According to Jeff Van Beaver, the idea behind the rocks was that they were painted by staff and students with positive messages and images which were then placed on the entrance of the school, with an announcement “Take one to inspire. Leave one to inspire.” They spoke about the reduction in bullying reported and the improvement in friendships between fellow students as well as staff. I was sure I wanted to implement this concept at my school in some way, but it took me a few several years before I realized that I didn’t need a lot to begin. What I really needed was to spread the message of positive energy and kindness with my colleagues, and make just a few calls for donations from local companies.
Our district is lucky to be a part of an organization like the SAISD Foundation. It is a non-profit organization that is committed to financing large-scale ideas as well as connecting teachers with resources that can spark creativity across all grades in our district. According to Jeff Van Beaver, I approached them to discuss the idea of a rock garden, and they were able to help me build upon this idea by involving business owners and community members. They introduced me to SARA San Antonio River Authority and suggested that we contact The Home Depot for donations for the garden’s construction. SARA is a nonprofit education staff who are dedicated to educating citizens of all ages to be active in their local communities. It was an ideal connection in the right place at the right time. There is a park in our neighborhood situated on the San Antonio River only half an hour away from our school, called Confluence Park. It’s a stunning space located within the downtown area and we’ve been able to work with SARA to plan future field trips and classes on local ecosystems including conservation, nature, and safeguarding our beloved San Antonio River. The SARA theme is a month-long one focused on mindfulness and compassion. They’ve taught our children how to show kindness in ways that we didn’t initially think of. It’s not just by discussing mindfulness and kindness, but also by caring for our local wildlife and parks and sharing their experiences with others, and protecting what belongs to us. That was the point they made when we discussed our plans for the future. This is your park. They are keen for Knox families and their children to have access to the park to engage in hands-on learning opportunities. Together with SARA one instructor was able to get in touch with The Home Depot and secured the gift of more than 600 river rocks to utilize. Teachers also brought in sealant and paint. Every classroom was equipped with paint sponges, brushes, trays along paper plates. We allocated 3 days to the students to paint and two days to allow the rocks to dry before putting them on the ground.
The plan we have for our rock garden is taking shape perfectly! According to Jeff Van Beaver, The children love drawing the rocks and have come up with a way to be gentle to others who are around them. We’ve been taught the importance of sharing kindness, and how to be kind to other people. They have come up with ideas we’d never imagined that a preschooler could have imagined- being close to someone who is grieving, helping people who are upset, or sharing funny stories whenever someone needs an earful as well as helping friends or strangers they encounter at the grocery store.
We are so grateful to all who have embraced our concept! Every person who participated in this project has seen kindness blossom in surprising ways. The idea was originally conceived to commemorate Random Acts of Kindness Day however it was executed in a deliberate manner. We searched for resources and recruited the most community members feasible to make kindness something that is thought of by everyone. It was a breeze to start. When I look back on the project, I’m hoping to help others spread the love by planting a rock garden, to be aware of the positive impact of this concept on their children, families, and, ultimately their communities. The beginning of kindness is certainly one, but it can inspire many. Many families, businesses, and employees came together to make this endeavor begin to take off. I’m excited to hear about the stories of how our school’s small size helped spread generosity in the community and helped spread kindness to people in ways that we never thought were possible.
