Teaming up for kindness: Round Hill celebrates Respect Week

Round Hill Elementary School’s very own Student Council coordinated the first Spirit Week of the school year, focusing on the theme of respect. Throughout this week, students, faculty and staff showed how they are upstanders for one another through kind words and actions. 

Student-run initiatives such as this are essential for building a supportive, inclusive and positive learning environment. Through this school-wide event, individuals are encouraged to build meaningful connections and foster a culture where every person feels valued and respected.

Student Council members were responsible for coming up with each theme and act of kindness for the day. Member Gregory Minto, a fifth grader, had the idea of sharing these themes and acts of kindness on the morning announcements. For Gregory, it was important to make this part of the morning announcement so that the whole school knows simultaneously about each day’s theme and act of kindness. 

“I only came up with one part of Respect Week, and that was doing it out over the loudspeaker,” Gregory said. “Because if we do it over the loudspeaker, then we won't have to walk from every classroom and do it. “Let's say someone is being mean to someone else, you might accidentally miss that class by walking through and then they'll keep being mean,” he added.

For fifth grader and Student Council member Nereida Serru, who read the morning announcements on Wednesday, Respect Week is all about being kind to one another, as she emphasizes that you never know what someone might be going through.

“I think it is important to respect each other because you never know what some people might be feeling inside their head,” she said. “ Be nice because you never know what life can give you back.” 

The week started off with the theme of Teaming Up for Respect, wearing sports jerseys or team shirts to show unity within the school. The act of kindness for the day was to write a note to a friend. Tuesday’s theme was Mis-Match day, encouraging individuals to wear mis-match prints while giving their friend a compliment. 

Wednesday was Unity Day, with students and staff wearing orange and creating a chain of kindness by writing words of encouragement on paper links and chaining them together. Thursday’s theme was Respect What You Love, rocking apparel with one’s favorite character band or artist. The act of kindness for the day was to read a book focusing on respect and kindness. 

The week finished off with Words of Respect on Friday, wearing shirts featuring an uplifting, positive message. The final act of kindness consisted of faculty and staff handing out “Caught Being Kind” tickets, which were distributed throughout the day to those who demonstrated compassion towards their classmates.

“Spirit Weeks allow our school community to come together for a common cause,” said Sarah Favata, AIS reading teacher and Student Council advisor at Round Hill. “Promoting kind actions also encourages students to do something for someone they maybe don't always interact with.”