March 6, 2008

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Kids Speak Out at Williams Elementary School

By Shana McLean Moore
Staff Writer

Williams Elementary School celebrated its second annual Kids Speak Out Summit on Feb. 27 with a host of activities and readings designed to focus on the importance of character.

Kids Speak Out Team Purple collaborates on their skit. Photo by Charlene Chavez

Event Chair Tracy Cressio, a passionate advocate of empowering children, created the event after compiling a 1,300-page student report about how students feel about responsibility, respect and bullying. But rather than spending the day focusing on the negative side of some of the findings, Cressio started the day at flag salute by promoting a school-wide commitment to performing a random act of kindness within the next 24 hours.

To show the students how they could make a difference in their community with such an act, she appealed to their math studies. If all 820 people on campus that day were to perform one small random act of kindness—such as holding open a door for someone, picking up trash that isn’t their own, or reaching out to a student who has no one to play with—and that act inspired the recipient to respond by doing such a kind gesture for another, and then that person again, some 2,460 kind acts could have the kind of impact that could transform the community.

With that kind of inspiration and goal setting, the 70 participating students who had been nominated by their teachers to attend the conference were organized into groups in the cafeteria with the help of parent volunteers. Once there, the kids participated in an ice breaker activity, chose team names and were told why they were taking part in the Summit.

Cressio explained that her goal was for each student to come away with the sense of personal awareness and strength to become leaders who are effective conflict managers and role models within their peer groups.

The principal, Karen Heverling, started the discussion about bullying by reading the book “My Special Bully,” which reminds kids that even their best friends can be bullies. The teams then brainstormed ideas about what to do when a friend or acquaintance repeatedly acts out in ways that are meant to make other children feel small.

Kelly Noftz, youth partnerships coordinator of Project Cornerstone, was on hand to read “No One Knew What to Do,” a book that led to a discussion about choices and reminded kids that they are in control of their own bodies, words and choices. When confronted with difficult choices, Cressio encouraged the children to imagine the person they most admire and respect sitting on their shoulder and then act in a way that would make that person feel proud of their choices.

A fifth grader named Jonathon imagined his mom and dad on his shoulder because “they always listen to me and help me do the right thing,” he said. Second grader Anagha chose her cousin because “she helps me solve my problems and loves me a lot.”

To symbolize the many life skills that lead to a healthy lifestyle, Cressio organized a fun relay race that got the kids moving and thinking. The first stop on the obstacle course was to take out the trash, an act that symbolized responsibility. The next step was to jump a hurdle to represent perseverance. Then, the kids had to set a table to demonstrate being helpful and, last, they had to perform three belly laughs that were meant to symbolize the importance of taking time out.

Throughout the morning session, the teams shared ideas, completed workbooks and organized role-playing skits that would remind them of the day’s lessons. Whether the scene involved spreading rumors or excluding kids from recess game playing, the students found solutions so that all kids could feel good about themselves.

The morning wrapped up with a reading by Cressio of “Because Brian Hugged His Mom,” a book meant to remind the kids of the same lesson they started the day with—that one generous act begets another.

Cressio is thrilled with the feedback she received from the event. “I am proud and honored to be a part of such a wonderful team of caring people who have taken the time to come together and be an integral part of reaching out and teaching children that they can and do make a difference every single day by the powerful positive choices they make!”

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