Celebrating Kindness
From the SHOJ Counseling office
2024 started off with some FRIGID temperatures, but make no mistake, it is WARM inside the walls of SHOJ as I witness our students practicing virtues and focusing specifically on kindness and empathy with me in my classroom lessons and throughout the school day.
This month, the students get the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Kindness Kansas Citian Contest. This completely optional contest is a COOL way to highlight this important topic when we recognize the kind and caring ways of someone and give back that love and care when we honor them in this special way.
For those of you who are new to the Kindness Kansas Citian Contest, here’s what it’s all about…
Synergy Services and their anti-violence group Stop Violence! made up of many Kansas City citizens (both KS and MO), sponsor this contest in an effort to find the GOOD things that are happening in our community. School age children from the entire metro area are encouraged to nominate someone who is 18 yrs or older, who is NOT in their family and who lives in the KC metro area that they feel represents KINDNESS in some way.
Students can nominate an individual, couples, or groups who they feel deserve the “Kindest Kansas Citian” distinction. All they need to do is submit a one page essay or a drawing describing the caring ways of the person they have nominated. From thousands of entries, the top 20 students and their nominees will be honored at the Kindest Kansas Citian Awards Celebration. There are thousands of students who participate and I am excited to carry on this tradition here at SHOJ for the FOURTH year.
Here at SHOJ, contest winner or not, we will have our own ceremony for EVERYONE who participated in the contest. We will have a reception in the spring (date to be determined) and ALL of the participants and their nominees are invited! It will be held sometime in the month of April here at school during school hours; I will send more detailed information as far as date and time as we get closer. The nominees will receive a typed copy of the essay or a color copy of the picture drawn. Many students love the opportunity to get up and read or display their drawings or just introduce their nominee. But I will be happy to speak for the student if they get a little stage fright. ☺
It is truly a wonderful celebration for BOTH the students and the nominees; it is a perfect bucket filling experience that can really provide a boost of positive energy to everyone involved. Please encourage your student to participate…we will be doing the same here at school. The deadline for the submissions is Wednesday, January 31st. Please click on the link below to get detailed information about the contest…
34th Annual Kindest Kansas Citian Contest 2023 | Synergy Services
If your student needs a contest form, you can print one from the link or they are located in the entrance of the school building near the lost and found as well as outside of Mrs. Reynolds' music room.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to getting student’s submissions and hearing about their Kindest Kansas Citian!!!
Your Grateful Counselor,
Lori