Acts of kindness never get old say Port Moody high school students heading to Victoria Feb. 13 to hear Real Acts of Caring Week proclaimed in B.C. for the fourth time.
The students have been “RACing” for more than five years and say putting smiles on people’s faces with gestures of flowers, chocolate, free coffee or positive messages is worth the effort.
“When you do something to make someone happy you realize it makes you happy, too,” says Charisse Wang, a leadership student at the Port Moody high school.
This is the 13th year that Real Acts of Caring (RAC) has been promoted in School District 43, and the message of kindness is getting out to other districts as well as the B.C. legislature where a RAC Week proclamation will be read out and students will get to meet education minister Rob Fleming.
On the ferry ride, the students plan to hand out chocolates to every passenger.
RAC Week, Feb. 10-16, has come along way since it was started at Central elementary school in Port Coquitlam in 2005. Teachers from as far away from Toronto have heard about the program and the province of B.C. is touting it as a bullying-prevention program.
Counsellor Harriette Chang says when schools adopt RAC, there is less bullying because students learn the benefits of positive feedback.
“We want a chain reaction,” says Kai Ramsay, “If someone does RAC, another person does it and it doesn’t stop.”
Debanhi Herrera Lira said getting involved in RAC at middle school helped her deal with anxiety and make new friends and Roxanna Ferdowsi said even at high school RAC pays off.
When the students hand out candy or put thoughtful messages on lockers, students respond positively, although some are initially skeptical, and even teachers are pleased.
“Soon the whole world is happy,” Ferdowsi said.
There’s a RAC contest and more, find out the details at www.realactsofcaring.org.
When the students hand out candy or put thoughtful messages on lockers, students respond positively, although some are initially skeptical, and even teachers are pleased.
“Soon the whole world is happy,” Ferdowsi said.
There’s a RAC contest and more, find out the details at www.realactsofcaring.org.
