Beulah and Bill Arp elementary students recently embraced the spirit of kindness by participating in The Great Kindness Challenge. The inspiring week kicked off January 22 with students and staff devoting themselves to promoting a wave of positivity throughout their schools.
“The Great Kindness Challenge is a proactive and positive Social-emotional learning-focused bullying prevention program that improves school climate and increases student engagement,” said Bill Arp Elementary School Counselor Tracy Small. “Counselors also provide curriculum and instruction to support this initiative,” she added.
Some Great Kindness Challenge themes Bill Arp welcomed for the week included "Peace, Love, & Kindness," “Take Pride in Yourself” and “Walk Together with Kindness.” Using the provided kindness checklist, students accepted the challenge and showed the world that kindness matters.
“We are so proud of all the students who participated and accepted the challenge to complete as many acts of kindness as possible throughout the school this week,” expressed Bill Arp Principal Christy Shackelford. As a result of their goodwill, Bill Arp was honored with the Kindness Certified School Certificate for completing 1,818 Acts of Kindness January 22 through 26.
Beulah Elementary scholars also shared in spreading joy by designing special kindness stickers and distributing them to Beulah’s staff and local coffee shops.
“Beulah’s Beta Club has taken the kindness challenge very seriously,” said Media Specialist Lori Blevins.
Students decorated candy jars for staff members and donated volunteer hours after school to assist teachers with completing various tasks, Blevins explained.
“We are so glad we have students who know how to be kind,” she said.
Overall, the Great Kindness Challenge, presented by the nonprofit organization Kids for Peace, encourages students to spread joy throughout their schools and communities.
According to the official website, the heart of the foundation is the belief that kindness is strength.
A high school honor student and mother who was a former elementary school teacher initiated Kids for Peace to foster positive change worldwide.
With a mission to help create a more positive, unified and respectful school environment, the organization designed The Great Kindness Challenge.
The innovative approach has ignited the kindness movement across the globe where collectively the world is proving kindness matters.