Kindness in a Jar - For Parents!

When I sat down Monday morning to prep for the week ahead, I was in disbelief that Thanksgiving Break is already here! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I think Thanksgiving is the best holiday ever. A day where I can eat as much as I want, watch football, enjoy the cool weather, and spend time with family, is truly all of my favorite things in one. And then we have a home Chiefs game the next day…How can it get better?

I realize that I say this every year, but while this is a time where gratitude and thanksgiving can bolster love and hope, it can also have a sharp edge to it. I feel that it’s an important reminder that the holidays tend to shed an unwanted light on loss - however that may look for you and your family. Be kind and show grace to those around you that may need a little extra support through the coming months. Remind them that the people in their lives are there with open arms. A little kindness goes a long way, especially this time of year! Which leads me into my November update...

When it comes to kindness and gratitude at Oakhill, this year has been an exceptionally kind year! We have spoken a lot about the updates we made to the Lifeskills program, and it has really brought out the best in our students. Since the first day of school, our students have been recognized for nearly 300 lifeskills… and those are just the ones that were reported! I check the updates often, and I am reminded daily of how special our students are. Oakhill students are kind, respectful, responsible, honest, (to name a few) and have so much to offer Oakhill, their families, and our community. I am SO grateful to know each and every one of them!

So in the spirit of Lifeskills, the holiday season, and the fact that November 13th was World Kindness Day (in case you didn’t know!), each teacher was given a Kindness Jar to incorporate into their classroom. Each jar has several random acts of kindness that can be pulled, at any time, to challenge students and staff to spread kindness in unique ways. The hope is that we use the jars in morning meetings, as an exit slip, a new Friday tradition, etc. to encourage all of us to spread random acts of kindness wherever we go. BUT there is an added twist… in order to ensure that Oakhill’s kindness spreads past our front doors, there is a Kindness Jar in each front office for parents, grandparents, visitors, etc. to also pull from! Not only are our kids participating, but so are you! So the next time you are on campus, pull some kindness from the jar and help promote kindness in the community. 

Your kids will love being able to participate in these acts of kindness alongside you - and there may be some acts of kindness that they benefit from! There is no better feeling than making someone else’s day a little brighter, while teaching our kids the beauty of treating others with kindness. I challenge you to incorporate more of this at home and talk to your kids about the importance of kindness - what impact can it have on others? How does it make you feel to be kind in small ways? Big ways? What acts of kindness would you be happy to receive?

I hope that this long week off is the beginning of a happy holiday season! Take time to connect and rest up for an exciting few weeks before winter break! 

Mrs. P