North Bay school students learn the power of kindness in community-wide challenge

We all need a little kindness in our lives every day and a North Bay elementary school is really taking this idea to heart with different activities this week.

North Bay elementary school students are spreading kindness in the community as they learn

It is all part of 'The Kindness Project' put on by the Canadian Mental Health Association’s North Bay and District (CMHA).

Students are learning that kindness comes in all shapes and sizes.

From writing cards for their bus drivers to making treats for the puppies at the North Bay and District Humane Society and even going out in the community to spread the love as a class.

Close to 400 students at Maple View Public School have taken on a challenge to promote kindness to one another this week in as many ways as they know how.

"It’s a new school and we want to get known around the community as being a nice school,” Grade 6 student Ryanne Lamarche told CTV News.

Thursday afternoon, students were out and about on Norman Avenue delivering decorated 'kindness' rocks to homes, hand-delivering cards to people on the streets or leaving them in mailboxes, writing uplifting chalk messages on the sidewalk, cleaning up litter and singing songs to bring some cheer.

• Download the CTV News app now
• Get local breaking news alerts
• Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox

"There’s a kid in my class named Robby. I was walking out the door and he held the door for everyone for like five minutes,” said Lamarche.

She and Grade 5 student Kieran Sargent were chosen to be the school’s honorary 'Kindness Ambassadors,' and they’ve been spreading the love by going from classroom to classroom to see how their peers are promoting compassion and goodwill.

"You want to just spread that kindness because it can make someone just really feel like they belong," said Sargent.

North Bay elementary school students are spreading kindness in the community as they learn

"Even if someone is being a little mean to you, maybe you can be kind to them and they’ll be kind to you back and then to someone else. It’ll start a chain reaction."

This Kindness Project is a community-wide challenge hosted by CMHA as part of its Mental Health Week.

This year’s theme 'Be Kind' is simple but mighty and centres on the idea that compassion connects us all, which school staff and students have fully embraced.

North Bay elementary school students are spreading kindness in the community as they learn

"The response has been phenomenal. They’re just really taking off with ideas," said CMHA North Bay and District CEO Mary Davis.

"It’s definitely something we need to teach and continue to teach."

On Friday, the school will hold an assembly to celebrate the week and recognize community partners who contribute to the school community, proving just a random act of kindness can always brighten someone’s day.

"Be kind to one another," Sargent said. 

North Bay elementary school students are spreading kindness in the community as they learn