Over the past few months, kindness has taken center stage across the Olympia School District, with students, staff, and families coming together meaningfully to build a culture of compassion, connection and care. From classroom lessons to school-wide initiatives, kindness has been woven into everyday interactions, making a lasting impact on our communities. Check out how several of our schools are spreading kindness and making a difference in the lives of all our students and families.
Boston Harbor Elementary School
In February, students learned about the power of positive affirmations and the importance of self-love. Through engaging lessons, they explored how the words we speak to ourselves shape our confidence and mindset. As a reminder of this important message, each student creates a self-affirmation heart to display outside their classroom, fostering an environment where encouragement and self-compassion are celebrated.
Hansen Elementary School
The Fancy Friendship Feast brought warmth, laughter, and connection to the lunchroom as students and families shared a special meal. The event highlighted the value of building and maintaining strong friendships and provided an opportunity for families to be part of the school community. Seeing students enjoy this time with their peers and loved ones was a beautiful reminder of the importance of inclusion, kindness, and togetherness.
Pioneer Elementary School
As a cherry on top of all the incredible displays of kindness, Pioneer Elementary School went all out for National School Counseling Week to celebrate their beloved school counselor, Lisa Perry, the “heart of their school”! Recognizing counselors' vital role in supporting students both academically and emotionally, the staff found a fun and creative way to honor Perry’s impact. Staff proudly wore t-shirts featuring her photo, sharing their love and appreciation for the kindness, compassion and unwavering support she brings to students every day.
Washington Middle School
At Washington Middle School, Counselor Lauren Memmott and the school’s staff have been dedicated to strengthening the culture of kindness. The kindness movement began in October 2024 with a series of anti-bullying lessons designed to help students recognize bullying, advocate for themselves and understand how kindness can be a powerful tool in preventing it. The goal shifted from simply addressing bullying to actively creating an environment where kindness thrives, leaving no space for negativity or exclusion.
“As part of this effort, students were invited to participate in a special activity where they filled a ‘Cup of Kindness’ with ideas on how to contribute to a culture of kindness at WMS. What quickly became clear was that kindness doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming or outside one’s comfort zone. Simple acts—like greeting a classmate with a smile, holding the door for someone or offering a helping hand—can create ripples of positivity that extend far beyond the moment,” explained Memmott.
To further this mission, WMS launched Kindness Challenge Week, an event encouraging students to put their words into action. Each day, a new challenge inspired students to engage in meaningful acts of kindness, including sharing a sweet treat with a friend, writing heartfelt notes of appreciation to classmates, teachers, and staff and performing random acts of kindness throughout the school.
As the week progressed, excitement spread throughout the school. Students eagerly stopped staff members before leaving the office each morning, asking what the day's challenge would be. What started as a simple initiative quickly became a school-wide movement, showing how many students wanted to spread kindness and be part of something bigger than themselves.
Olympia High School
In a touching act of appreciation, Olympia High School Key Club members honored and thanked veterans and first responders. Understanding the sacrifices these heroes have made for their community, students expressed gratitude through sweet and thoughtful handmade Valentine’s cards. They reminded these individuals just how much they are valued. It was a powerful demonstration of how kindness extends beyond the school walls and into the larger community.
As these initiatives show, kindness is more than a one-time event—it is a habit, a mindset and a way of life. The past few months have been a powerful testament to the fact that the results are truly inspiring when schools, students and families come together to spread kindness—a huge thank you to the students, staff and families who have participated in these efforts. Your kindness matters, and your actions are making a real difference.