Welcome Students & Parents with Kindness

Have you ever received a "thinking of you" letter or a card in the mail? Or how about a birthday card from someone you haven't seen in a long time? Doesn't it feel so good to know others are thinking about you? Well, we suggest you do something similar for your incoming students. 

We know that this may sound like an overwhelming task (especially for middle school and high school teachers), but we promise it will be something your students and families will always remember. And it WILL start your year off on a kinder note. 

Also, we recommend you send a handwritten card that you put in the mailbox NOT just send an email. Families get so many emails these days that your act of kindness might get lost. :) 

What are you waiting for, make a plan, and turn that plan into action!

Set yourself up for success and grab these items:
- Ask for a list of your student's, parent's names, and their addresses 
- Blank lined paper or blank note cards
- Your favorite pen or two 
- Envelopes 
- Stamps

Now start your kindness letter writing! 
Are you not sure how to start? Keep it informal and let your students and their families know that you are excited to meet them!  You can also tell them about your summer. You can write to them about how you are focusing on kindness this year and some activities that you might be doing. Be sure to ask questions and invite them to write you back. 

You can make your letter writing more fun by doing one (or all) of the following: 
1. Put on your favorite movie. What could be more fun than writing kindness letters while watching your favorite movie?!? Make sure it's one you've seen before so you won't get distracted. 

2. Invite others to join you. Make this the first annual welcome to school kindness letter-writing party. Invite other teachers to join you, bring music snacks and drinks! Host it at your house, a park, in your classroom, or your school library. 

3. Light a candle and be mindful. Practice being mindful when you write your kindness letters. In some meditation practices known as candle meditation or Trataka, you light a candle during your meditation to help you be more present and still. You can try this and think about the "light" (kindness, joy, peace, happiness) you want to bring to your student's lives this year. 

4. Be one with nature. Take your supplies and head out to a local park or your favorite hiking spot. Getting outside and breathing in all the outside beauty will inspire you when writing your kindness letters. 

We would LOVE to hear how your letter writing went and how your families received them! We hope you make welcome kindness letters part of your annual planning and preparing for the future school years. 

Remember, change starts with you. In the words of Gundi, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Until next time... be thoughtful, be present, be kind.