‘Be kind’: Preschoolers spread joy with words, waves
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The Church of the Covenant Preschool’s T Classes, led by Stacey McCullough and Debbie Lopez, wave hand-painted signs and smile at passersby Monday morning as part of their World Kindness Day celebration.
Kids cheer and wave enthusiastically as a car honks hello along East Beau Street in Washington Monday morning. The Church of the Covenant's preschool classes displayed handcrafted messages of love and kindness as part of their World Kindness Day celebrations.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The Church of the Covenant Preschool’s T-class is all smiles when a car slows down to honk good morning Monday. From left: assistant teacher Debbie Lopez; Lawson Kerr; Preston Presto; Tucker Rawlins; Matty Dyer and Sailor Knox.
A group of T class daycare students are thrilled when a car passes by the Church of the Covenant and honks in response to their big smiles and hand-painted “Be Kind” sign. The class spent Monday waving and spreading kindness to passersby as part of an extended World Kindness Day celebration.
Lawson Kerr, third from left, shouts, "Mustang!" as a Ford rolls by, honking in support of the students' "Be Kind" signs. Many of the Church of the Covenant Preschool students were excited when their favorite types of cars slowed down to beep their horns.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Remi Ranko, Landon Hutson, Hannah Knerr and Avery King politely gesture for a passing car to honk hello Monday morning as part of the Church of the Covenant Preschool’s extended World Kindness Day celebrations.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Linda Ronto, a lead teacher at Church of the Covenant Preschool, and Riley Matthews lead the 4-year-old class onto the lawn to celebrate World Kindness Day Monday morning. Students displayed their artwork – painted hearts and letters spelling “Be Kind” – and waved and smiled at passersby.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Jacob Dean, left, announces to classmates Riley Matthews, far left, and Evelyn Rogers, left center, that his hand-crafted heart sign is a hat. Lead teacher Linda Ronto laughed, helped Dean take off the makeshift hat and led students in waving to morning commuters Monday as part of Church of the Covenant Preschool’s World Kindness Day celebration.
The Church of the Covenant Preschool's T-class, led by lead teacher Stacey McCullough and assistant teacher Debbie Lopez, greet morning commuters and passersby with smiles, waves and a hand-painted reminder to "be kind."
Morning commuters were treated to enthusiastic waves and colorful reminders to spread kindness Monday, as Church of the Covenant Preschool students extended World Kindness Day, celebrated globally Sunday, into the first workday of the week.
“We’ve been talking about kindness since day one,” said lead teacher Stacey McCullough, whose waving-hello energy rivaled that of her students. “We wanted to use their art to promote such a message, to be kind. Yesterday was World Kindness Day. We weren’t in school, so we still have to celebrate.”
Celebrate, they did. Children from both the 4-year-old and T-classes bundled up and stood in front of bright, paint-splattered letters that spelled “Be Kind.” The letters, decorated by students at Camp Kindness two weeks ago, were cut, free hand, by assistant teacher Debbie Lopez, and grabbed the attention of folks passing through Washington Monday.
The kids and their infectious smiles also garnered attention. Preschoolers, bundled against the first chill of winter, hoisted painted cardboard hearts in the air, signaled for drivers to honk and gleefully shouted as their favorite vehicle makes drove by.
“That was a cop, a cop,” exclaimed a bright-eyed Matty Dyer, as a city of Washington officer flashed his lights.
Kids also lit up when dogs peeked their heads out of car windows, and were delighted to see family members drive by. Landon Hutson’s grandma rolled past the T-class twice to wave at her grandson and his friends.
Waving hello, students learned during Camp Kindness, is a way to spread positivity.
“It makes them happy,” said Avery King.
It made the preschoolers happy, too. Several students said it made them feel good to spread the message, “Be kind.”
Lead teacher Linda Ronto said kindness is the most important thing her students learn.
“They’re our future,” she said, waving and smiling alongside the kids in front of the positive sign. “It teaches them at an early age to be kind to everyone.”