On October 30, the Kindness Club started at the West Plains High School. Assistant principal Randi Willard and junior student Bradley Lancaster started the club, which originates from the “Be A Friend” Project.
In an environment of high school, where academic workload and social dynamics can be difficult, the Kindness Club serves as a symbol of support, contributing to the establishment of connections and the emotional well-being of students. The club creates a school community centered around kindness and encourages empathy towards students. The central mission is to help students to remember that it is important to be kind to everyone, everywhere.
“Being kind does not cost anything,” said associate principal Randi Willard. “But it can definitely help others out of a rough time.” Kindness Club provides a platform for students to actively engage in promoting a supportive and inclusive environment. This club is not only an extracurricular activity but a significant part in shaping the character and culture of the Wolf Pack community. Kindness Club was inspired by the “Be A Friend” project, which is a non-profit organization supporting student ‘Upstanders’ working to save the lives of their bullied peers and build kinder communities using empathy, education and peer support. On November 10, Kindness Club held their first meeting, where members made an inspiration clips with attentive phrases. They were clipped on unsuspecting students in the West Plains High on World’s Kindness Day, November 13. “When the kindness club was handing out clips with kind words written on them, I watched so many people smile when they read the clip that was put on their backpacks,” said junior Catherine Muno. “This created a really positive moment for the kids in the room because you never know what someone is struggling with and a few kind words can make their day.” By encouraging empathy, caring for emotional well-being and telling students about the incredible power of kindness, this club promotes holistic personality development and creates a supportive environment in West Plains.
Kindness is the really important part of the Wolf Pack way. Kindness Club will serve as a basis for the formation of a culture with compassion, understanding, and kindness among the West Plains community. The Kindness Club is waiting for you!