Kindness is key at Levy Lakeside

During the month of February, the second- and third-graders of Michelle Fenelius’ and Jenn Gargan’s classes spread kindness throughout Norman J. Levy Lakeside School in the Merrick School District with their interactive kindness board.

As part of the school’s social and emotional service-learning program, Lions Quest, the students were asked to create a project that involved the whole school. They discussed what kindness means, how one can be kind to others, how it feels to receive a compliment and the ripple effect that kindness has on people.

After deliberation, the second- and third-grade students decided on creating a kindness board with the theme “Candy Is Sweet, but Compliments Are Sweeter,” where others could write compliments. The classes cut hundreds of paper hearts for every student in the school to write a compliment on, which would then be posted on the board. Once the board was full of hearts, students were able to take a heart off the board to keep or give to someone. Paper hearts were also placed next to the board for students to write more kind words. Students of both classes were in charge of explaining the board’s purpose during the morning announcements and classroom visits, motivating others to participate, and frequently filling the board with hearts.

Additionally, teachers were asked to nominate students who performed random acts of kindness for the “Kisses for Kindness” initiative. Nominees received a certificate of recognition and a paper Hershey’s Kiss with their name on it that would be displayed on the kindness board. Students were rewarded for pushing in a classmate’s chair, helping someone clean up, eating lunch with a new friend and including others during recess.

Ms. Fenelius and Ms. Gargan were extremely proud of how successful the board was. “The enthusiasm and participation we received not only from our students but from the entire school was truly remarkable,” said Ms. Gargan.