The Season of Caring

This year at our school meetings we’ve been listening to stories that help us think about the attributes of our learner profile.  In keeping with our school theme this year Our Stories Matter, stories are a great way to teach values and give examples for us to follow.   

As I was preparing for our December meeting to talk about Caring, I was reflecting on something I notice about our students and even adults sometimes.  In general, kids love to help. They give of their time enthusiastically to take action like picking up trash or helping Clara, our custodian.  They are easily inspired to want to help those in need by collecting things on their behalf or making and selling things to benefit a cause. They feel passionately about people that are suffering or in need.  But, sometimes they don’t recognize that every day actions and how we treat people is really what caring is mostly about.  Sometimes a kind word, a smile, standing up for someone that needs a friend is how we can show true caring.  

This made me think of the traditional holiday story, The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry (if you haven’t read it in a while it's available online). I shared the story with the students and you could have heard a pin drop in the MU room even with more than 400 kids present.  The students were able to understand from the story that caring is not so much about the stuff we give, but about putting someone else’s needs before our own.   We all took a challenge to give of ourselves by treating each other with kindness and look for ways to make someone’s day a little better. 

 My wish for this holiday season and for the new year is that we set an example and encourage our children to show true caring by recognizing our shared humanity and treating one another with respect, kindness, forgiveness, and empathy.  Happy Holidays!