Say and Do Nice Things campaign begins

The award-winning ‘Say and Do Nice Things’ campaign unfolds for its fifth year at Hastings and Prince Edward District schools.

“Say and Do Nice Things is a way for positive comments or stories to be shared at schools, the Education Centre and through families and communities,” said Kerry Donnel, communications officer with the school board. “It’s a simple way to show kindness and care to others through welcoming behaviours, such as smiling, saying ‘hi’ or asking how things are going outside school/work.”

The launch this year coincides with the provincial Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week Nov. 19 – 23.

“It is a time for students, employees, parents/guardians and community to learn more about bullying and its effect on student achievement and well-being. Even so, Say and Do Nice Things goes beyond that week—it’s an approach that can happen all year long.”

Schools are being provided with posters and post cards for awareness and action.

Over the past four years the campaign has been presented through student-created announcements, bulletin board displays using Say and Do Nice Things post card messages and posters, literacy activities: writing poems, stories, songs or plays and numeracy activities: calculating the number of times Say and Do Nice Things can be said in a day/week/month.

Students have also created ‘super friends’ who do good deeds at school or in the community, prsented drama performances and created artwork with Say and Do Nice Things as the theme. Various videos have been shared on the HPEDSB YouTube channel and through Twitter.

The campaign brought the school board a BRAVO! Award of Distinction through the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education on October 29, 2018.

Donnell was recognized for leading the Say and Do Nice Things initiative, along with Sherry Rivers, Digital Communications Specialist; Ken Dostaler, System Lead for Equity and Tina Elliott, System Lead for Student Services.

Follow the account @SayDoNiceThings and the hashtag #SayDoNiceThings or #CaringCounts on Twitter.