Bulldog Bark by TMS Assistant Principal Jackie Price
The students and teachers at Trenton Middle School were recently challenged to “catch” each other being kind and demonstrating acts of kindness. Our Acts of Kindness Challenge began in October with the goal of reaching 100 acts of kindness by Thanksgiving break. As of this writing we are at 86 acts of kindness with more being reported each day. When students report an act of kindness it is written on an official form and displayed on my outer door to the hallway. I am happy to say my door is covered with these official green forms. Some of the reports include helping each other pick things up, cleaning up a mess that was left, helping others with classwork they don’t understand, and one of my favorites-an encouraging letter from one friend to another who was having a rough time. Our Acts of Kindness Challenge coincided with World Kindness Day recognized this past week on November 13 and I am so proud of our students and staff for all of the kindness they show to others.
As we work toward becoming a Trauma Informed School the importance of teaching our students and staff to be more proactive and less reactive in stressful situations has become a priority. Staff at Trauma Informed Schools are trained to recognize and respond to signs and behaviors of trauma in our students. A recent full day of professional development on November 6 provided staff with training to help identify students who may be contemplating suicide, possible self-harm, as well as signs of other potential mental illness. With students who have suffered all forms of trauma in mind we have added weekly “Mindfulness” lessons on Wednesdays in homeroom. Our Mindful lessons focus on units throughout the school year. These units include: Responses to Stress, The Senses, Attitude, and Expressions of Gratitude and Acts of Kindness. As we become more aware of the effects of trauma on students brains and their abilities to achieve we hope these lessons can help students to recognize their responses to stressful situations and make good choices throughout their lives.