"Kindness Matters" at #nspire2015

Our Kindness Week was a huge hit at Monteith.  Check out Monteith’s inspiring students in the links below!  

Join Monteith in The Great Kindness Challenge

@rhondawalker @Local4News helping kick off the #greatkindnesschallenge

Growing our Kindness Tree!

Rhonda Walker and Local 4 News helping kick off The Great Kindness Challenge!

Nothing inspire me more than our students and their varied and inspirational viewpoints.  

Friday night, Grosse Pointe Public Schools hosted #nspire2015.  An event where 30 inspiring students came together to give a series of short and inspiring talks in front of a live audience.  They were answering the question, “What is your vision for ______?”  All proceeds from this event will benefit the Michigan Eye Bank and help to raise awareness and support to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

This joyful event was filled with inspiration from extremely poised and powerful students who highlighted the importance of their vision with amazing eloquence.  Our school was proud to have Olivia, a Monteith 5th grader, who dazzled the audience with her inspiring talk about kindness. Check out her speech below!  

My Vision of the World:

Just a little Kindness

   My vision of the world is not very creative. It’s not mind blowing and it won’t cure cancer. You don’t have to spend millions of dollars to do it and it’s not time consuming. My vision of the world is where kindness overpowers meanness. Where a person doesn’t walk away when someone is feeling down or being rude. Instead, they think, how can I make this person’s day better? It doesn’t have to be a BIG thing. You don’t have to give them your X-Box One or iPad! It could be as little as a smile, a simple wave or some sweet words. In our everyday life, I think there are three things that get in the way of my vision where EVERYONE is kind. These are grumpiness, bullying, and jealousy.  By changing our responses and practicing a little kindness, we can achieve my goal!

Grumpiness

      Grumpiness makes being kind a bit of a challenge. How many times have you been to the store, fast food drive thru or a restaurant and seen that one person who seems like they would rather be ANYWHERE but there? They are not pleasant to be around. Is it that hard to smile? It takes just as much effort to frown than smile! When I stumble upon these situations, I try to think, what’s going on in their life? Are they having a bad day? Did they have a rude customer? Instead of being rude back, just smile or give them a compliment. It just might turn their whole day around!

Bullying

      Bullying is another situation that is hard to deal with. When people say mean things to you like, “You’re SO gross!” “My mom has a better fashion sense than you!” “You’re such a geek!” Try to let those words bounce off of you like a bouncy ball instead of letting them stick as peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth. Also try to kill them with kindness. This means giving smiles, compliments or maybe even telling them a joke to make them laugh. This doesn’t mean you should let people treat you badly, because they are the one causing all of this, not you. Remember to tell yourself, I am wonderful! I am awesome! I am loveable!

Jealousy

      Everyone experiences jealousy sometime in their life. It’s not a great emotion. You could feel jealous when your friend gets new shoes that you love and you want them really badly. Or maybe your friend got the part in the school play that you really wanted. Or your cousin is going on a once in a life time trip and you rarely go on vacations. Instead of ignoring or being mean to your friend, try being happy for them! Think about how nice they look or how hard they must’ve worked. And let them know you’re really glad for them!

Conclusion

      These are examples of things that get in the way of my vision of the world where everyone is kind to each other. So, all I’m trying to say is just be nice! Try adding a little kindness in everything you do. Start on your way home tonight - in the parking lot, at the store checkout, with your irritating little brother. It’s not rocket science! Anyone can do it! You don’t have to be popular, or the smartest person in your class. You don’t have to be athletic, have a lot of money or have a great fashion sense. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth the effort! And most of all, remember to SMILE….It’s contagious!

Many children and adults could learn from her powerful words and genuinely kind thoughts.  Olivia and so many other future leaders inspired us on Friday. I wish everyone had the chance to listen to the heartfelt messages that all of our #nspire2015 students shared.  I hope their message is heard and inspires us to follow their lead.  

Thank you #gpmonteith for The Great Kindness Challenge and #nspire2015 students who are leading the path towards a better future!

Enjoy the weekend and “Smile… It’s contagious!”

Kindness 2015

Monteith’s focus word for 2015:  KINDNESS

“A quality teacher-student relationship means more than the combined power of all teaching and discipline techniques known to humankind.”

Love and logic Teacher-ism

I love this quote!  Establishing positive relationships with your students and children, while creating an atmosphere where children have positive relationships with each other, will truly benefit any classroom, family, or community.  Quality parent-child, teacher-student, and student-student relationships will support and increase a positive community where children want to thrive.  It also makes everyone’s experience more enjoyable.   I am fortunate to work with a faculty that views positive relationships as the most important consideration within their classrooms, creating environments where students want to spend their days.

Throughout my experience, it seems that one word is the major force in establishing positive relationships: KINDNESS!  A kind, considerate, or helpful comment or act can brighten anyone’s day.  It solidifies positive relationships between individuals, increasing likelihood that future positive connections and interactions will take place.  Additionally, being kind to others just makes you feel good about yourself!

During the week of January 26th, our school is taking on The Great Kindness Challenge which is presented by Dignity Health. Our “Kids for Peace Experience” will be packed with activities to support and enhance kindness throughout Monteith.  Highlights of the week consist of the following:

• Great Kindness Challenge Assembly
• Morning Kindness Quotes
• School-wide Kindness Bulletin Board
• Kindness Spirit Days
• School-wide song, “Reach Out” taught in music class
• Lunch Recess Kindness Stations
• Classroom Kindness Activities
• Kindness Video
• Kindness Challenge checklist for each child
• And much, much more...

Parents can also join in on The Great Kindness Challenge by modeling and discussing acts of kindness with your children. Simply asking: “How did you fill someone’s bucket today?” or “How did you build up your character today by showing an act of kindness to someone at school?” will reinforce our school-wide initiative.  These simple questions make great dinnertime conversations that will encourage and sustain acts of kindness.  Reading 15 Ways to Start 2015, posted on December 22, 2014 by Kelsey Gryniewicz via The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation provides great suggestions for individuals and families to kick off The Great Kindness Challenge.  Check it out!

We ask you to kindly create positive relationships and connections with each other, by joining us during The Great Kindness Challenge (January 26-30), and incorporate acts of kindness during 2015 and beyond!

Feel free to share your special acts of kindness by making a comment.

Always Remember to Be Respectful, Responsible, Safe and that KINDNESS MATTERS!

Have a great week!