VALENTINES FOR THE 106TH
(January 12, 2014-Riverhead, NY) Kelly Dillon’s class participated in the GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE at the Roanoke Avenue Elementary School by writing persuasive essays about people who they felt are “underappreciated in the world”. The students included a section about how the people they had chosen to write about “should be treated”.
One of Ms. Dillon’s students, David Burns, agreed to read a portion of his essay for a short video that was posted on the District website. (See below.) His essay explained how he felt members of the military were often under appreciated and how he himself planned to “honor members of the military”. His feelings and arguments were very passionate and very persuasive. Two other classes and his own classmates decided to make Valentines for military personnel in an effort to thank them for their service. The video was viewed by a number of local members of the the 106th Rescue Wing of the Air National Guard on Long Island. Two airmen from the 106th, Airman Brian Dillon (Ms. Dillon's brother) and Airman Joshua Burns (David's dad), contacted Ms. Dillon and asked if they could come into her classroom to tell the students about their jobs and to thank David for his presentation. Ms. Dillon’s class, along with Donna Verbeck’s and Gary Karlson’s class, made Valentines for military members. During the visit, the students presented the airmen with over 200 Valentine cards to distribute to military personnel of the 106th. The members of Ms. Dillon's class each made three Valentines signed every card the class made. |
Photo #1: David (center) with his dad, Airman Joshua Burns (right) and Airman Brian Dillon (left).
Photo #2: Adults L-R: Airman Joshua Burns, Roanoke Principal Thomas Payton, CAP Social Worker Shannon Kutner (who coordinate the Great Kindness Challenge at Roanoke), teacher Kelly Dillon. Photo #3: Ms. Dillon presents Airman Burns with 200 handmade Valentines for members of the 106th. Photo #4: Airman Dillon, who works in communications, explained his job to the students in Ms. Dillon's class. Photo #5: Airman Dillon receives his Valentine. Photo #6: Each member of Ms. Dillon's class signed each Valentine. |
THE GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE 2014 AT PHILLIPS AND ROANOKE AVENUE SCHOOLS
(January 26-January 31, 2014) This week students at Phillips Avenue and Roanoke Avenue Elementary Schools have been making an extra effort to be kind both at school and at home because they are participating in THE GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE. The CHALLENGE is a nationwide program in which schools are encouraged to devote one week to performing as many acts of kindness as possible. (Check out the KINDNESS LIST.)
The student participation at Phillips and Roanoke was encouraged by each school’s “Peacemakers” group. ("Peacemakers" is a student-initiated anti-bullying movement coordinated by CAP social worker Shannon Kutner). Students are encouraged to do things like: complimenting 5 people, slipping a nice note into a friend’s backpack, hugging a friend, bringing a flower to the office staff, offering to help the custodian, etc. It is hoped that the CHALLENGE will help create a culture of kindness in school and increase tolerance, unity and respect for all.
The student participation at Phillips and Roanoke was encouraged by each school’s “Peacemakers” group. ("Peacemakers" is a student-initiated anti-bullying movement coordinated by CAP social worker Shannon Kutner). Students are encouraged to do things like: complimenting 5 people, slipping a nice note into a friend’s backpack, hugging a friend, bringing a flower to the office staff, offering to help the custodian, etc. It is hoped that the CHALLENGE will help create a culture of kindness in school and increase tolerance, unity and respect for all.
The FOURTH GRADE CHORUS at Roanoke prepared the Great Kindness Challenge song (also on Vimeo) to share, and some of the teachers have initiated their own class projects. Check out some of the candid shots below (hoover over photo with your arrow for a caption):
Roanoke Avenue Elementary SchoolThe Peacemakers made a banner that reads “Kindness Matters” and they are encouraging their classmates to make a kind note for someone in the school. Here's what some of the individual classes are doing to participate in the Great Kindness Challenge.
Mrs. Hughes
Little mailboxes her room where students can leave kind notes for other class members Mrs. Jaeger Made a Kindness Matters sign with Kind Hearted Hands. All students are diligently completing their checklists. We made a thank you poster for Mrs. Seuling that we are going to give her today. Mr. Buccola Teaching the song the Kind Hearted Hand to the fourth grade and having them perform it. Mrs. Fasanelli Our class made a banner of people. Mrs. Tuohy Her entire class is diligently completing the checklist Ms. Dillon (subbing for Ms. Cregan) I have some really great persuasive essays that could be used for the kindness challenge! They are talking about people who are underappreciated in the world and how they should be treated! If you would like to come into my classroom for some of the students to present that would be fine! Just let me know when so I can have the students ready! (See below.) Also, I have pretty much everybody in my classroom doing the kindness challenge! I can truthfully say that they have all completed at least 30-40 of the tasks! |
Phillips Avenue Elementary SchoolThe Peacemakers made a banner that reads “Kindness Matters” and they are encouraging their classmates to make a kind note for someone in the school. Here's what some of the individual classes are doing to participate in the Great Kindness Challenge.
Mrs. Ellis –Smith
Students are diligently completely their checklist. On Tuesday they completed a writing assignment related to what they did and they will have a kindness celebration on Wednesday with discussion about what they learned and did. Mrs. Peralta and Mrs. Benkert We have a couple of things going on. We brainstormed ways that we could be kind to one another and made up our own version to the tune of "if you're happy and you know it" but we call it "if you're kind and you know it". Then we have a class chart in front of the class with 5 empty hearts next to each child's name. Every time they are caught being kind they color in a heart. When all hearts are colored they will get a toy from the prize chest. Additionally, for homework, each night the children have to color a heart and draw a picture inside of it of something kind that they have done that day. On Friday we will put them all together to fill in a giant heart. Ms. Greenberg My music classes are all watching the YouTube video, The Kind Hearted Hand and then I have the lyrics on the smart board for them to sing along with the music. Mrs. Salmiery With the help of Phillips Ave Elementary students and staff, am raising a future guide dog. We hope that Cassini will help someone who is blind/visually impaired to have a productive and independent life. Mrs. Donahue My students are making a “Kindness Quilt”. They drew pictures of themselves performing one of the acts listed (they also added a few of their own). They are going to put these pictures together on a large piece of paper to be displayed outside of our classroom. Mrs. Koenig and Mrs. Canzella Yes we are participating in the GKC. Claudia and I are having the students give each other compliment cards that look like (see attached) and writing on the back of them. Since we are in the dual language program we are complimenting one another on how well they are learning a new language in either English and Spanish. |