Kiski Area Upper Elementary students have a new club, with one requirement: Be kind
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There’s a new club for students at Kiski Area Upper Elementary on a mission to rule the school with kindness.
The Kiski Kindness Club hosted its inaugural Kindness Day on campus Tuesday.
Singing their newly penned song, The Kiski Kindness Club, in the hallway, about 20 giggling girls decked out in blue-and-gold Kiski Area school colors were all smiles behind their covid masks as they distributed kindness bracelets to their peers.
Fifth grader Ellie Arnold said she was seeking a club that would bring students together with a shared goal of spreading kindness and positivity around the school.
Arnold took her idea and pitched it to her guidance counselor, Olivia Rizzo.
“Sometimes when I would come to school and my friend wouldn’t be here, I would feel lonely and stuff,” Ellie said. “So I wanted to spread kindness throughout the school so other people would have friends if they felt lonely.”
At Kiski Area Upper Elementary, about 60% of the students attend in person. So many students have friends that are part of the 40% receiving virtual, at-home instruction.
The first meeting was held in March in Rizzo’s office, but membership is growing. Rizzo said a new meeting space on campus is in the works.
“At this age, we do have some social/emotional learning that’s important,” Rizzo said. “There are social issues like within friend groups and how to navigate those relationships.”
Rizzo pointed out bullying and social media are common topics that some students are interested in talking about.
The club is open to all 524 fifth- and sixth-grade students enrolled at Kiski Upper Elementary.
“We have no limit,” Rizzo said.
The club is comprised of girls, for now.
After the bracelet distribution Tuesday, sixth-grader Andrew Vega stopped by Rizzo’s office to ask about joining the club.
“It’s important to be kind,” Andrew said. “It’s a form of respect.”
The club is free to join, and Rizzo said she will design club activities around member interests.
“I’m going to help facilitate this club based on whatever sparks their flame with this,” Rizzo said. “This is a student-driven club.”
The district has two other established kindness-themed organizations, one at North Primary Elementary and the other at Kiski Area Intermediate.
“I’m proud of the leadership demonstrated by our young adults and believe that every act of kindness can have a lasting positive effect,” Principal Brian Swartzlander said. “It’s essential for our students to see beyond academics in this fast-paced environment. It’s a shared responsibility to promote positivity both in school and the community.”
Rizzo reported that after Kindness Day she had about 10 emails from students interested in getting involved.
“We’d like to see everyone join,” she said.