LPS students spread compassion at schools during World Kindness Day

November 15, 2024

Moore Middle School students Ash, Bella and Caden made history on Wednesday when they signed their names to a special World Kindness Day banner.
 
The three Mountain Lions joined thousands of other Lincoln Public Schools students in the inaugural LPS banner signing project. Students and staff wrote their names on banners placed in prominent spots at each school across the city. They pledged to share three acts of kindness with other people throughout the day.
 
Ash, Bella and Caden smiled as they penned their names on a banner taped on the wall of the school’s main gym. They then played volleyball together in an inclusive physical education class.
 
Ash and Caden both said they were happy to promote the message of kindness through the banner activity.
 
“I think it’s really important to be kind, because you never know when someone is having a bad day, and you can cheer them up with the things you do,” Ash said.
 
“It’s very important, because making someone feel welcome and being welcoming and kind to one another really opens up a whole new world,” Caden said. “People feel the courage to go out and have a good day.”
 
Carrie Foster is a special education supervisor at LPS and helped organize the banner project. She is a member of a districtwide unified activities and sports committee that wanted to find more ways to highlight inclusion at all schools. Members are planning to sponsor an inclusive project each semester across LPS.
 
Committee members wanted to jumpstart the campaign on World Kindness Day, which is held every year on Nov. 13. They felt having students sign banners was an easy and effective activity that could create a large ripple effect of kindness. Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools provided funds to purchase the banners, and teachers and administrators ensured students could easily locate and sign them.
 
“Creating those inclusive environments means you’re going to be kind to people, so this is a way to start planting seeds about inclusion and making sure everyone has a place,” Foster said.
 
Jennifer Wagner is the special education coordinator at Moore and has worked with fellow teachers to establish inclusive classes and activities. She was excited about the future possibilities at school after students produced a banner full of signatures.
 
“This banner signing will be a great start as we work to provide more unified activities at Moore and find more ways to celebrate the kindness our students and staff show others every day,” Wagner said.
 
Wagner said the unified P.E. program has been a highlight of the year for many Mountain Lions. Students with intellectual disabilities participate in P.E. classes all five days of the week, and eighth grade peers alternate between health and physical education classes every other day. 

Life Skills programming is for students with identified special education needs where they learn academics, as well as job-related and other skills that help them live more independently. These skills include how to do laundry, interact appropriately with others and communicate effectively.
 
The setup allows students with intellectual disabilities to participate in a general education class with two sets of peers during the week. It also allows more eighth graders to have a chance to connect with classmates and become friends with them.
 
Ash and Bella played on the same side of the court in one of the volleyball games, and Caden served the volleyball with teammates in a second game on the other side of the gym. Students with intellectual disabilities and eighth grade peers competed side by side and supported each other with kind words and actions.
 
Moore physical education teacher Samantha Mac supervised the action as she moved around the gym. Everyone cheers and gives high fives on the court. 
 
“We have a lot of really good kids in this group,” Mac said. “They do a great job.”
 
Moore students will have an opportunity to join unified activities next year in high school. Foster said all eight high schools offer unified bowling and unified track and field for students, and many buildings sponsor other unified activities such as music, theater and afterschool clubs. She felt those programs have allowed World Kindness Day to happen every day at LPS.
 
“We have had some kids who have really enjoyed the experience and are now thinking about going into teaching, and there are some real authentic friendships that happen between people,” Foster said. “For everyone involved, it’s just a really cool thing.”
 
Ash said being in Moore’s unified P.E. class has given her a clearer focus on her future career. She is looking forward to joining Foster and Wagner in the special education field someday.
 
“I think I’ll want to be a special education teacher,” Ash said. “If I’m kind, then it makes me feel better and other people feel better.”
 
Bella agreed as they talked together in the gym. She said writing her name on the inaugural kindness banner was a fun way to make history and spread compassion at Moore.
 
“It makes people feel good,” Bella said.
 
Check out more displays of generosity throughout LPS on our Acts of Kindness page at https://home.lps.org/kindness/. You can make a submission by completing the LPS Communications project request form below. 
 
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