JAE held its first Kindness Week recently that showcased a host of ways the students are embracing a culture of kindness, unity and respect at school and beyond. The daily events included an assembly for students to explain the concept behind the initiative, as they set out to challenge themselves to do as many kind acts as they could during the week and beyond. The school started each day with a morning message and kindness quote, the students started a Kindness bingo game which they worked throughout the week to complete, and they set up a “Jump Aboard the Kindness Train” station where participants wrote kind words or acts of kindness on paper train cars that were connected throughout the cafeteria. They also hosted “Crazy for Kindness” and wore funky colored socks; some even sported crazy hair. An additional kindness station was set up in the cafeteria where students wrote and distributed more than 250 cards to show their appreciation to school staff members. During “Powered by Kindness” day, staff and students wore superhero T-shirts, classes made Kindness Chains, and students wore red to support the American Heart Association and participated in the Kids Heart Challenge. At the end of the festive week, it was “Team Kindness,” and everyone wore their favorite sports team or Rocky Point attire. “It was a great week and the kids really embraced being kind,” guidance counselor Mrs. Jean Costa said.

When JAE third grade teacher Rebecca Pagnotta saw a television report about a veteran asking for Valentine’s Day cards, she set out on a mission. Starting with her own class of 24 students who created messages of thanks and appreciation, she and the students put a call out to other classes and received 500 cards. The cards have been mailed to U.S. Marine Corps Major Bill White, a 104-year-old man living in a senior citizen center in California, who requested as many Valentine’s Day cards as possible. The heartfelt gifts of kindness will be preserved with his lifetime scrapbooks of precious memories and items – including his Purple Heart.

FJC first grade teacher Mrs. Carrie Casswell was the recipient of the children’s nonfiction book “Radiant Ruth the Rhino Shines Bright,” a visionary story of possibilities and kindness. The gift was from her student Sonia Savino. Mrs. Casswell shared it with her entire class, and the students were so moved by the message that they wrote a letter and drew pictures for the author, AJ Sarcione, a motivational speaker who recently moved from New York to California. Mrs. Casswell checked his Instagram page, and there he was, holding their precious poster filled with kind messages!