kid sitting next to you in science class today, or just say hello to someone in the hallway you normally wouldn’t say “hi” to. However you decide to celebrate remember that the best thing about Kindness Day is that it doesn’t cost a thing! Kindness Day is about the little gestures of kindness that we sometimes overlook during our busy days (adults, too). Helping others can restore a sense of humanity, not to mention giving you that warm fuzzy glow inside. If feels good to do something nice for someone else…… a.k.a. “paying it forward”.

How can we celebrate World Kindness Day at MMS? Activity Choice # 1 Your homeroom may choose from these 5 simple activities to help celebrate and promote World Kindness Day: # 1 - Positive Sticky Notes: A simple, easy way to raise the spirits of friends (and strangers!)

Activity Choice # 2 # 2 - Thank You Letter: Who are the unsung heroes in your school? Write them an anonymous (or not) letter to show them that you appreciate them. Suggestions – how about your bus driver? Or a lunch aide? Or the kitchen staff? Or the ladies in the main office?

Activity Choice # 3 # 3 - RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) Bulletin Board: Where do you see kindness in our school? Today during Olweus, each student will be given a paper fish. Look for students who are being kind. If you see an act of kindness, write the student’s name and the act of kindness on the fish and return it to any teacher or staff member. We will pin the fish to the bulletin board outside of Mrs. Clinton’s office. Let’s celebrate all the kind things our students do everyday!

Activity Choice # 4 # 4 - Custodian Appreciation: As a homeroom, take time to write letters and/or put up signs showing your appreciation for the people who take care of your school! (Mr. Turner, Mr. Humphrey, and Mr. Scilla are our custodians) Keep your classroom (AND all other areas in the school) so clean that they won’t have anything to pick up.

Activity Choice # 5 # 5 – Operation Christmas Child This is an ongoing way to celebrate kindness. Each homeroom is challenged to bring in items to fill the shoebox for a boy or girl. Watch the video clip below to see the affect kindness has on children in poor communities in Romania. You can clearly see a little kindness goes a long way. And it makes you feel good, too! An added bonus  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkNMkH35JYw&list= PLDRpDq_8-UKrhVMnEfnd8Oy3V7jNdaJTA&index=2 Let’s make the holidays brighter for children around the world by participating in Operation Christmas Child.