Kindness Certified School

from 2021 Spring/Summer Education Connection

A Note from Our Superintendent

Snohomish Discovery

Every year I choose a schoolwide theme to incorporate into guidance lessons, school activities, staff trainings, and more. This school year I chose the theme of “kindness” because I felt that we were constantly hearing about, experiencing, facing, and sometimes contributing to the negativity that came along with the year 2020. I wanted to refocus and recreate a positive, caring, respectful, and “kind” school culture for all staff and students. The school year started with kindness lessons and activities from “The Random Acts of Kindness” organization (randomactsofkindness.org). They offer free lesson plans for educators that can be taught in an inperson or virtual setting.

In January, Snohomish Discovery signed up and participated in “The Great Kindness Challenge” (thegreatkindnesschallenge.com) along with 28,000 other schools and over 110 countries. Throughout the week, our students were challenged to do many kind acts and classrooms chose class projects such as making bookmarks with quotes of kindness, making posters, cards, and designing chain links to add to the ‘Links of Love’ Guinness World Records challenge. After completing these week-long activities, we were recognized as a Kindness Certified School. We are on the right track to fostering a kind and respectful school community.

Submitted by Alison McNeal, MA.Ed a School Counselor at the Snohomish Discovery Center