Kindness Coins

When we had the House Council retreat in August, the kids mentioned that they wanted to do something that would bring the idea of “random acts of kindness” to the forefront.  At the time, none of us had a clear idea of what that would be exactly.

In September, I was taking one of my Masters classes and was inspired by a guest lecturer who mentioned an initiative that their school had started.  Now this got my mind cranking…I walked into the Council the next day flying high on this idea.

I suggested to the kids that we find a way to create a coin – a kindness coin.  Something that could be given out as a token when a good deed was done to or for another without any regard for reward or re-numeration.  The good deed wasn’t just about holding open a door or helping someone across the street, but something more profound, more heartfelt.  What that deed would be, is up to each individual.

The kids took to this idea immediately…the talk started.  We had to make sure that the coin was obviously different so that it wasn’t mistaken for regular currency.  Would we use a poker chip or a metal coin?  How much would this cost?  Then, a new idea tagged grew onto the first one to start a website that would track the coins as they circulated…the kids bubbled with excitement!  It was infectious.

One student in particular, Peter Clarkson, took this idea and ran with it.  He came and spoke with me about his desire to see this project through.  He hunted for suppliers for the coins, he designed them, he checked in with me every two weeks and gave me a status update, we picked a quote  (Kindness is the language that the blind can see and the deaf can hear.  – Mark Twain), and decided that the best way to begin the “Random Acts of Kindness Project” would be to provide the graduating class an opportunity to start the project on the night of their graduation dinner.  Peter and Amanda went up to the microphone and gave a brief synopsis of the idea and its materialization before offering each graduate a chance to pick up their coin.

Front of Kindness Coin

Back of Kindness Coin

Excitement filled the room as students came by and picked up their coin.  Parents also expressed a desire to be a part of this initiative.  I can’t wait to see how this project grows and spreads around the world as the kids and their families find opportunities to spread kindness to others.

If you’d like to follow this project as it grows and impacts the world, visit http://blogs.yorkschool.com/kindness/.  The site is still under construction but should be up and running shortly, so return again and often.

The Kindness Coin Project has just begun.  Now, I’ve got to figure out just how I’m going to give my coin away…

Grad Prank

There is a time-honoured tradition at independent schools…it’s called Grad Prank Day.  For whatever reason, it seems to have fallen on the last day of classes for the grade 12 students.  Now, because we are an IB school, and exams start in May, Grad Prank happens earlier in comparison to other independent schools.  This does not take away from its humour, relative importance in the grad’s lives, or the creativity.

My stance on grad prank is as follows:  I actually enjoy the tradition a lot, however, there are a few stipulations that must be adhered to.

The first is that the prank must be creative.  “Been there, done that” is not cool.  Come up with some new stuff, never before seen here, never before done here at the school.  You will earn the appreciation of others younger than you.  In high school, that means you will be talked about as setting the bar.

The second is that the prank must be funny.  Gross is not funny.  There is this tendency for kids to believe that making a mess is funny.  It’s not.  It’s just plain gross.  For example, saran-wrapping the toilets is messy, not funny.

The third is to ensure that no one is harmed in the process of the prank.  Either in the planning or execution.  Remember, people have feelings and it’s not necessary to hurt anyone in order to get a laugh.

The fourth is not really a condition, it’s more like an  understanding.  Whatever mess you make, you clean up.  Now students can appreciate the merit of the first two conditions, however disagree with the third.  They think someone else should clean the mess up, maybe the grade 11s, however, that tradition has never been started and will never continue…because let’s face it, no one wants to clean up someone else’s mess.  So just think – less of a mess means less clean up.

This year’s grad prank, in my opinion, was definitely worthy of being talked about.  Here are some of my favourite examples of what they did:

1. They tin-foiled the Principal’s office.  Every square inch of it.  Accessories too.

Mr. Hamilton in his tin-foil office

2. They filled the Vice-Principal’s office with pink packing styrofoam.

Ms. Gin floating in a sea of pink

3. They thanked the Student Services Department.

To the grads of 2010, you were definitely creative and got a few laughs out of me – Well done!

Reflecting on my time with the House Council

When I first started working at The York School, I recall mentioning in my interview just how much I loved being involved in developing student leadership.  I guess they remembered…

My love of leadership started because it was probably the one of the main aspects of my own high school experience that I enjoyed.  It then grew as I worked on and eventually led the leadership conference at McMaster University.

I’m a huge fan of tradition!  I appreciate implementing and participating in traditions but I also love being a part of creating new ones.  I love the “ra-ra” aspect of school spirit – houses or clans, team colours, challenges and cheers.

Four years ago, Mr. Hamilton, the Head of the Upper School, asked me if I wanted to help out with the House Council and I couldn’t wait for the opportunity!  Since the moment I started, I’ve had the chance to facilitate and perpetuate traditions that the students created including:

• new house challenges, such as Twister and Liar’s Club
• school dances, such as Unplugged, Semi-Formals and Proms
• Impulse fashion show and coffee houses
• and so much more…

Every year,  a new group of kids enters the ranks of the House Council.  They are always fired up and ready to go, motivated to bring school spirit to the forefront and inspired to leave a legacy beyond their own graduating year.  For the past four years, it has been my absolute pleasure to participate in the experience, to support them and cheer them on.

I’ve learned and shared quite a few insights from my experience with House Council, as I hope the kids have as well, but some of the memorable ones include:

1. Planning is essential.  Advanced planning is preferred.  And as the saying goes…”Your inability to plan does not constitute an emergency on my part.“
2. Say please and thank you.  It goes a LONG way.
3. There is no shame in asking for help.
4. There is an etiquette to sending e-mails to the student body and the Faculty.  Follow it closely.  You will accomplish more that way.
5. Your goal is to get everyone to participate.  This will not always happen.  Do not get discouraged.  Keep trying.
6. The Council is made up of your friends, however as with all friendships, there will be days when you will dislike them intensely.
7. An idea does not belong to a single individual.  Share it.  Believe me when I say that it is likely to be enhanced by the contributions of others.
8. Stand united.  You will all succeed together or you will all fail together.  The choice is up to you, all of you, together.
9. Take pride in what you accomplish.  You have worked hard to obtain it and you deserve the praise and the credit.
10. Be sure to also take time to recognize your faults and find ways to improve.

Most people have asked why it is that I’m stepping away from the House Council, especially if I love what I do so much.  My decision is rooted in change.  Everything in life changes.  If we don’t change, then we get used to doing the same things over and over and we stagnate. We never step outside of what we know and what we’re comfortable with and then we never have the chance to learn what we are capable of.  As fearful as the experience of trying something new is, change must occur so that we can learn and grow.

Some have asked if I’ll come back to the House Council.  To be honest, I would have come back the moment I made my decision to take a step back.  However, I will leave that door open and see where the winds of change blow me.  If and when I have something new and important to share, I’m sure I will head in that direction again.

You see, being a Faculty member at this school presents us with unique opportunities to coach, motivate and inspire outside of the classroom.  It enables us to step into roles that make us become more than just the math teacher at the front of the classroom (though I do love that role as well).  It provides us with challenges that we must face, even when we may initially think we are not ready to take them on, goals that we must set for ourselves and for others, and examples that we would like to make of ourselves that our own students can look to.

It is with a sincere heart that I say thank you to all the students I’ve had the pleasure of working with on the House Council.  I treasure all of the memories that you’ve made, all of the traditions you’ve carried on and all of the new ones you’ve created.  I am so very proud of your accomplishments and your spirit.

Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

Remtulla

A Gingerbread Moment

We ended school before the winter break with the usual insanity – tests, assignments and project deadlines. But, as all students and teachers know, it is also known as the season for baked goods. This year, there was an abundance of delicious goodies available for consumption as it was someone’s brilliant idea to have parents bake for the staff. When you walked into the staff room, every inch of counter space or table was covered with either cookies, cupcakes, muffins and my personal favourite, chocolate chip banana bread! Now, I am never one to turn down a fix for my sweet tooth, but I did try to moderate my intake (the chocolate chip banana bread was my downfall).

The one thing that I didn’t notice (perhaps it was eaten immediately or buried under that plate of cookies that I never made it to) was gingerbread. Now, I admit to not being a huge fan of gingerbread myself, but for some people, it symbolizes the season. They wait for the moment that Starbuck’s offers its seasonal peppermint latte and gingerbread men. To each their own I suppose.

When I was in university, my housemates and I had this tradition of decorating a gingerbread house and has continued each year since. There has always been an overindulgence in candy consumption, however over the years, the houses that we’ve created have become more unified and definitely more artistic. In past years, one of my friends has taken it to her elementary school, and raffled it off to a deserving student, oftentimes, a student who had never known what a gingerbread house was. This year, we decided that I would take the gingerbread masterpiece to my school and raffle it off, on the condition that the money raised went to a deserving charity. With two of us in the house being teachers, and with our circle of friends growing with new bundles of joy, it seemed obvious that our charity of choice would be Sick Kids Hospital.

So, I came to school and rallied the help of some of the House Council students (more on them at another time), the gingerbread house was raffled off to a student during the coffee house and we raised $61 in a mere two hours of ticket selling. Now, that’s not even the best part of the story! Here’s the thing…one of my students came up to me the next morning, on the last day of school before the break, to tell me a sweet story. The winner of the gingerbread house and a friend of his went to Sick Kids Hospital to share the house with a student who was there undergoing a procedure. They didn’t do it because they had to, or because anyone told them to, but because they wanted to. How great is that?!. It choked me up a little and made me smile.

Wishing you a gingerbread moment this season.
~ Remtulla