Henry H. Wells Middle School Celebrates Kindness Week

“You’re awesome!”

“Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”

“You rock!”

CV Starr students found Starbursts and messages like these written on colorful post-its placed on their desks when they came into their classrooms early last week. The thoughtful gifts were part of a “Kindness Drop” Henry H. Wells middle schoolers did in conjunction with Kindness Week.

Wells participated in the Great Kindness Challenge, a worldwide, weeklong initiative designed to create a culture of kindness. To make this week possible, student groups joined forces to come up with themes for Kindness Spirit Week as well as different ways to celebrate kindness.

On Monday, middle schoolers were challenged to complete as many kind acts as they could throughout the week. During the week, there were special days when they could do things like make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital (and get to wear a hat all day) or make a thank you card for someone special.

“The goal is to bring awareness to how we treat one another but the hope is that the attention to kindness makes a more lasting effect on our community,” said Kindness Klub advisor and middle school counselor Joanna Biagi.

The Kindness Drop was a way to start the week off strong. Members of the National Junior Honor Society, Student Government, Leadership, and Kindness Klub walked over to CV Starr with their advisors first thing in the morning. Breaking up into groups, they made sure to leave a treat on every student’s desk.

When CV Starr students started arriving, some cheered when they saw the little treats.

“I thought it was really cool that someone would do that,” said Eileen Espana. “Mine said ‘you are amazing.’”

Kindness Week activities support the district’s Strategic Coherence Plan by teaching and reinforcing skills such as civic responsibility, adaptability, and communication and collaboration.