BUENA PARK, CA – Buena Park School District kindergarteners are learning about compassion and togetherness through the District’s Kinder Kindness program, which recently awarded students medals for creating artwork that reflected the theme of being kind to one another.

Some 335 kindergarten students received medals and cheers of praise from classmates, teachers and administrators for creating colorful depictions of goodwill during a series of award ceremonies across District elementary schools on Nov. 30. The medals were paid for by the Buena Park School District Education Foundation, while the art was collected and placed online by site teachers with support from Wellness Teacher Charlene Ball and Technology Teacher on Special Assignment Andy Osborn.

Kinder Kindness provides students with a variety of ways to inspire kindness in their homes and community through online activities and e-books. Examples include tips on being helpful to family members, schoolmates and the environment.

“The focus of Kinder Kindness is on being caring, helpful and treating each other with respect, which are important traits to learn especially as students return to in-person learning after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Director of Curriculum and Instruction Michelle Centeno said. “We want to highlight the positive aspects of life and this program was a huge success because we had major participation from all our sites.”

The program, a new addition to the District this year, was created in honor of Katie Monson – a family friend of Superintendent Dr. Ramon Miramontes and local student who died of brain cancer. The Katie Monson Legacy Foundation’s key messaging revolves around spreading kindness.

“Congratulations to our Kinder Kindness award recipients, all of your artwork was incredible,” Miramontes said. “We at Buena Park School District know that academics are only one part of what makes a successful adult and that teaching our students about empathy and positivity is crucial for good social-emotional growth.”

The Kinder Kindness art exhibition is available to view online.

PHOTO CAPTION:

BUENAPARK_KINDNESS1: Corey Elementary School kindergarteners show off their medals for participating in the Kinder Kindness art exhibition. Kinder Kindness is a new program for the Buena Park School District, which teaches students about empathy and positivity when interacting with friends, family members, peers and the environment.