Kindness Matters
In February, Mrs Rowley went to a Headteacher conference and spent time listening to John Magee talk about his ‘Kindness Matters ‘ programme. As Mrs Rowley listened she knew that many, many of the principles around kindness were already embedded into the vision and ethos at St. Paul’s. Keen to know more about the ‘Kindness Matters’ programme she contacted John a couple of weeks later. Mrs Rowley decided that she would love the pupils (and staff) at St. Paul’s to take part in the 30-day challenge.
In May 2023 St. Paul's took part in a Kindness Matters super launch day. John Magee, came to St. Pauls and did a whole school assembly based on the principles behind his book 'Kindness Matters'. He followed this by workshops in every year group across the school Y1 – Y6.
Mrs Rowley signed up to the programme and the Kindness Matters 30-day challenge started after the May half term. Children in Y3 to Y6 had an individual kindness journal which they completed every day of the 30-day challenge. Every morning they would watch a short video clip from John introducing that days kindness challenge. Children in Y1 and Y2 also took part in the challenge but recorded their acts of kindness on sugar paper and class call out sheets.
On Thursday 13th July Mrs Rowley held an assembly for the whole school where she asked children to show or read out all the kind things they had been doing over 30 days. The kindness examples were amazing and could be seen born out around school in lived experiences. Every child in the school will receive a Kindness Matters Certificate for the amazing kindness they show everyday in school.
Well done to everybody for showing such kindness all day every day.
This makes St. Paul’s the 1st
Kindness Matters School in Salford,
a fact that everybody is hugely proud of.
What were the benefits of the Kindness Matters Programme:
- Supports positive mental health and wellbeing
- Strengthens essential positive relationships with pupils and staff
- Covers the important PSHE curriculum
- Contributes to the wellbeing of both pupils and staff
- Promotes positive social interactions and develops a culture of respect through values-based learning
- Impacts the school and the wider community
Positive psychology is at the heart of all our courses to support the mental health and wellbeing of all pupils and staff.”
John Magee, The Kindness Coach
Mindfulness based psychology
Behaviour is all about relationships
Some Kindness Matters quotes to think about:
- The past doesn’t equal the future
- People with anxiety live in the future it is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped
- Whether you think you can or think you can’t …you’re right
- The greatest test is being kind to unkind people
- If killing them with kindness doesn’t work, then bury them with a smile
- Be rich in kindness – start with kindness to yourself
- Do something for yourself everyday
- Time blocking – ½ /1 hour a day
