Happiness Happenings
Wrapping Keller in Kindness
By: Suzanne W.
Interact Club is a flexible club where you spread random and conscious acts of kindness. You get to do special things like be in the assembly and just have fun! Mrs. Konkey said she got the idea from brainstorming with Nikki M. and Victor D. Have you ever wondered what it means to “pay it forward” as is stated on the orange arrows that wrap the building? It means to do kind acts for other people. Students spread kindness by giving simple smiles to people, saying hello, committing thoughtful acts without an expectation of something in return, random acts of kindness, and even an encouraging comment.The outcome from the arrows is to show acts of kindness and happiness. It also depicts how much Keller cares by having a visual of it, as is seen from the arrows around the school! If you ever wondered why these awesome members joined this club, it’s because they thought it was really cool, fun, and they wanted to communicate with other students! Corissa G. mentioned that she gets free magazines to read during the meetings in Interact Club. If you ever want to encourage people to spread happiness, you can lead by example. Nikki M. shares with us that we can tell the other people the fun stuff we are doing, as the club members have had the chance to do by participating in the assemblies. The club truly knows how to connect all students through the kind attitudes they carry with them day to day.
Did you know that happiness and helping others is hard-wired into the human brain? That's why giving to others feels just as good as (if not sometimes better) than when we receive. Knowing that this is true, then lots of Keller students and staff should be filled with tons of happiness as they have been collecting food and clothing for those in need this holiday season. So when you're feeling blue, think about how you can help someone else and in turn you'll be helping increase the happiness level in yourself as well!
Ways to Give
- Share a smile
- Volunteer your time doing something you love or that is just helpful
- Donate clothing and/or food
- Re-gift gifts given to others who have less
- Listen attentively
- Buy a gift card and give to someone who's homeless
- Partner up with someone to help each other (an exercise partner, sports partner, etc.)
- Tutor someone who is struggling in school
- Create a care package or a card and send it to someone in need (nursing home patients, a service member, pets)
- Baby sit or clean for free
Keller Wildcats spread happiness by performing acts of kindness and gathering clothes to donate to Addams Junior High's community closet
Fun All Over December
By: Munya N.
When winter break opens the door for students, they only enter the holiday door for a short time. When the festivities end, the students seek to find other things to occupy their days. However, there are multiple doors to choose from during winter break. Here are some to help you through the cheer of the cold season because winter is all about fun. Isn’t it?
Crafts
Some people fill up their time by crafting. When the days are cold, you can’t go outside and play. So for those craft lovers, there are some tips for you to collect time so you don’t get bored easily. Crocheting and knitting, for example, can bring joy. It all starts easily. Whether it is crocheting a blanket or knitting a scarf, it is something that’ll make craft lovers enjoy their break. These hobbies are a traditional thing, well for me at least. You could crochet a snowflake or knit some stockings. There are many patterns, so why don’t you go and try some?
Baking/Cooking
In winter, having a warm, melted chocolate chip cookie in your hand is one thing, or having your family sit around the table with pride and joy is another. Lots of people love to work in the kitchen, and some love to taste, just like me here! For those who love spending most of their time in the kitchen, they could try to do some multitask cooking. Have you ever heard of chocolate chip cookies with bacon and maple syrup? This recipe turned out to be so famous in some families, starting with my family first!
Organizing/Decorating
My room looks like a hot mess and it needs new holiday decorations. Anyone willing to give some ideas? Going around school, lots of kids said that they decorated their room for the holidays. I got some fantastic ideas. You could make thousands of candles out of glass cups, which I had lots of those. Uh…but I really don’t recommend it if you have a strict housekeeper like my mom’s. Anyways, for those who love slime, making some cute mini food slime would help you have some cheer and joy in your room. And don’t say I didn’t warn you, you will get so addicted to it!
Journaling
As for me, I love journaling and all writing in general. For the weather conditions, some like to put their thoughts and feelings into a journal or a notebook. Even if you aren’t much of a writer, make at least a daily gratitude journal. This’ll help you with your everyday life, also it makes you peaceful and thankful for the good things you have. For me, in my journal, I write poems, song lyrics, feelings/emotions, or simply copy quotes or phrases. After all, it is a journal, do whatever makes you feel happy.
Reading
If you are a reader, then you are going to be so elated this year. Anyone just love the smell and texture of books? If your answer was a yes, then this winter break YOU ARE VERY LUCKY! Now you might ask why or how. However, the answer is going to be so simple. This year there is a new program created through the Schaumburg Library, Teen Book Boxes. This program is a three month register. If any of you are interested to join, then go to the library, there they’ll have papers for you to fill out. Isn’t this just so great? If you sign up by December 28th, you’ll receive a book box every three months, one on December the 28th, January the 19th, and February the 25th. Hope you sign up, it will be so much fun to read during break.