Have You Commited a Random Act of Kindness Lately? Clark Students Have

This release was provided by the Clark School District.

During the last week of February, the elementary schools in Clark, NJ celebrated Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week. During RAK Week, students participated in many different activities organized by Ashley Aligo, Guidance Counselor, which promoted kindness throughout the schools, home, and the community. As park of the RAK movement in the schools, a Kindness Tree was created and displayed in a prominent location in both Frank K. Hehnly School and Valley Road School. Instead of leaves, the Kindness Tree is covered in Kindness Hearts. A Kindness Heart can be submitted by students, faculty, or staff. After someone has received a kind act, or has witnessed one, the person writes about the kind act that was done to them or witnessed by them. The heart is then placed in a kindness box and placed on the tree.

As the weeks go on, kindness continues to grow in the elementary schools! Aligo shared that even though RAK Week has passed, students are still submitting Kindness Hearts for the tree. This is not only evident through the submission of Kindness Hearts, but also through the students’ actions. For example, after picking a “secret kindness buddy,” first grader at Valley Road School, Sean Patterson, wanted to do something extra for his buddy. He went home and asked his parents if he could bring in a special gift for his buddy, Jessica Venturella. Sean went out of his way to bring in a bag of candy for Jessica, which made her very excited and happy. This simple act represents the message RAK Week stands for – going out of our way to show a little extra kindness to someone and making them smile.

In the photo above, first graders from Mrs. Spence’s class at Valley Road School, Sean Patterson and Jessica Venturella, stand in front of the Kindness Tree with Guidance Counselor Ashley Aligo.