Kindergarten class shows off kindness for RAK Day

November 7, 2019

Academics

GNS

Ms. Janna Sullivan’s Kindergarten class showed their appreciation towards Junior School faculty and staff with rainbows, hearts and smiley faces as part of the Victoria Foundation’s Random Acts of Kindness Day (RAK) initiative.

The Kindergarten students, along with the help from their Grade 4 buddies, made cards for people they wanted to thank for helping them learn and grow and for taking care of our school.

On November 1, the class set out to deliver their RAK cards. They quietly entered the classroom or office of each individual and surprised them with a card and a greeting of “Happy Kindness Day!”

There was no shortage of smiles and happy faces from the recipients when handed the cards.

Ms. Sullivan used educational materials from the Victoria Foundation, which has been leading local efforts since 2015.

However, it was not only the GNS community who appreciated what the Kindergarten class did. The Victoria Foundation notified Ms. Sullivan that her class was one of two winners of a $500 prize to go toward a registered charity of their choice!

After a classroom vote, the Kindergarten class decided the donation would go toward the BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC).

The class is made up of avid Nature Schoolers, so this charity was a perfect fit and a great way to continue to help animals in our local environment.

“We are so grateful to the Victoria Foundation for this amazing surprise,” said Ms. Sullivan. “Their generosity has allowed us to explore the concept of charity in our Kindergarten class, enabling us to contribute to our broader community in a meaningful way. As keen adventurers and nature detectives, we are thrilled to help local animals be rehabilitated for release back into the wild. This group of caring learners sure puts the kind in KINDergarten!”

RAK Day also connects to the Junior School’s theme of “Together We Build Community,” and the Kindergarten class’ focus on being ‘bucket fillers.’ The term ‘bucket fillers’ comes from the book Have You Filled A Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. The book encourages positive behaviours by using the concept of an indivisible bucket to show how simple and gratifying it is to show kindness, appreciation and love by filling other buckets.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated every November 1 since 2008 and brings communities across Canada together by engaging in small acts of kindness and generosity.