In a world where you can be anything, be kind.  We are continuing to focus on acts of kindness during the month of December.  The Kindness Rock Garden is almost complete.  This month, we are putting everything we talked about in October, into action.  The students are doing kind acts for each other in their classroom.  The kindergarten and first grade students have "kindness tic-tac-toe boards" that will help encourage them to do kind acts for others.  The second and third grade classes have "kindness bingo boards" to help encourage them to do kind acts.  The students will also be watching for kind acts done for/to them.  When they notice a kind act being done for them, they will write/draw a picture of it on a construction paper chain link that will be collected at the end of the day.  The links will be stapled together to form one chain that will begin in the hallway, by my office.  I am challenging the kids to create a chain that extends from the end of the hallway leading to the gym, to the doors at the end of the kindergarten hallway!
     Students are being encouraged to extend their acts of kindness to other classrooms in our building as well as the larger Owensboro community.  Each class will be making holiday book marks for another class in the building.  During their guidance class, they will color book marks and randomly draw a class in which to give them.   To encourage kindness within the community of Owensboro, each class has "spiritually adopted" an agency/home/mission within our city.  For example, Mrs. Cheri Hayden's class has "spiritually adopted" the Glenmary Sisters.  The students are educated on how each agency helps our community.  They are praying for their agency during their daily rosary and in guidance class the students will be making Christmas cards for their agency.
     The Great Kindness Challenge was developed to be student led, meaning that it would focus on student action.  It was not meant to add to the teachers' or parents' list of things to do.  During the December guidance classes of the past, I have talked with the students about what they can do to help others, that does not rely on a parent donation or a teacher reminder.  It is with much hope that the Great Kindness Challenge encourages the students to take control of what they can do as an individual.   They may not have the resources to give as parents and other adults can, but they can pray.   Matthew Kelly, who is a motivation speaker for the Catholic faith, speaks often of prayer: how to pray, when to pray, etc.  What a beautiful gift to give and have given to you.  Hopefully, this act of prayer will be one of the many "seeds" planted within your child, that will grow and flourish in years to come.  I remember my 4th grade teacher, Sr. Margaret Joseph, teaching our class to pray whenever we heard the sirens from a fire truck, police car, or ambulance.   I went to St. Pius Tenth Elementary school, which was located on Highway 60 East.  You can imagine how many times we said a Hail Mary when we heard sirens.  To this day, I still say a Hail Mary when I hear sirens.  Think about all the situations when prayer is the only action we can take.  My hopes is that activities like this will encourage our children to turn to prayer, in everything they do.  So ask your child about their kind acts and kind acts done for them.  Ask them about the spiritual adoption of an agency.  Hopefully, they will have lots to say!
     Speaking of Matthew Kelly, I am including the link for his advent program.  By signing up, you will receive a daily email containing a video that focuses on the season of Advent.  His programs often give suggestions on small daily actions that draws us closer to God.  The theme for his advent program this year is "Amazing Possibilities."  https://dynamiccatholic.com/best-advent-ever
      I hope that everyone enjoys the month of December.  Try not to get lost in all the hustle and bustle.  Please remember that it's ok if you don't have that picture perfect Pinterest Christmas.  Remember the real meaning of the advent and Christmas seasons.  As always, please let me know if there is any way that I can help you.  I can be reached at (270) 684-7583 or through email at kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org