The world can use some extra kindness right now and the Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS) Transportation Department was ready for the challenge! During the week of January 22 - 26, 2024, the department participated in the 13th annual Great Kindness Challenge.
The Great Kindness Challenge, presented by the global nonprofit Kids for Peace, was launched with three Carlsbad, California schools in 2012 to address bullying and to foster connection, inclusion and compassion. The annual program has multiplied in enrollment each year, having grown to over 20 million students in 40,000+ schools, reaching across all 50 states and 115 countries.
The program presents a positive and proactive approach to creating kinder school climates through a simple checklist of intentional acts of kindness and community-building events. This week, the CCPS Transportation Department hosted a Kindness Challenge Spirit week, where they wore neon to light up someone’s day, yellow to spread sunshine, western wear to “round up sunshine” and more!
In addition, the department created a kindness tree for anyone to write positive messages and post them. They also decorated the fence to the bus lot and gave out joy journals to all transportation staff. Bus 143 Aide Denny Shafer even played a song about kindness on his ukulele and recorded it to share with others. Shafer regularly plays and sings songs with the students on his bus.
While the excitement of The Great Kindness Challenge is enormous, it is the simple acts of kindness that prove to be the biggest hit. CCPS Director of Communication Laura Hoover experienced the kindness challenge at the transportation department first hand. “Our Transportation Department embraced the Great Kindness Challenge and demonstrated that big or small, every act of kindness makes a difference,” she said. “Every bus ride can be an opportunity to foster kindness, turning simple trips into meaningful connections that resonate throughout our educational community."
Through this challenge, we can all help demonstrate that kindness matters. Many thanks to the CCPS Transportation Department for joining together, lifting each other up, cheering each other on and doing their part to create a kinder CCPS and a more compassionate world.
About The Great Kindness Challenge
The Great Kindness Challenge is a positive and uplifting program that creates a culture of kindness in schools, communities and the world. Using a kindness checklist, schools and families are challenged to complete as many acts of kindness as possible. The School Edition is an annual one-week celebration during the last week of January. The Family Edition is year-round. Schools and families may get involved by signing up at no cost: www.greatkindnesschallenge.org.
The Great Kindness Challenge is made possible by the generosity of our sponsors: OOLY, ViaSat and Nordson.
About Kids for Peace
Kids for Peace is a California-based global nonprofit that is building a worldwide community of kind, compassionate and empowered young people. Founded in 2006 by a mother and a high school honors student, Kids for Peace now engages over 20 million youth through their five programs: The Great Kindness Challenge, The Peace Pledge Program, Global Friends, Care for Our Earth and Community Builders.
For more information about Kids for Peace or The Great Kindness Challenge, please contact Jill McManigal at 760.846.0608.
About OOLY
OOLY is a whimsical and colorful arts, crafts, and school supply brand inclusive of an array of expressive and creative items for kids, adults, and everyone in between. Known for fun and trend-forward products, OOLY sparks imagination and inspires self-expression, inviting you to CREATE YOUR HAPPY! OOLY is a woman-owned, San Diego-based company that launched in 2005. For more information, visit ooly.com.