In 2007, Berwick Nova Scotia classmates David Shepard and Travis Price bought and distributed 50 pink shirts after a student at their school was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Pink Shirt Day began with this single act of KINDNESS. On the last Wednesday of February a sea of pink t-shirts will arrive at school demonstrating the Beechwood community’s commitment to KINDNESS. It’s a long standing Beechwood tradition that all incoming and new students as well as new staff are provided with their very own pink Beechwood Pink t-shirt and we wear them with pride.

In the hall by the office you’ll find our KINDNESS Tree. We have been busy filling the tree all month with paper ornaments to display acts of KINDNESS demonstrated by our students and staff. When staff members see a true act of KINDNESS being displayed by a student to another member of Beechwood, their name and the act was written onto the ornament. It has been a wonderful experience for all of us at school to be able to celebrate acts of KINDNESS in droves. Our ornaments have added up quickly and our tree is a great reminder of how powerful showing KINDNESS to others can be.

Our KINDNESS bulletin board project was another exciting opportunity for everyone at Beechwood to express what KINDNESS means to them. All students and staff participated in decorating a piece of “confetti” by displaying a word that represents how they can show KINDNESS to others. The creative display demonstrates how we should “throw KINDNESS like confetti” everyday. It’s apparent that KINDNESS has been overflowing throughout Beechwood all month long.

The organization of, and participation in, all the activities has been a true collaboration by all members of the school. Special thanks to the Pink Shirt Day committee, for their hard work and dedication in bringing everyone together in the planning and execution of KINDNESS month.