Pink for Kindness Week, January 27 through 31, 2020

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Each year, Sacajawea Elementary celebrates  Pink for Kindness week. Sponsored by the Parent Equity team, the goal is to continue to cultivate a culture of “inclusion, anti-bullying and acts of kindness” in the context of establishing social norms in our school community, rather than in response to incidents over time. The event was inspired by an earlier occasion when a valued member of our school community was bullied for wearing pink; in less than 12 hours the student population, teachers and staff rallied by wearing pink as a visible reminder of Sacajawea’s dedication to providing a supportive and inclusive environment where bullying is not tolerated.

The week-long celebration involves student participation in classroom activities such as Mr. Walker’s daily “kindness challenge,” and activities families can do together at home.

Because learning happens in many places beyond the classroom, we encourage parents to support our efforts and participate by:

  • Watching this short video and discussing it at home.

  • Inquiring about the Kindness Challenge action your child took on that day, inspired by Mr. Walker’s announcement on the P.A. system that day.

  • Identifying kindness conversation starters to use at home or with friends

  • Online: 

    • Read about Bullying & Bias on the Teaching Tolerance site.

    • Watch this interview with the director of the Bedari Kindness Institute at UCLA on Christiane Amanpour & Co.

Additional Resources for Parents:

For students: 

  • Look for Posters (“come back to school with kindness!”) and identify opportunities to rise to the challenge:

    • Monday: Kindness Challenge #1: Read a book to a friend or adult, draw a picture, give a compliment, pick up litter.

    • Tuesday: Kindness Challenge #2: Send mail (Sac MB), hold the door, donate clothes or books or toys you’re done using.

    • Wednesday: Kindness Challenge #3: Let someone go ahead of your or Invite someone to play/join your group (on a different floor e.g. distinct classroom or younger kid).

    • Thursday: Kindness Challenge #4:  Call a friend on the phone (or family member or pal in another state), offer someone a high five, do extra chores without being asked.

    • Friday: Kindness Challenge #5: Write a thank you note (for holiday gift or kind gesture), Smile at everyone you meet.

Extra Credit:

In an effort to acknowledge and think about acts of kindness from the other’s perspective, please consider putting notes in your child’s lunchbox, in their backpack, on a mirror—or do the same for a friend or co-worker!

Message ideas/starters:

  • Nice job

  • Look on the bright side

  • Kid, you’ll move mountains

  • Have a fantastic day

  • You are awesome

  • I like your style

  • You shine like a diamond

  • Well done

  • I think you are: … Because: ...

  • I’m jumping for joy because:...

  • You make me smile when:..