November 13, 2023, was World Kindness Day, and Lower Schoolers from Pre-K to Grade 4 collaborated on a community art project aimed at answering the question, “How can you brighten someone’s day?”

The students used both critical thinking and creative expression skills to write and illustrate acts of kindness for a sunshine mural for the division to enjoy. The rays of sunshine were adorned with students’ ideas of how to spread and model kindness. 

Each student received two rays, one  was placed on the bulletin board and the other was their own ray of kindness to carry with them throughout the day. The goal was to inspire conversations about kindness between students and their friends and family. 

After thoughtful class discussions about the importance of kindness and a whole lot of fun with markers, crayons, and pencils, the completed rays were affixed to the bulletin board by Ms. Staudmyer.

“In Lower School, we are working together to explicitly practice and reflect on acts of kindness because it teaches someone how to be in harmony with themself and others.  It is perhaps one of the  finest qualities in one’s character.” 
—Dr. Stacey Sotirhos, Lower School Principal