ROCKLAND — Superintendent Alan Cron and Principal Janice Sheehan are pleased to announce that prior to February vacation last week, students and staff at Memorial Park School celebrated Spreading Kindness Week.
For the past three years, Memorial Park has worked to instill the value of kindness in students and throughout the community during week-long celebrations. Each day features a different color to wear to represent gratitude, helpfulness, positivity, courage and self love; all virtues needed to show kindness to yourself, others and the world around you.
This year’s Spreading Kindness Week ended in a Virtual Pride Assembly to bring the school together and share in discussion, learning and fun. Kindergarten teacher Katie Cox came up with the idea of a Virtual Pride Assembly since monthly Pride Assemblies held in the cafeteria had become a tradition pre-COVID.
The assembly was run by Title I teacher Kelsey Holbrook. Rather than gathering in the cafeteria, all classroom teachers logged into a Google Meet and projected their screen onto their Smartboard for their students to see. Students were called on to speak about the three big rules of Respect, Responsibility and Safety, as well as sharing messages of love and kindness.
Students took part in a variety of games, including a class word scramble, a yoga challenge and a picture trivia of historical leaders. Winners had the opportunity to visit the school’s Book Vending Machine. They were given a token by Principal Sheehan, and just like candy or chips can be selected in a typical vending machine, they were able to choose and keep a book of their choice. Over 20 students went home with new books.
“It was clear from the buzz in the hallways and the smiles of staff and students that this comradery was craved and needed,” Principal Sheehan said. “The big takeaway for all was that although we cannot all physically be together, we can still come together and work toward a common goal of kindness.”
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