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Date: 2/1/2023
AGAWAM — One thing the world needs is more kindness — a lot more. Students at Robinson Park Elementary School are doing their best to make that happen.
The school recently launched a new initiative called the Kindness Squad. Several classroom teachers, Tara Witte, Sue Lubarsky and Jessie Paulo, along with lead teacher Andrea Polley, came up with the idea several months ago. They are members of the school’s PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Committee.
Robinson Park Principal Stephanie Harris, also a member of the committee, and Lucy Ellis, a fourth grader at the school, explained the program at the Jan. 24 School Committee meeting. Ellis one of the squad’s student leaders.
There are two squad leaders from each of the three fourth grade classes. They are called Eagles in honor of the school mascot, Robbie the Eagle. Students who aspire to be Eagle leaders have to campaign for the position by making posters and giving speeches in front of their classmates.
Squad members include two students each from first grade through fourth grade classrooms, as well as all kindergartners. The squad members rotate on a bi-monthly basis.
Harris said the Kindness Squad operates like a student council, but focuses on spreading kindness, encouragement and inclusion.
“Similar to our student bus patrol, these student leadership positions rotate at the teacher’s discretion so all students who want to participate in it have an opportunity to do so,” she added.
The Kindness Squad continues the school’s pursuit of promoting leadership opportunities for students.
“It also helps students in further developing positive attitudes and practicing good citizenship,” Harris said.
She added that the goal of the Kindness Squad is “to promote the importance of positive relationships and intentional relationship building between staff and students throughout our school to improve school climate and well-being as well as provide a forum for student expression centered around kindness and inclusion.”
The Kindness Squad does this by planning special events and projects. Members have made thank-you cards for staff and students, placed kindness posters around school and developed some simple ideas to spread kindness, such as smiling and waving at people in the hall or cleaning up the playground.
One of their visible projects was to posting “Kindness Quotes” to signs they hold up as students arrive at school.
“We wrote stuff like ‘Be a good friend,’ ‘Have a great day,’ Hope you have a great day’ and ‘Be kind to each other,” said Ellis.
“Morning arrivals makes my heart smile as we have not just students on the Kindness Squad holding signs, but others as well,” added Polley following the School Committee presentation. “It’s such a positive way to start our day.”
The squad meets regularly to brainstorm ideas, such as creating a welcome kit for new students, for spreading kindness around the school
Ellis also talked about a squad project for Random Acts of Kindness Week, which is the week of Feb 13. The squad will help plan fun activities for teachers to do in their classrooms.
She explained that there also will be a group project across all grade levels of the Kindness Squad.
“Kindergartners will color blank clothespins while first and second graders will decorate them with heart stickers. Third and fourth graders will write words of kindness on the clothespins.”
During the week, squad members will “sneak up” on classmates to attach clothespins to their backpacks. “When they find these, they will smile and know that [the school] cares about them,” said Ellis.
Students also have been practicing kindness by giving back to the community.
Students and staff raised $960 and collected $60 in gift cards for Soldier On and presented cards and gift cards to each of the representatives from the group. First graders raised $382 from Christmas ornament sales to purchase 30 gifts for Toys for Tots.
Since the initiative began, Polley said more students have come up to her to say how they can’t wait to be on the Kindness Squad.
“I usually reply that even though they’re not officially on the squad. they can still spread kindness,” she said.
She added that the job of educators is to prepare students for the future. “Every teacher at [Robinson Park] promotes the idea that one kind word, gesture, act, etc., can change another person’s day for the good. Helping our students spread kindness helps others feel good. It also promotes the idea that we are all important enough to change someone’s day for the better, which in turn makes us feel amazing.”
Other members of the PBIS Committee include Karen Bernier, Kristin Dietz, Christy McGurn, Sue Breton, Christie Haines, Matt LaCroix, Megan LaCroix and Felicity Laudato.
“This is a work in progress,” said Polley, “but we’re happy with what we’ve been able to accomplish.”