The New Century School Dean of School Alicia Danyali started the 2018–2019 school year right off with a service initiative: The Kindness Rocks Project. TNCS students understand that they must observe the school’s four Core Values—Compassion, Courage, Respect, and Service. So, on September 5th, Grades 4 through 8 began tackling #4, although this inspirational project nicely integrates all four.

The first phase of the project was to get familiar with the ideology: The Kindness Project’s mission is that:
One message
At just the right moment
Can change someone’s entire day, outlook, life

How does that message get disseminated? On painted rocks that someone might just happen to see while walking around— on kindness rocks! Because kindness rocks! After presenting an explanatory video, Mrs. Danyali asked students what messages they might like to share.

Then, with rocks and paint she brought, the students prepped their rocks.

She also presented a Kindness Journal in which she asked students to collect all of their kind messages. “The goal is to have this book full of authentic words of wisdom from the students and be a tool for everyone to support one another and lift them up throughout the year,” she explained.

“In implementing the first service project that will encompass the entire year,” said Mrs. Danyali, “I enjoyed the student feedback, thoughts, and ideas.”

Phase 2 happened on September 12th in which they finished their rocks by adding the messages and shellacking. Once dry, this was followed up with a small ceremony in the TNCS front garden.

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Mrs. Danyali also gave students a motto to remember while at school each day: “It is an acrostic from the word TRACK, to remind ourselves to stay on track, when we get off track, or to acknowledge when we are on track.”

“I look forward to working on this with the students throughout the school year,” said Mrs. Danyali. That rocks, Mrs. Danyali!