Conant Elementary Kindness Week!

Conant Elementary has proudly been a No Place for Hate® school for the past five years. The NPFH committee, composed of dedicated grade 5 students and mentor teachers, has focused this year on fostering learning, educating, and engaging in conversations about allyship. 

The committee chose to highlight Kindness Week and created the Kindness Olympics to coincide with the Olympic season. “We always do so many kind activities but never get to see what is done in other classrooms,” remarked Conant teacher and NPFH mentor Jamie Jonas. To address this, each classroom was assigned the task of completing a kindness activity, whether big or small, and documenting it with photographs in a shared slideshow. This allowed teachers to circulate the slideshows and observe the variety of kindness being exhibited. To encourage creativity and enthusiasm, the NPFH group decided to select the three most innovative kindness activities, awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals to the classrooms that stood out during a Kindness Assembly. This initiative not only celebrated the spirit of kindness but also brought the school community together in a meaningful way.

During the Kindness Assembly, the audience was thrilled by the surprise appearance of Detroit Lions linebacker, Derrick Barnes. As a special guest, Barnes captivated everyone with his presence and shared an inspiring message that emphasized the significance of kindness in both sports and life. Barnes stated, “Champions are not just made on the field, they are made by how you treat each other. When you invite someone to play, when you help someone when they are sad, and when you choose kindness. Your future starts by the choices you make now; believing in each other and yourself. Keep being kind, keep believing in yourself, and keep being champions every single day.” Barnes’ words resonated deeply, encouraging everyone to embrace kindness as a daily practice.

The NPFH committee aims to continue fostering allyship within the Conant school community working to ensure that every member of the community feels supported and valued.