As students, staff, and a few parents filed into the gymnasium for a Kindness Assembly at Hawley Elementary School, Tuesday, December 23, a slide show of artwork by various students in grades K through 4 flashed on the screen set up on the stage. Colorful drawings depicted each student’s vision of what kindness means to him or her.

“Kindness looks like friends playing,” was scrawled across one drawing. “Kindness is sharing,” another child wrote, an expression that was echoed by many of the other artists.

The assembly on December 23, said Principal Christopher Moretti, was a culmination of the month of December, in which Hawley students celebrated kindness and friendship.

“The kids have written about or done acts of kindness all month,” Mr Moretti said, “and today, we are sharing pieces done this month.”

Spearheaded by lead teacher Keri Snowden and language arts consultant Patti Vitarelli, the morning program featured a speaker from each grade level, sharing thoughts on kindness, poetry, and music.

The children had all read a story Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson, said Ms Vitarelli. The story of kindness and one little girl’s ability to change the world around her through her actions was the source of inspiration for Hawley students.

“The children each chose five people to do a kind deed for,” Ms Vitarelli said, and then wrote about the acts of kindness. “We are using music, art, and writing to spread the spirit of kindness through the arts,” she said.

“I can’t tell you how proud we are of what you’ve done this month,” declared Mr Moretti, as he welcomed staff and students to the assembly. “You’ve done wonderful things for people around you,” he said.

Between the brief presentations, the children enthusiastically joined music teacher Brian Kowalsky in singing songs selected to spread the message of kindness and love.

The song “I’d Like To Teach the World To Sing,” explained Mr Kowalsky, started out as an advertisement for Coca-Cola. The positive message contained within the verses became so popular that the song was recorded. Coca-Cola donated all of the royalties from that song to charity, he said.

“Gone, Gone, Gone” was the song that followed kindergartner Mason Symes’ presentation. The picture Mason had drawn was of friendship, he said, peering up just over the edge of the podium. “I will be your friend,” said Mason, before returning to his seat.

First grader Hannah Stowe also stood on tiptoe behind the podium, as she encouraged her fellow students to be a friend. “Sit down, and say hi,” was Hannah’s suggestion for kindness.

A collage of photos showing the making of gingerbread houses backed second grade speaker Gianna Galassi. Gianna said her act of kindness was making gingerbread houses for people in a nursing home. “I loved seeing everyone happy,” said Gianna.

“Here Comes The Sun” by the Beatles and “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars had the entire student body singing and clapping.

Math consultant Jenna Connors took a moment to speak to the students about the enormity of the kindness challenge they had undertaken. With every child at Hawley committing to five acts of kindness each, that meant that they had done 1,950 acts of kindness in December, she told them. “We learned that kindness spreads,” Ms Connors said. As the acts of kindness continue to be passed on, it was possible that the actions of the Hawley students could spread to more than 19 million acts of kindness in the world. “And,” said Ms Connors, “it doesn’t end today.”

Danny Accomando, third grade representative, shared that kindness can be shared with everyone, by being friends to other people.

Fourth grader Sydney Adolfson’s reading was sandwiched between the song “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” from Toy Story, and a Phillip Phillips’ song, “Home.” Kindness is a choice, Sydney said, to think about others and do the kind thing, even at difficult times. “Don’t wait for people to be kind,” said Sydney. “Show them how.”

Also from the fourth grade was speaker Abigail McManus. “Kindness is not always easy,” she reminded her friends.

A special song released in 2013 by Connecticut-based band Alternate Routes was the final song of the Kindness Assembly. “Nothing More” was written for Newtown Kindness, in response to 12/14. Summing up the morning’s lesson, the song closes with the words, “We are how we treat each other, and nothing more.”  

“One life can make a difference; you see, it’s up to you,” read Ms Vitarelli from the poem “The Power of One.” As the assembly was dismissed, she urged the students, “Remember all you’ve done, and keep the kindness growing.”