School, Town Partner on Kindness Rock Garden
What happens when 5th graders take on “kindness” as a school project?
At Du Bois Middle School, students’ Rocks of Kindness project started with conversations about compassion and goodwill toward others. The project’s tangible result: the Kindness Rock Garden, now on display right outside the Fuel coffee shop for all to enjoy,
[For a full photo gallery visit the Town of Great Barrington Facebook and Instagram page.
“As a team, we wanted this year to be spent helping our students understand how they can impact our community with just a single action,” said Carole Aberdale, a 5th grade teacher. “Students have taken part in numerous conversations in which they were presented with different scenarios that made someone feel ‘less than.’ We have had many robust discussions, with students being able to show empathy and understanding towards others.”
Students were asked: “What does kindness mean? “What do you think the purpose of a Kindness Rock Garden is?”
Here are some students’ replies:
Ava: The rocks are to remind people that they are special”
Savannah: “To spread kindness.”
Violett: “Kindness to me is to encourage others and help others during hard times.”
Charlie: “Kindness means to help people and being nice to others. It means having confidence in others also. The purpose of the rock garden is to make people feel good about themselves and others.”
Hazel: “I am hoping that the rocks will help anyone that is having a bad day, that our rocks will make them smile.”
Griffin: “I hope that people will use our garden to be inspired to place more in other places to spread kindness.”
The Kindness Rock Garden required some interloping on a town flower bed, which was no problem since Carole Aberdale is married to Joe Aberdale, town superintendent of public works.
“The Town is glad to participate as our youth are the future of our Town,” said Joe Aberdale. “Hopefully we can share with the kids that the Town is a place where they can seek employment, volunteer and participate.
