Today marks the beginning of the Advent season. This means that tomorrow, and each day leading up to Christmas break, Mr. Ploof and I will be discussing the meaning and significance of this time with the kids. One of the most important things we will be talking about are ways that we can prepare our hearts for Jesus, growing into the best versions of ourselves in His name.
A great way to ready ourselves for Christmas and all that it implies is to think "WWJD?" In this spirit, I will be leading the kids in Random Acts of Christmas Kindness (RACK). Each day, we will have a new task set for us with the aim to spread the joy of Christ's birth, and to be His hands and feet for the world. We will do our best to make our hearts a welcoming place this Season by being the example of Christian kindness to people in our school (and greater) community.
Below, you will find the RACK schedule I have created that we will follow. Please discuss these Acts with your child after they take place, and not before. They are meant to be fun and special for the kids (because giving > than receiving and should be loads of fun to do!), and will coincide with other lessons and discussions, so we ask that your conversations about each activity come after they are completed/launched. But please do talk about these with your kids each day!
November 30: Compliment a classmate! (Bonus: make it a friend who you don't always talk to, play with, or work with!)
December 1: Collect tabs from drink cans to donate to the Ronald McDonald House! **We will be collecting these all the way through to the last day of school before break, but we will be introducing/launching it today.**
Dec 2: Smiles are contagious! So smile at everyone you see today!
Dec 3: Pick up litter and throw it away. **I will be bringing a bag out with me on recess duty, and encouraging the kids to clean the playground as they play!**
Dec 4: Do an extra chore to help out around the house! **This is on a Friday so that they have 3 days to complete this...one all weekend or one each day--you choose! It's for your benefit after all ;) **
Dec 7: Tell a funny joke to make someone laugh!
Dec 8: Thank Mrs. Pohlen for everything she does for our school!
Dec 9: Thank Monsignor for the kindness and help he has offered our community this year!
Dec 10: Thank Mrs. Steel for all of the work she does for our school!
Dec 11: Make a card for someone who needs cheering up! **Another one purposely scheduled for right before the weekend...they can give it to a family member, friend, or neighbor who they want to have an extra special day!**
Dec 14: Thank a random teacher in the school for all of their hard work!
Dec 15: Thank Miss Sharon for helping to keep our school beautiful and clean!
Dec 16: Write a kind note and leave it in public somewhere for a stranger to find!
Dec 17: Make Christmas cards for children in the hospital and their families!
Dec 18: Candy Cane Blast the parking lot and teachers' mailboxes! **We will have candy canes and small cards to put on all of the windshields in the school parking lots and teachers' mailboxes!**
I look forward to getting this going with the kids! It will be a great way to not only teach the ideas of charity and following the example set for us, but also to put them into practice and see how wonderful those "warm fuzzies" are that come from giving to those in need...even in small and unexpected ways! :)
A great way to ready ourselves for Christmas and all that it implies is to think "WWJD?" In this spirit, I will be leading the kids in Random Acts of Christmas Kindness (RACK). Each day, we will have a new task set for us with the aim to spread the joy of Christ's birth, and to be His hands and feet for the world. We will do our best to make our hearts a welcoming place this Season by being the example of Christian kindness to people in our school (and greater) community.
Below, you will find the RACK schedule I have created that we will follow. Please discuss these Acts with your child after they take place, and not before. They are meant to be fun and special for the kids (because giving > than receiving and should be loads of fun to do!), and will coincide with other lessons and discussions, so we ask that your conversations about each activity come after they are completed/launched. But please do talk about these with your kids each day!
November 30: Compliment a classmate! (Bonus: make it a friend who you don't always talk to, play with, or work with!)
December 1: Collect tabs from drink cans to donate to the Ronald McDonald House! **We will be collecting these all the way through to the last day of school before break, but we will be introducing/launching it today.**
Dec 2: Smiles are contagious! So smile at everyone you see today!
Dec 3: Pick up litter and throw it away. **I will be bringing a bag out with me on recess duty, and encouraging the kids to clean the playground as they play!**
Dec 4: Do an extra chore to help out around the house! **This is on a Friday so that they have 3 days to complete this...one all weekend or one each day--you choose! It's for your benefit after all ;) **
Dec 7: Tell a funny joke to make someone laugh!
Dec 8: Thank Mrs. Pohlen for everything she does for our school!
Dec 9: Thank Monsignor for the kindness and help he has offered our community this year!
Dec 10: Thank Mrs. Steel for all of the work she does for our school!
Dec 11: Make a card for someone who needs cheering up! **Another one purposely scheduled for right before the weekend...they can give it to a family member, friend, or neighbor who they want to have an extra special day!**
Dec 14: Thank a random teacher in the school for all of their hard work!
Dec 15: Thank Miss Sharon for helping to keep our school beautiful and clean!
Dec 16: Write a kind note and leave it in public somewhere for a stranger to find!
Dec 17: Make Christmas cards for children in the hospital and their families!
Dec 18: Candy Cane Blast the parking lot and teachers' mailboxes! **We will have candy canes and small cards to put on all of the windshields in the school parking lots and teachers' mailboxes!**
I look forward to getting this going with the kids! It will be a great way to not only teach the ideas of charity and following the example set for us, but also to put them into practice and see how wonderful those "warm fuzzies" are that come from giving to those in need...even in small and unexpected ways! :)