Five students at Park Elementary School are going the extra mile to make sure their classmates and teachers feel appreciated.
Fourth grade students Gentry VanSkike, Brianna Lara, Yatzil Dominguez, Rubi Perez and Taycee Gray have begun what they have dubbed, “The Encouraging Club,” an informal group designed to help students in their class feel encouraged, and spread kindness throughout their class and beyond, according to Park Elementary Family Engagement Coordinator Rachel Keenan.
A student-led and student-initiated group, the girls produce notes with encouraging and uplifting messages for other students in their own classroom, and for teachers throughout the building.
“We are just a group of five people who, in our free time, make encouraging notes to give to our classmates to make their day feel brighter and happier,” said VanSkike, one of the group’s two founders.
VanSkike and Lara began the group to lift up their classmates, and as it caught on, Dominguez, Perez and Gray decided to get involved with the group as well. Keenan said the group even gives up time at recess to produce the notes for their classmates and teachers.
Keenan said she discovered the group when the students decided to give her one of these handwritten notes of encouragement.
“One day I received a little note folded into a paper airplane from one of the girls stating, ‘Don’t give up,’” Keenan said. “It was just the kind of encouragement I needed that day and I felt moved by the gesture.”
As part of the club, the students have created their own pledge, which reads, “We raise our hand over our heart and promise to be kind to everyone, to be encouraging, and to never make anyone feel left out – even people who are being rude to you.”
In the classroom, each student has name tags for the club, and Keenan said each student’s computer displays multiple notes they’ve received from the club.
“You just feel like there’s a lot of positive energy in that room,” Keenan said. “It’s awesome in their classroom to see encouraging stuff everywhere.”
Keenan said the environment in the girls’ classroom is tangible because of their efforts to encourage their classmates, and has promoted an environment where students go out of their way to support and build each other up. “That classroom feels like a family. It’s very positive. If you go to the other classrooms, they’re more like a team.”
Keenan said she’s proud of the students’ efforts to lift up their classmates, and to have a positive impact each day.
The girls said they want to continue the club next year. The goal is to hopefully expand the club throughout the school, and perhaps even to other schools throughout the district.
“We also want to start having meetings at recess so we can get more ideas and expand to other classes. Our goal would be that every class in the school has their own encouraging group,” VanSkike said.
Keenan said it’s a good reminder to everyone that a few kind words in someone’s day can go a long way.
“Sometimes you don’t know the impact of just encouraging notes or positive words when you give them to someone,” Keenan said. “I just think it’s a good message to always have that mindset when you’re going about your day.”
“Be kind to everyone, make sure you are always spreading love and kindness to your peers, your family, friends, everyone,” VanSkike added. “Even if someone is mean to you, still give them kind words.”
