Kindness Week
Kindness: USC Students Pass It On with Dino-Sized Fun
(Posted: Feb. 28, 2025)
Dozens of Upper St. Clair High School students have been spreading kindness all throughout the school community. Members of Student Council and the Junior Mentor program traveled back to the district’s elementary and middle schools sharing lessons of kindness and friendship.
The high school’s Junior Mentors visited Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools on Friday, Feb. 14 – the final day of Kindness Week for each of the schools.
“Each year we go to Boyce to be the finale to their Kindness Week and also to Fort Couch to talk about scheduling for their ninth-grade year,” Tom Marquis, high school counselor, said. “This is a big part of our mission as a transition program to build relationships, promote student success and foster genuine concern.”
At Boyce, the high school students presented kindness lessons to all fifth and sixth graders on the final day of Random Acts of Kindness Week, which was led by school counselors Amy Antonio and Tonia Autieri. This year's theme was “Kindness...pass it on!”
“Our senior mentors created an activity that our juniors then delivered to each homeroom on Valentine's Day,” Mr. Marquis said.
The arrival of the high school students on the final day is a highlight each year. Boyce students look forward to participating in the creative activities the high school students designed just for them.
“It’s rewarding to watch them connect with our younger learners, serving as positive role models and helping to build a sense of community across grade levels,” Dr. Dan O’Rourke, Boyce principal, said. “When our high school students take the time to mentor, encourage, and support our Boyce students, it reinforces the importance of kindness and leadership while strengthening the bond between our schools.”
At Fort Couch, mentors shared their high school experiences with the school’s eighth graders. Discussions were centered around scheduling high school classes and high school life in general.
Forty members of USCHS Student Council shared their message of “Don’t let kindness go extinct,” with students at Baker, Eisenhower and Streams elementary schools. Led by Brooke Tarcson, head of student activities and Student Council sponsor, students developed an entire dinosaur-themed lesson, complete with a student-made video, read-a-loud, activity and a dance.
“My second graders LOVED having the high schoolers here and I am again blown away by these ‘big’ kids,” Lauren Bogus, second grade teacher, said. “The way they interact with young students is incredible.”
In advance of their visit, the high school students produced a short movie featuring the USC Panther and a dinosaur that focused on small acts of kindness they could find in their school. After watching and discussing the video, they read the book “How Do Dinosaurs Learn to be Kind?” followed by a short coloring activity. The kindness lessons concluded with a Dinosaur Stomp dance party. The USC Panther and his new friend, the “Kindosaur,” visited classrooms for high-fives, hugs and lots of dancing.
Streams first grade teacher Kellee Urso is thankful for the high school students who took time out of their busy schedules to bring joy to the elementary classrooms by making a lesson on kindness that was special and engaging.
“Their positive influence and this program have created a wonderful connection between our schools, fostering a sense of community and highlighting the importance of helping others – showing our youngest students how much kindness truly matters,” Mrs. Urso said. “In our first-grade classroom, we start every single day by encouraging each other to ‘be the reason that someone smiles today’ and I can say, from the bottom of my heart, that this group of high school students were our reason for smiling that day!”
Sophomore Rex Wantje spent both days in an inflatable t-rex dinosaur costume – making a special appearance in each of the elementary classrooms. Among the many positive aspects of this experience, he appreciated the opportunity to bond with his Student Council peers while working together for a great cause. He described the event as incredibly fulfilling.
“Hearing the excitement in their voices was such a motivator, and their pure reactions made the experience magical,” Rex said. “Knowing I made a small impact on their day makes me extremely happy. Altogether, spreading joy and having fun are what made the event unforgettable.”
It was obvious to the high school students that their presence had an immediate impact on the elementary students.
“When we walked into the room, the children’s faces lit up. I think what resonates most with the elementary students is less the specific lesson and more the high school students that come and visit,” senior Ryan LaRocco said. “The elementary kids look up to high schoolers, so no matter the theme or activity, it was important that our message was about being kind because they become inspired by what the older kids do.”
Senior Nate Stohl described the kindness event as “beyond special.”
“In these situations, I possess the ability to bring together a group of students for a greater purpose,” Nate said. “These events strengthen our community and create a culture of kindness within our school district. They remind the students about the impact a small act of kindness can have on someone, and how contagious these gestures are.”
While the kindness lessons were designed for elementary students, the message was not lost on our high school kids.
“Although we are all kind, teaching the elementary students reminds us about the simple acts of kindness that we may overlook,” senior Emma Toosi said. “This event has taught me that the youth of our township look up to us and we need to continue to be role models in every aspect of our lives.”
Mrs. Tarcson asked for volunteers for the kindness lessons and more than 40 Student Council members signed up. Students took time to develop the lessons and materials, and missed class to travel to the three schools over a two-day period.
“It wasn’t difficult or boring to spread kindness, it was easy and enjoyable,” sophomore Myles Owens said. “It was the highlight of our week to travel to the elementary schools and spread kindness to the kids that we once were.”
The experience was so impactful that Mrs. Tarcson wishes she could have recorded the lessons to share with the entire community.
“The Student Council students bring positivity and an earnestness that should be required viewing for all community members,” Mrs. Tarcson said. “They are so kind and patient and positive with the elementary students.”
Returning to their elementary schools is nostalgic for so many of the high school students.
“Our high school kids never forget their experiences during all phases of their education and they are genuinely thrilled to see their past teachers,” Mrs. Tarcson said. “It shows that we care about each step of the education process and nurture our students through each level.”