Kindness Connection: 2018 - 2019

During the 2018 - 2019 school year, Houghton Elementary School celebrated Kindness Connection Week beginning on Friday, January 18th and ending on Friday, February 1st with Kindness Connection Day on Wednesday, January 23, 2019.  In order to kick off this theme of kindness, community readers read the book, All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, to all students on November 5, 2018. Community readers included local business owners, Wachusett Regional School District's Central Office staff, and other important members of Houghton Elementary School's community.  

This year, our Kindness Connection theme focused on being kind to ourselves and becoming our best selves.  In order to highlight this theme, we asked teachers to read each day from the book, Unstoppable Me!: 10 Ways to Soar Through Life by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.  

In this book, ten different ways for how to be your best self are presented to children.  One way was presented to students by their teachers each day.  These ways were highlighted to children through the use of books, specifically one book for each way, which were presented to children through the use of video clips.  Nine different staff members and one important community member volunteered to be videotaped while reading these books.  Each day, the video that corresponded with the way taught in the Unstoppable Me! book was shown to all students.  The ten ways, their corresponding books, the person who read these books, as well as the poem that corresponds to each way in the book can be seen below.  Some of the video clips can also be viewed below as well.

1. Way #1: You're Great - No Matter What! 

Book: The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein 

Read by: Renata Wiggin (Administrative Assistant)

Poem for Way #1:

You are worthwhile

Simply because you’re alive.

Never forget this

And you’re sure to thrive.

Learn from your mistakes and

You’ll get stronger as you grow.

Believe you’ll succeed,

And then make it so.

If you value yourself

And all that you are – 

You’ll be unstoppable – 

The next superstar!

2. Way # 2: Persistence Pays Off! 

Book: Rose Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

Read by: Michael Walsh (Physical Education Teacher)

Poem for Way #2: 

When there’s something in your life

That you want to do.

Once you begin,

You must follow through.

It’s not about talent

Or if you are smart;

It’s about never quitting

Something you start.

Don’t tell yourself, “I can’t,”

Or dwell on mistakes;

Patience and determination

Are really all that it takes.

3. Way # 3: Welcome the Unknown 

Book: Bright Stanley and the Cave Monster by Matt Buckingham

Read by: Tony Cipro (School Principal)

Poem for Way #3:

Change is a good thing;

It happens every day –

If you learn this when you’re young,

It will help you on your way.

Each day is different

From the day before,

And it sometimes feels scary

When opening a new door.

But if you don’t fear change,

And embrace it instead,

Life will be an adventure and

You’ll look forward to what’s ahead.

4. Way #4: You Have a Choice 

Book: Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Read by: Trish O'Donnell (School Assistant Principal)

Poem for Way #4:

Rely on yourself,

And be true to who you are.

What’s unique about you

Is what will take you far.

Don’t look to others

To say you’re okay.

You know it – so believe it! – 

Show your own self the way.

Don’t blame others

For the things you say or do.

Every choice that you make

Is all up to you.

5. Way #5: Farewell to Worry 

Book: Jack’s Worry by Sam Zuppardi

Read by: Angela Cote (Conant Public Library Librarian)

Poem for Way #5:

If you want to be unstoppable, 

there's something you must know:

Worrying can bring you down

and cause helpless feelings to grow.

Just try to remember,

when stressful thoughts attack,

that positive actions on your part

are the best way to fight back.

So talk to someone if you're feeling blue;

tell them about your thoughts

Because sharing your burdens can help you

through many of life's rough spots.

6. Way #6: Peace Begins with You 

Book: Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns It’s OK to Back Away by Howard Binkow 

Read by: Jessica Wilke (Music Teacher)

Poem for Way #6:

If you want peace inside your heart,

don't let anger in.

It's just a feeling, after all;

it doesn't have to win.

When you're mad and let it change

the things you say or do,

not only do you hurt yourself,

but those around you, too.

So take your anger, let it go,

and learn to rise above -

then you can create a better world,

one filled with peace and love.

7. Way #7: Enjoy the Here-and-Now 

Book: What Does It Mean To Be Present? by Rana DiOrio

Read by: Danae Allison (School Psychologist)

Poem for Way #7:

Your past is now behind you,

And it has taught you many things.

You also have your future,

And you wonder what it will bring.

All these things to think about

Can cause your head to spin,

So remember this key to happiness – 

Enjoy the moment that you’re in!

Take pleasure in the here-and-now;

Don’t always be on the run.

The road you take to reach your goal

Should be part of the fun!

8. Way #8: Healthy Me! 

Book: My Amazing Body by Pat Thomas

Read by: Nurse Bertha (School Nurse)

Poem for Way #8:

Your body is amazing!

Pay attention and you’ll find…

Your body responds to what you think 

What you put inside your mind.

So tell yourself often,

“I’m healthy, and I’m strong!”

And if you happen to get sick,

Know that you won’t be for long.

Good thoughts and good humor

Are truly the best start

For a super-healthy

Mind, body, spirit, and heart.

9. Way #9: Creativity is the Key

Book: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Read by: Kathy Greene

Poem for Way #9:

When it comes to your greatness,

creativity is the key,

because with it there's no limit

to what you can be.

Being creative can mean

so many things -

it's finding your own way to meet

the challenges life brings.

So if you have ideas for your

own way to shine,

just stay true to yourself

and you will do just fine.

10. Way #10: What Can You Give?  

Book: Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

Read by: Connie McEwan

Poem for Way #10:

What is a life full of meaning and purpose,

one that's truly limit free?

It's when you learn to look outside yourself

and not always think, What about me?

It means seeing goodness and

beauty everywhere you turn,

and taking every experience in life

as a chance for you to learn.

It's being at peace every day,

with a respect for all things that live

and not wondering what you can get

but wondering what you can give.

Students were also given name badges with lanyards to wear in school over the course of these two weeks.  Each day, students were given a sticker to put on their name badges to signify the way that they had learned about that day.  All students were also given a Trading Card that contained a picture of the person who read the book in the video clip for that way (pictured below) as well as the short poem about that day's way, which were taken from the book Unstoppable Me! (pictured above).  At the end of these two weeks, all students were given blue wristbands with inspirational quotes on them (pictured below).