• Nov. 16, 2018

    Streams students celebrate kindness

    World Kindness Day Streams Elementary School celebrated World Kindness Day on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Students were encouraged to wear their Streams Where Will Kindness Take You shirts, or any shirt with a positive message, hearts, red/pink, or even just something that was warm and fuzzy.

    “World Kindness Day reminds us that kindness is important and valued all around the world and that we are all part of the same world,” Leslie Smirniw, school counselor and event organizer, said. “We may live in different places, look different, speak different languages or have different beliefs, but we are all human. We all want, and deserve to be treated with respect and kindness.”

    All Streams students listened to the story, “I am Human: A Book of Empathy,” by Susan Verde. The publisher’s website describes the book as “a hopeful meditation on all the great (and challenging) parts of being human. I Am Human shows that it’s okay to make mistakes while also emphasizing the power of good choices by offering a kind word or smile or by saying ‘I’m sorry.’”

    World Kindness Day resonated with students. “World Kindness Day is important because it reminds us that kindness is the key to everything!” Eva Dittoe, Streams third grader, said.

    Students wrote kind messages, examples of kindness, or how kindness makes people feel on sticky notes and attached them to large paper hearts that hang throughout the school.

    “World Kindness Day creates an awareness that it doesn't take much to be kind,” Kathleen Mulhern, Streams third grade teacher, said.

    Students embraced the message that kindness is important…every day. There are many ways that students can promote kindness both at school and at home. Some suggestions from Streams students include: 

    • Smile. ~ Wyatt
    • Be happy! ~ Leila
    • One person can be kind to show other people to be kind. ~ Janya
    • You can pick things up for someone if they drop them. ~ Avery
    • Say please and thank you. ~ Anu
    • Say good morning to people. ~ Evan
    • If someone is feeling sad, play with them. ~ Lilly
    • Write songs to help people understand different things. ~ Will 

    Kindergarteners along with first and second graders drew pictures to show how they are kind at home and at school. Third and fourth graders participated in a kindness write-around activity to share kind messages with their classmates.

    “Any reason to boost students' attention to the everyday importance of kindness is something to promote!” Principal Claire Miller said. “The simplest form of kindness includes everyday manners - greeting a friend (or principal) when you see them, holding a door open for a friend, helping someone pick up a dropped item, being mindful to clean up your trash in the lunch room, or using my personal favorites – ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ I call these Life's Lubricants - using manners is a great life habit to cultivate with our students (and the adults)!”

    While World Kindness Day is officially celebrated on Nov. 13, Dr. Miller hopes the message of kindness continues with Streams Elementary students all throughout the year.

    “I hope that it will be one more opportunity to remember that we are part of many communities – our family, our Streams community, our Upper St Clair community, and our world – and we can all share in the celebration of kindness,” Dr. Miller said.