Soft rocks: Students spread messages of kindness

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This past school year, Cara Michael’s fifth-graders have reads books on kindness, and one has become a favorite. It is “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio. The story is about finding empathy for a fifth-grade boy with facial deformities.

This mindset made her students more than willing to embark upon a project to spread kindness. Michael had noticed rocks with positive messages on them when she enjoyed walks at area Washington Twp./Centerville parks. She found out that some Cline students had also seen the rocks on their outings. She thought it would be a wonderful hands-on lesson for all of her students about caring for others.

“We had good discussions about what kindness is and how it fits into our focus on CARE, as well as specific ways we can show kindness every day,” said Michael. “They realized that it doesn’t take a big effort to make a positive impact on those around us.”

The students watched videos and did some reading about Kindness Rock projects in local communities, as well as others that were farther away. Her fifth graders paired up with second graders in Marcia Waters’ class to come up with painted-rock messages for others to find. Most of them are one words like “Give,” “Joy” and “Hope.” Others say “The Golden Rule,” “Smile Big” or a message such as “Sharing is Caring.”

“One of the students said, ‘When they pick up those rocks and see our messages, maybe it will remind someone to make an extra effort to be kind that day,’ ” said Michael. “The kids wanted people who found the rocks to carry the message of kindness with them and move the rock to a new place on the Cline grounds. The project gave the fifth graders an opportunity to mentor the youngest members of our school community, as they guided some discussions about the messages they wanted to share.”

The Kindness Rock messages that were painted by the Centerville-Washington Park District this past March has spread like wildflower seeds. The project has sprouted thoughts of empathy and kindness to many others.

“After painting and hiding rocks throughout their 50 parks, they invited others to participate by painting and hiding their own masterpieces. Each painter identifies their rocks with ‘#CWPDrocks’ on the back,” said CWPD communications coordinator Carrie Dittman. “In two short months, the group has grown to 285 members, with new members joining every day. It is a big continuous hide-and-seek game within the parks.”

And it is a big park district. CWPD operates eight community parks, nine nature parks and 33 neighborhood parks that encompass more than 1,000 acres in Centerville and Washington Twp.

“We started the CWPD Rocks project to surprise and delight park visitors. We were touched to learn Cline Elementary students had been inspired to spread messages of kindness after a teacher found some CWPD rocks,” said CWPD volunteer coordinator Ginger Clark. “Our goal was to brighten someone’s day, and these students have brightened ours.”

Clark had learned about a similar project from a friend in Florida. Communities across the nation have been adopting rock painting projects to spread happiness. The park district plans to continue the CWPD Rocks project indefinitely, and welcome anyone to become involved.