We believe in "catching" kids in the act of being genuinely kind.
These pictures were taken during the garden ribbon cutting ceremony at JT McWilliams Elementary School in Nevada on May 10, 2012. There was a contest for the name of the garden. The official name ”Blooming with Kindness” was chosen to keep the BE KIND program going. They want to grow a community of kindness.
Hi,
I used to teach at Legacy HS but am currently teaching out of state. I was wearing my Be Kind shirt in school and I had a 5th grader tell me,
“No, I don’t want to.”
Well, I explained where the shirt came from and we discussed what their Legacy is right now. It made a huge impact on my students. From a very smart alack remark to a lesson in kindness, respect how people view them and their actions.
Thanks, Cindy – Montana
This student was awarded a “Be Kind” t-shirt; this event happened on the first day of school. Her teacher, Mr. Whitley was telling his class about himself. He has a couple of medical issues that he tells the kids about in case he is having trouble in the class. With that, he makes a math problem out of the cost of his medications. He finished by breaking it down to the cost of each pill that is $5.00 each. His class left as did he.
When he came back he saw a $5.00 bill on his desk with a sticky note that said “for a pill”. No name or anything. He was finally able to track her down, and she shyly admitted that she was the one who left it.
He, of course, is framing the $5.00 bill for his classroom wall.
Julia Bush, School Counselor
Burkholder Middle School
CHULA VISTA — Arroyo Vista Charter School in Chula Vista is the first school in California to embrace a kindness movement that has been gaining momentum in U.S. schools.
Created by Nevada resident Drew Stevens and his wife, Barbara, who lost their 12-year-old son Josh to a tragic accident in 2008, the Josh Stevens Foundation is inspiring school kids and staff to “be kind” like Josh.
“My little boy was incredibly kind, we want his heart to continue to shine,” Drew Stevens said after his recent presentation at Arroyo Vista, which serves kindergarten through seventh grade students. “We want him to act as an inspiration for other children to be kind.”
Nearly 150 schools in Nevada, Oregon, Oklahoma and Minnesota have implemented the program and about a dozen more schools are in the process of coming on board.
Implementing the program is easy — the foundation outfits the entire school staff with “Be Kind” shirts and the school is then asked to purchase 100 or more shirts that parents and students can buy. Schools can customize the shirts with the slogan of their choice.
Every shirt says “Be Kind…” on the front and on the back has the selected slogan. Some have stated Be Kind… It’s the new cool. Be Kind… It’s contagious, and Be Kind… Like Josh. Arroyo Vista’s shirt will read Be Kind… Be the difference, Lead the Pack, a reference to its coyote mascot.
In addition, schools receive 305 kindness cards “we always use the number five because Josh was born on Oct. 5,” Stevens said. The cards can be handed out to students who are caught being kind. Schools also receive “be kind” bracelets and a guide that gives examples of how to keep the kindness movement thriving on campus. Ideas such as having a dedicated “be kind” day when students and staff wear their shirts and bracelets, or a kindness week, where students and staff can take part in a designated act of kindness each day.
Stevens said a middle school in Las Vegas created a kindness preserve in the center of its campus named for Josh.
“The whole idea is to keep these kids understanding and talking about the importance of kind acts, what they mean regardless of how grand or small they may seem,” Stevens said.
The reason people are embracing the movement, he said, is because it’s a positive message that tells children what to do instead of what not to do.
“Our message is not about bullying, this is about trying to create a climate of kindness and really emphasize, recognize and reward the positive side of all of that,” Stevens said.
To learn more about the foundation visit joshstevensfoundation.org.
tawny.mccray@utsandiego.com (619) 293-1859
Read how some students were caught being kind at Dean Allen in December!!
Thalia C. – 5th Grade
“Thalia was part of a small group of kids that had an earlier “altercation” with a student in class. This student became so upset he was crying. As the afternoon wore on, she chose to be partnered with him during a small-group activity since she “felt very bad that she was part of something that made him feel so bad that he cried” This student went on to work with Abby and my other “Caught Being Kind” student the rest of the afternoon! I’m so touched by her kindness!”
Ms. Hollander, Fifth Grade Teacher
Josh G. – 2nd Grade
On Wednesday, we were doing a holiday activity that involved using Elmer’s glue. When we had finished our project, someone noticed that one of the bottles of glue had come undone. There was an inch of glue in our glue bucket! What a mess! Needless to say, it was quite a job to clean everything up. The next morning, Josh came in and handed me a bag. Inside were 4 new bottles of glue! He was so concerned that we might not have enough glue for the classroom that he asked his mom if he could use his allowance to purchase new ones! This act of kindness and willingness to sacrifice his hard earned money for us makes Josh an amazing student! Congratulations!
Mrs. DeSoto, Second Grade Teacher
Thomas A. – 2nd Grade
It was an inclement weather schedule in the lunchroom—so it was kind of crazy in there! When the bell rang, Thomas saw that there were many pencils, books, and coats that had fallen on the floor. He went under the lunch tables and helped pick up and find homes for all the objects. He is always helpful in getting organized to leave the lunchroom, but he just made an extra special effort that day!
Mrs. Wiese, Second Grade Teacher
Kevin G. – 1st Grade
“We had just finished a big project. Kevin came up to me and showed my all of the things he had been picking up. He was doing it to help and was surprised when I gave him the kindness card. The other students had no idea he had been picking up. They all started cleaning up, following his example! Way to go Kevin!
Mrs. Leavitt, First Grade Teacher
Tyler R. – 5th Grade
“Tyler patiently reminds a student what she is supposed to be doing instead of coloring, drawing, reading a book. He is never mean or loud when he points to the page she is supposed to be on or the section we are reading or the problem we are going over. Thanks for being so helpful and kind”
Mrs. Doss, Fifth Grade Teacher
Maggie S. – 5th Grade
“Maggie often gets out of her seat to help a very unorganized student pick up all her papers, pens, pencils, and books that are tossed all over the floor. She never scolds the student or rolls her eyes or sighs heavily (as if saying, “Not again!”). She just quietly picks everything up and gives it to the student.”
Mrs. Doss, Fifth Grade Teacher
Pete W. – 1st Grade
“P.J.was caught being kind. He always helps others when they drop their pencil boxes on the floor. He is also the last one in the room and pushes everyone’s chair in for them when they forget.”
Mrs. Franc, First Grade Teacher
Haley G. – 3rd Grade
“Haley noticed a student who was sad because he had misplaced his favorite bookmark. She walked right up to him and gave him her bookmark in an attempt to calm him down. What a sweet and KIND thing Haley did!”
Ms. Hooshmand, SLD Teacher
Isaiah H. – 4th Grade
“Isaiah was caught being kind when he helped another student pick up their papers from the floor. Isaiah is a kind student!”
Ms. Hooshmand, SLD Teacher
Laycey D. – 5th Grade
“When Laycey arrives at Dean Allen Elementary School each morning, she goes to the computer room and boots up all of the computers. Her kindness has been especially helpful to me during the IDMS testing window. Thank you, Laycey.”
Mrs. Ingham, Literacy Specialist
Jaden B. – 5th Grade
“When Jaden arrives at Dean Allen Elementary School each morning, she goes to the computer room and boots up all of the computers. Her kindness has been especially helpful to me during the IDMS testing window. Thank you, Jaden.”
Mrs. Ingham, Literacy Specialist
Abby W. – 5th Grade
“Abby was part of a small group of kids that had an earlier “altercation” with a student in class. This student became so upset he was crying. As the afternoon wore on, she chose to be partnered with him during a small-group activity since she “felt very bad that she was part of something that made him feel so bad that he cried” This student went on to work with Abby and my other “Caught Being Kind” student the rest of the afternoon! I’m so touched by her kindness!”
Mrs. Hollander, Fifth Grade Teacher
Matthew P. – 3rd Grade
“When our classroom was extremely messy at the end of art, Matthew quietly went over a got the broom and dust pan and started sweeping. (There were small pieces of paper and other art materials all over the floor!) I was very thankful for the extra help that day! It was so nice to have his help right at that moment. I think he could see I would be left with a big mess on the floor if someone didn’t do something to help. So he jumped in and worked hard. What a relief it was for me to have his help! Thank you Matthew!”
Mrs. Leavitt, Art Teacher
Kara J. – 3rd Grade
“I caught Kara being kind to a fellow student in our class. Kara is always kind, but she went out of her way to make a special note for a friend. I saw her make the card and secretly deliver it to her friend. I know it made his day! What a kind way to act toward a classmate!”
Mrs. Condon, Third Grade Teacher
Foothill Montessori joins the Be Kind Revolution!
We received the following from students at Bob Miller! Thank you!
The nine of us received many compliments of our support of the foundation. You cant really read inside the little dots, but in each one they say “Kind like Josh.” I picked the colors red and yellow because they are the foundation colors. Red for the background and yellow for the sun. Hope you like them!:)
The Be Kind Program
By Morganne C., 4th grader
Be Kind has impacted our school, Scherkenbach Elementary in a very positive way by showing people how and to be kind. A few years ago when we did not have the Be Kind program lots of people, including myself were bullied. I did not like the fact that other people and I were being treated this way. By having the Be Kind theme at my school I have not seen or been bullied. When I see someone being nice to me I try to be nice back by commenting on their clothes or saying something random to make them laugh. If we always have the Be Kind program at Scherkenbach, I believe that our school be will be bully-free!
