In a project aimed at spreading kindness throughout the school, long-term substitute teacher Ms. Stephany McNamara spearheaded a Kindness Quilt project at Level Green Elementary School (Penn-Trafford School District).
McNamara was able to secure funding for supplies through a grant from DonorsChoose (a crowdfunding platform for teachers). During the month of May, she asked every student in kindergarten through grade 5 to design quilt squares using fabric markers, paint and acrylic gemstones. Each square contains a message of kindness such as ‘You are kind’ and ‘You are brave’. While the students decorated their squares, Ms. McNamara read them stories about kindness.
Finally, McNamara sewed all the squares together to create a colorful quilt which will be displayed at the school for years to come.
“My goal was to show students that when we all work together we can create something beautiful,” commented Ms. McNamara. “Self expression is so important in a young life, and I wanted the students to create positive self affirmations and give kind words to others, and do so in a way that can be viewed by the whole school.”