The Great Kindness Challenge Continues In Rocky Point

Press release from the Rocky Point School District:

Feb. 9, 2022

At the entrance of Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School in Rocky Point, a huge bulletin board features paper hearts with names on each one, under the title “Kind People Are My Kind of People.” The project, coordinated by school counselor Jamie Adamski and Arlette Dominguez, a counselor at the North Shore Youth Council, is the school’s inspired response to the Great Kindness Challenge, a social-emotional learning program that works to improve school climate and increases student engagement.

With a checklist of fun examples, including being kind to yourself, eating healthy snacks, complimenting other people, saying thank you to school staff, among others, the weeklong event is empowering students to create a culture of kindness.

“The students are excited to learn that they are part of something taking place around the world with more than 13 million students in over 100 countries,” Adamski said.

An “appreciation station” was set up in the cafeteria where students in all grades colored and wrote positive messages to parents, siblings, teachers and support staff. Bringing the students together to share in creating the paper hearts also encouraged many of them to pen a special note of appreciation to a fellow Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School friend.

In addition to encouraging classroom participation with reminders and ideas for kind gestures, students received a Spirit Week flyer and even an at-home family edition checklist.

This press release was produced by the Rocky Point School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.