Du Bois Middle School 5th Graders Encourage Community Kindness with Rock Garden Project

Du Bois Middle School's 5th graders have started a project to encourage kindness in their community. The project, called the Rocks of Kindness, started with talks about compassion and goodwill. The result of these discussions is the Kindness Rock Garden, now displayed outside the Fuel coffee shop for the public.

The project was led by Carole Aberdale, a 5th grade teacher at the school. She said the goal of the project was to help students see how their actions affect the community. The students had many discussions about situations that made someone feel 'less than', promoting empathy and understanding.

The students were asked to think about what kindness means and the purpose of the Kindness Rock Garden. Their answers varied, with some seeing the rocks as reminders of individual worth, while others saw them as ways to spread kindness and encouragement. Some students hoped that the rocks would make someone's day better or inspire others to create similar gardens.

The Kindness Rock Garden was made using a town flower bed. This was not a problem as Carole Aberdale is married to Joe Aberdale, the town superintendent of public works. Joe Aberdale showed the town's support for the project, highlighting the importance of young people's involvement in the community.

The project is an example of how one action can affect a community. It not only encourages kindness but also makes students think about their possible roles in the community, whether through work, volunteering, or participating in similar projects.

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