CAROL DAWSON
This is the second part to our Random Acts of Kindness Week recognitions. Last month, Southern Indiana joined the nation in celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week. These submissions are not only kind acts themselves, but also serve as our Kindness Tips for April. All submissions can be found on the Web site, www.theextramilers.com.
For the past seven years, Charlestown High School ninth-grade teacher, Mary Ann Zierer, has been teaching her students that random acts of kindness are appreciated. Mary Ann hands out slips of paper when she witnesses students in her class performing random acts of kindness, such as holding the door, lending someone a pencil, etc. The students put their names on the papers, and they are then placed in a special container.
On the last two Fridays of a grading period, Mary Ann gives out $1.25 — the price of a soft drink — to the student whose name is drawn. On the last school day, Mary Ann gives larger rewards and incentives.
Typically, every student gets a reward. Mary Ann’s students are learning that beyond the good feelings they have when performing acts of kindness — they also can benefit through recognition and praise.
Thanks to our Extra Miler Mary Ann Zierer and her ninth-grade students.
• Amy Short, a third-grade teacher from Jonathan Jennings Elementary School in Charlestown, wrote about the school’s cafeteria manager, Cindy Shoultz.
“Cindy is very kind to our students,” Amy said. “She has created a ‘Teria’ ticket program, where students earn special little tickets. The tickets are earned for respectful and kind behavior, turning in their lunch money that is overdue, and for answering questions about their level skills, such as Larry Bell’s 12 power words.
“My students are so excited to tell me about earning a ticket. They then cash these tickets once a month for a variety of prizes. Cindy has a huge cart full of prizes she has bought or made with her daughter. She is very special to our school.
“She spent her summer developing this concept and getting her cart ready. The old saying ‘It takes a village …’ is really true at Jonathan Jennings.
“We also have a kindness club at Jonathan Jennings,” explained Amy. “I am the sponsor and many students do kind things each month when we meet. They are sponsoring a kindness chain project school-wide right now.”
Thanks to Cindy Shoultz, Amy Short, and the awesome students of Jonathan Jennings Elementary, who are all Extra Milers for Southern Indiana.
• Sandy Lewis, of the Greater Clark County Schools system, told us of the charitable effort the school administrators and staff recently took to raise money for a variety of charities and nonprofits. Sandy’s e-mail stated:
“Staff members working in Greater Clark’s Administration Building were given permission in February 2003 to ‘dress casual’ on Fridays. The caveat to the benefit is that those participating and dressing casual Friday pay $1 each week and receive a sticker to wear that day stating, ‘Dressing Casual for Charity.’
“Since February 2003, more than $8,762.40 has been contributed by participating staff members. Initially, all of the money collected for the pleasure of dressing casual was donated to the Relay for Life program.
“However, recognizing that some staff members may have a favorite charity that he or she supports, the activity was modified to be more inclusive. Margie Fetter, accounts payable manger, volunteers her time to receive the money and distribute it to the various charities.”
Sandy hopes other organizations will pass it on by emulating their effort.
Margie Fetter and the Greater Clark County Schools system staff are commended for being Southern Indiana Extra Milers and teaching others that what may seem initially to be small acts of kindness, can combine to make a huge impact in our community.
• To observe Random Acts of Kindness Week, the Greater Clark Board of School Trustees, interim Superintendent Travis Haire, and all central office administrative staff provided every Greater Clark student, faculty and staff member with a special treat in appreciation for their hard work.
Haire sent a letter of appreciation to all faculty and staff on the day before the special treat was distributed. Information was posted in all buildings promoting Random Acts of Kindness. Haire and other central office staff helped distribute the special treat — a package of animal crackers.
This food item met state requirements as a healthy food choice and the snack was low in sugar for those with restricted diets or diabetes. We are sure the children — and adults — enjoyed the kind words and yummy treat.
Thanks Mr. Haire, school board members and the central administrative staff for exemplifying kindness by being Extra Milers.
• The Riverside Elementary Student Council sponsored Random Acts of Kindness Week. During this week, students were encouraged to do unplanned, nice things for other students and adults. The council’s goal was to make everyone aware of how easy it is to be kind to others every day. Students recorded their acts of kindness on colorful paper strips. These paper strips were compiled into a class chain by stapling them together with all other grade-level chains. The long chain of kindness was then hung in the main hallway of the school. In past years, the children have completed enough kind acts that the chain has filled the hallway. The visual reminder of the chain helps students see how their individual acts of kindness, when put together with others, can help make their school a better place — as well as giving each student a chance to feel good about helping others. Thank you to our young Southern Indiana Extra Milers — and their teachers — at Riverside Elementary School for showing how acts of kindness of all sizes can combine to make a big difference in our world.
• Jason Thornbury nominated the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department, FOP Lodge 171 and Cops Against Cancer to be recognized for the work they are doing to raise money to assist the wife of a fellow officer. Jason wrote:
“Sara Kerberg is a 29-year-old mother who lives in Floyd County with her husband, Jason, and their two young daughters, Meagan and Kayla. Sara has been diagnosed and started treatment for inflammatory breast cancer.
“Jason is a police officer with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department. There have been two very successful benefits to benefit Sara Kerberg: The Great Scavenger Hunt and the Totally Awesome 80s Dance.”
Thank you Floyd County Sheriff’s Department FOP Lodge 171, the Cops Against Cancer and the community who attended the events for being Southern Indiana Extra Milers.
There were several acknowledgments regarding the kind acts surrounding our police officers, Officer Keith Broady and Cpl. Dan Lawhorn, after they were recently injured in the line of duty.
• Jason Thornbury also nominated several individuals and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish in Jeffersonville to be recognized as Extra Milers. St. Paul Episcopal Church — with John Grimm, senior church warden, at the helm — held a benefit fish fry held Feb. 27. In the church’s 43-year fish-fry history, this was the most successful, serving approximately 2,165 dinners over a five hour period. The coordinators recognize the essential involvement of the Jeffersonville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 100, the FOP Auxiliary, police officers and their families. Special thanks are extended to Chef Adam Koch, Chef Joe Burges and Masterson’s Restaurant. John Grimm stated:
“We truly live in an amazing community and one of which we should all be extremely proud.”
To John Grimm and all involved in the fundraiser, thank you for being Southern Indiana Extra Milers.
• Jeffersonville Police Chief Tim Deeringer publicly thanked everyone who gave blood through the American Red Cross to help our injured police officers. He also thanked the Jeffersonville police officers, their families, the doctors and staff of the University of Louisville Hospital, the assisting law enforcement agencies from Louisville and Southern Indiana — including the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms — the Jeffersonville Fire Department, Yellow Ambulance medical technicians, those who have participated in fundraisers, and the community for showing support in many different ways. There are more fundraisers planned in an ongoing effort to show support through these special acts of generosity. Thanks to everyone involved.
• Thanks to The Evening News and The Tribune for publicizing events to benefit our injured police officers. Keep it up!
Carol A. Dawson is a resident of Jeffersonville and owner of EEO GUIDANCE Inc. If you have seen or been a part of an act of kindness or know an Extra Miler, please contact her. To submit an Extra Miler, a story or act of kindness, contact Carol via e-mail at Extra.Milers@newsandtribune.com, or mail at THE EXTRA MILERS, The Evening News, 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN 47130-3340.
