Jacobs School students pose with the school’s new kindness banner, which was made after the word ‘kindness’ was chosen as the official word of the year at the school. (Photo courtesy Hull Public Schools). 
Franconia Buchleitner, grade 4, works on the school’s new kindness banner. (Photo courtesy Hull Public Schools). 
Owen Bilodeau, grade 1, works on the school’s new kindness banner. (Photo courtesy Hull Public Schools). 
Maysea Lyons, grade 5, displays her one word, “try,” as part of the Jacobs School ‘One Word Initiative’ to start the school year. (Photo courtesy Hull Public Schools). 
Zachary Walsh, grade 1, displays his one word, “courage,” as part of the Jacobs School ‘One Word Initiative’ to start the school year. (Photo courtesy Hull Public Schools).
HULL — Superintendent Judith Kuehn and Principal Christine Cappadona are pleased to share that students at the Lillian M. Jacobs Elementary School have been spreading some extra kindness during the new academic year as part of a special school-wide project.
Staff at the Jacobs School kicked off the year with the “One Word Initiative” using the book, “One Word for Kids: A Great Way to Have Your Best Year Ever” by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton and Jimmy Page. Rather than setting goals for the school year staff chose one word as a focus to have the “best year ever.” Their words were scattered on the walls of the staff mailroom to keep the words as a focus for everyone.
Each class in the school was then given the book, and teachers read the story and students chose their own word to focus on this year.
A video was created of each student in the school saying their word. The video was shown during the school’s first assembly of the year.
Teachers have reinforced this initiative with various activities so far this year, such as painting their one word on rocks to make paper weights, posting quotes on doors, and more.
Spreading Some Kindness
Assistance Principal Kyle Shaw used the first assembly of the year to announce “Kindness” as the school-wide “one word” that everyone would focus on during the year
During morning announcements the school has held a weekly kindness challenge, such as asking school members to hold the door open for someone. The school has also purchased and collected picture books with the theme of kindness, and two books are highlighted each week and read aloud to students. Highlighting books enables teachers and students to share common experiences and language to reinforce the theme throughout the year.
“I can’t think of a better word to focus on to bring the school community together than ‘kindness,’” Principal Cappadona said. “We are sprinkling kindness throughout the building in a variety of ways, and everyone — from students to staff to administrators — have taken to it and are enjoying how this new school year has gone so far.”
Students have also completed a kindness mural to hang up that features giant block letters that spell out the word, with students’ chosen words inside the letters. The mural is currently hanging in the school cafeteria.
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