November 13 marked World Kindness Day, a global reminder to notice and celebrate the good in ourselves and others. At the Junior School, the foundation for kindness begins in the primary grades, where students are learning that compassion can be seen, spoken and shared in countless ways — lessons that continue to grow with them throughout their school years and beyond.
In Katie McNeil’s Kindergarten class, she helps her students explore what kindness looks like through books, conversation and creative play.
“We start with stories about kindness and talk about connections — times they’ve been kind or when someone has been kind to them,” she said. “From there, students draw pictures of kind moments and describe them to their friends, learning how to express empathy and appreciation through words.”
They also act out short scenes — like helping a friend who has fallen on the playground — to show what kindness can look like in action. One of Ms. McNeil’s favourite traditions is called “Caught Being Kind.” When she spots a kind gesture, she invites the student to hold a photo frame decorated with that phrase, then takes a picture as a cheerful keepsake. “It is a fun way to celebrate those moments,” she said. “I usually take sixteen photos because everyone wants to be caught being kind!”
Barnes shared that sometimes sessions start by talking about kind gestures they have seen throughout the school, sharing what is on their minds, and reminding one another that everyone has a place and a voice. They have made bracelets to give to others, read stories, and played games together — all while practising how to notice kindness in their everyday interactions. Sometimes, the focus turns inward as they take time to care for themselves through a relaxing, mindful body scan, learning that being kind to oneself is just as important as being kind to others.
In a recent session, they brainstormed ways to make a difference — from offering help to a classmate to sharing a kind word with a friend — before making colourful posters to bring the ideas to life.
Working on a poster about kindness to animals, Imogen explained that it matters to her because some animals are becoming extinct — an observation that quietly reflected her empathy and awareness.
To mark World Kindness Day, Ms. Barnes filmed a short video featuring her students reflecting on what kindness means to them. Their words captured the heart of the message that kindness can take many forms. It can be big, like helping a friend who is hurt, or small, like giving someone a smile. Every kind word makes the world a little brighter. Kindness, they agreed, is like sunshine: when you feel it, it spreads everywhere. And just as importantly, being kind also means showing care and compassion toward yourself.
Through lessons, storytelling, art, friendship, and acts of goodwill, students are learning that kindness does not end with a single day — it is a habit that grows stronger the more it is shared. And as these young learners remind us, sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference.
