The students at Bedwell Elementary School participated in the Great Kindness Challenge, a global grassroots kindness movement that included over 41,000 schools across 115 countries this year. In addition to receiving kindness checklists with kind acts for students to complete throughout the week of January 22, 2024, Bedwell students embraced this year's theme of Create Kindness. To that point, Bedwell has been recognized as a Kindness Certified School by the Great Kindness Challenge: Kids for Peace.
The challenge was spearheaded by Bedwell School Counselor Megan Dooley. Activities included decorating bookmarks that will be distributed in the BES Library and sharing kind messages in sidewalk chalk on Bedwell's front walkway. They also created a bulletin board where students were encouraged to complete the sentence "Kindness is..." by sharing what kindness means to them personally. Students in grades 2 through 4 were also excited to spread kind vibes throughout the Bernardsville community by decorating coffee sleeves from some local shops such as Bernardsville Starbucks, Priscilla's Pantry, and Goldfinch.Cafe. “It was very special to be able to involve some local businesses and really share this kindness challenge with the whole community,” said Dooley.
The Somerset Hills School District extends special thanks to the members of the 4th grade BES Link Club for their vibrant morning announcements and work behind the scenes, to the lunch paraprofessionals and volunteers for helping to oversee activities, and to Mrs. Allen, Mr. Keri and the whole Bedwell faculty and staff for all of their hard work in making the Great Kindness Challenge a fun and successful school-wide event.