Boyce celebrates kindness
Feb. 21, 2022
Boyce celebrates kindness
“We have celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Week at Boyce for the past 20 years,” Mrs. Antonio said. “Each year, we make changes to our programming/theme to fit the current students’ needs and interests.”
This year’s theme was “Be the I in Kind!” A large wall display encouraged students to celebrate their own acts of kindness. Students could sign their name on post-it notes that recognized the numerous ways they make their school and the world more awesome. Examples include pick-up trash in the hallway, call a relative to say hello, say thank you to your bus driver and help your parents with dinner.
A highlight of the week are the various theme days. Theme days included:
- Monday: Valentine's Day! Show some heart and wear red!
- Tuesday: Kindness makes the world go round! Wear your gear from your favorite vacation spot!
- Wednesday: Kindness makes a difference! Students - dress like your teachers, teachers - dress like your students!
- Thursday: There is no I in team, but there is an I in KIND! Wear your favorite team jersey!
- Friday: We dream of a world filled with kindness! No school, so wear your PJs all day!
“The students loved dressing up for theme days. They will ask me...what does dressing in my favorite vacation gear have to do with kindness? Nothing! It is just a reminder for you that it is RAK Week,” Mrs. Antonio said. “So, when they tell their parents they have to wear a suit or dress for make a difference day...and the parents ask why...they will tell them it is for RAK Week. They love getting their pictures taken too. It just adds more spirit to the week.”
Upper St. Clair High School mentors visited classrooms on Thursday, Feb. 17.
“The high school students led a kindness activity,” Mrs. Antonio said. “Hearing the importance of kindness from a ‘cool high school student’ is incredibly impactful on our middle school students.”
RAK Week also included two successful community service projects. Students collected 676 of boxes of cereal to benefit the South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM). In addition, more than $2,000 was raised to support the Education Partnership through Valentine Grams.
“Throughout the year, we recognize kids for positive behaviors by awarding them with a Boyce Pride or through our Panther Program,” Mrs. Antonio said. “But RAK week really drives home the point of the importance of a simple act of kindness, and that kindness inspires kindness. Most importantly, we want them to know that one person – even if they are only in fifth or sixth grade – can really make a difference.”
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a nonprofit that invests its resources into making kindness the norm. The RAK Foundation is rooted in the belief that all people can connect through kindness and that kindness can be taught. Learn more: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/.
