In an effort to recognize and promote good behavior at Grant Middle School, students and administrators put their heads together to come up with a solution. The answer was the Kindness Challenge.
“Our Kindness Challenge started from the students’ perspective,” Assistant Principal Adam Hennessy said. “They came to us and wanted to start an initiative in the building. We got together and kind of got it going.
“There’s no process; if we see someone being kind, we put them on the Kindness Wall and give them a free Domino’s Pizza.”
The Kindness Wall is visible for anyone who walks through the halls at Grant. And it’s growing. Since its inception in November, over 65 students have found their names on the wall. Fifty-five of those were recognized before the holiday break and were rewarded with a pizza luncheon January 15.
In addition to being put on the wall, those recognized receive a T-shirt and other items such as lanyards, bracelets, water bottles and things with the Kindness Challenge logo on them.
Community partnerships from Domino’s, Modern Woodmen, Cooper’s Bowl, and the Marion Police Department have been key to growing the Kindness Challenge.
“Our collaboration with Marion City Schools is our biggest collaboration,” said Bill Collins, Chief of Police. “When people are nice at school, they’re nice to other people and it spills out into the community.
“We want students to understand that (the Marion Police Department) is kind no matter what happens. Any chance we have to get into the schools and share that message, and make sure they’re shown the appreciation they deserve when they do something good, we want to be there.”
For seventh grader Sam Stover, her opportunity to get noticed for being kind came in the way she treated cafeteria staff during lunch on a daily basis.
“I say please and thank you and one time the cooks told our principals that I had good manners,” she said. “There’s too many bad things in the world. If you don’t focus on the good things, there’s not much point to having them.”
Eighth-grade cheerleader Teamaira Harris helps with special ed students.
“I just like helping people,” she said. “I find it fun and it makes me feel good.”
The idea behind the Kindness Challenge was summed up by Modern Woodmen Financial Representative Kathie Seckel, who attended the luncheon.
“The great thing here is that it doesn’t take good grades to be a part of this and you don’t have to be a great athlete to get noticed,” she explained. “Ninety-eight percent of the kids who go to school each day are following the rules and participating in class and they’re not getting a light shone on them because they’re doing what’s expected.
“We want to put a highlight on those who are taking an extra step from just doing what’s expected and doing something kind for others.”