Tobias Elementary receives Kindness Certified School recognition
The world can use some extra joy right now and the students at Tobias Elementary are doing their part to uplift their community with kindness, compassion, unity and respect. To recognize Tobias Elementary School’s ongoing commitment to kindness and its participation in the 10th annual Great Kindness Challenge, it has been designated as a “Kindness Certified School” by Kids for Peace.
Kids for Peace is a global nonprofit that hosts The Great Kindness Challenge, a positive and uplifting program that fosters connection, inclusion, appreciation and overall well-being. The annual program has multiplied in enrollment each year, having grown to over 17 million students in 33,000 schools, reaching across all 50 states and 115 countries. Tobias Elementary demonstrated their commitment to kindness by encouraging all students to complete 50 acts of kindness from The Great Kindness Challenge checklist as well as honoring and recognizing staff members, posting kindness messages, sharing stories and examples of kind acts, sharing kind acts with families, and encouraging kind acts virtually.
The school administration, Principal Alisa Dipalma and Assistant Principal Amy Russ, couldn’t be prouder of the Tobias student body. The principals agree that the Great Kindness Challenge is a wonderful way to remind students of kindness. Christy Baugh, a kindergarten teacher who chairs the school’s Cadre for Campus Culture and Environment, also encouraged Tobias Elementary to participate in the Great Kindness Challenge. Jill McManigal, co-founder and executive director of Kids for Peace, is thrilled to recognize the school’s commitment to kindness. “Our hearts are bursting with joy knowing that so many students are actively creating a brighter, happier and more positive world for all. Even during the pandemic, students are finding creative ways to spread love, honor classmates, show gratitude and offer a helping hand. We are thankful to Tobias Elementary for providing this opportunity for their students to practice kindness and we are grateful to their students for demonstrating that kindness matters,” McManigal said.
Tobias Elementary School invites the City of Kyle and surrounding areas to keep the kindness going by lifting each other up, helping each other out and cheering each other on. Kindness has the power to unite us all.
About The Great Kindness Challenge
The Great Kindness Challenge is a positive and uplifting program that creates a culture of kindness in schools, communities and the world. Using a kindness checklist, schools and families are challenged to complete as many acts of kindness as possible. The School Edition is an annual one-week celebration during the last week of January. The Family Edition is year-round. Schools and families may get involved by signing up at no cost: greatkindnesschallenge. org. The Great Kindness Challenge is made possible by the generosity of our sponsors: Toy Foundation, ViaSat, Nordson and McGraw-Hill Education.
About Kids for Peace
Kids for Peace is a California-based global nonprofit that provides a platform for youth to actively engage in sociallyconscious leadership, community service, arts, environmental stewardship and global friendships.
Founded in 2006 by a mother and a high school honors student, Kids for Peace now engages over 17 million youth through their three programs: The Great Kindness Challenge, The Peace Pledge Program and Kind, Creative & Connected in the Age of COVID-19.
For more information about Kids for Peace or The Great Kindness Challenge, please contact Jill McManigal at 1-760- 730-3320.
Story submitted by Jayne D. Baker, Tobias Elementary School.
