St. Francis High School Celebrates “Finding Kind Week”

The St. Francis High School community participated in Bullying Prevention Week (April 28 – May 2).  This year’s theme was “Finding Kind” and the students planned a week of activities intended to promote being kind to one another.

Last week the freshman, sophomore and junior classes were educated about bullying as they watched the movie “Finding Kind”, a documentary about bullying, how it affects people, how to prevent it and how to reverse its effects.  This week’s activities were intended to encourage kindness.  “By being kind, students can not only stop bullying, but they can also contribute to preventing it from happening in the first place,” said Angelika Rupp, St. Francis High School Guidance Counselor.

Led by a planning team which included Angelika Rupp, teacher Lauren Ladley, the Student Ministry Team and SADD (Students against Destructive Decisions), and in conjunction with the Finding Kind Campaign, students signed kindness pledges, were encouraged to sit with someone new at lunch, played capture the flag while making new friends, performed random acts of cyber-kindness, participated in yoga, and took part in the “”Pay it Forward Day” and “14 Day Kindness Challenge”.

On Monday, three sophomores, Natalie Blank, Bridget Doran and Megan Doran, placed positive notes and inspirational sayings on all student lockers.  Bridget and Megan wanted each student to know that they are special and felt that “even some little compliment can make someone’s day.”  Natalie said, “I thought that in honor of Finding Kind Week, I could give each student at St. Francis High School the positive and optimistic encouragement they all deserve…everyone needs some extra motivation!”  Angelika Rupp said that these girls worked for weeks hand-writing each message on Post-It Notes.  Natalie added that it was “an inexpensive and simple way to promote kindness, optimism and spirit in the hallways of St. Francis.”