For immediate release
February 15, 2001

Students at Quinte schools keep kindness growing

        Random Acts of Kindness Week officially begins Monday March 4 but students in several Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board schools are getting a head start on kindness. The Quinte school group is planning a number of activities during their Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 25 to March 1, 2002. What's special about these activities is that they're all being planned and promoted by students as part of their Gifted/Enrichment programs taught by Tamara Sayers-Pringle.
        Students at Tyendinaga Public School are starting a ripple that they hope grows into a wave. Students have set up the Kindness Zone website at:  www.hpedsb.on.ca/tyend/kindness2002.htm and are challenging other classes and students to log on and share their stories of kindness. Last year, the Kindness Zone received more than 500 stories of kindness from across Hastings and Prince Edward and around the world.
        At Park Dale Public School, students aren't just participating in activities for Random acts of Kindness Week, they're promoting it with a special  video produced by students. Events also include colouring and poster contests, the Dress in Blue/Blue Ribbon of Hope Day on Friday, March 1, and displaying kindness stories on blue ribbons in the school.
At Harmony Public School there's a good chance that the Principal, Dave Steenburgh, will be a little blue when the week is over. Students are conducting a penny drive to raise money for the Mark Fyke Scholarship Fund and if they equal Mr. Steenburgh's weight in coins, he'll be dying his hair blue on Friday, March 1.
        Students at Prince of Wales and Hillcrest Public Schools have organized a Random Acts of Kindness Week campaign that includes colouring and poster contests, a kindness website that can be accessed through www.hpedsb.on.ca/pow/dir1/index.htm, bulletin board displays, and sharing of kindness stories. On Friday, March 1, there's a celebration planned at both schools with students wearing their blue ribbons of hope and each class sharing a story of kindness. Winners of the poster and colouring contests will also be announced at the ceremony.
 

For information contact:
Dolores Hachey, Teacher, Tyendinaga Public School, 962-4447
Cathy Speedy or Tamara Sayers-Pringle, Teachers, Park Dale Public School, 962-1341
Dave Steenburgh, Principal, Harmony Public School, 962-7867
Liz Willott, Principal, Prince of Wales and Hillcrest Public Schools, 968-8321