As you have probably heard by now, our school theme this year is Lev Tov - A Kind Heart. Additionally, this year, for the first time, we began using a hashtag, #DKJAkind, to share our acts of kindness on social media. Ongoing acts of kindness are infused in the culture of our school. It warms my heart to see how not only our students, but also our "extended" community, embrace acts of kindness, some of which you read about in last week's HaShavua article on Chesed Day.

Students will be provided with a checklist of acts of kindness, which includes blank spaces for students to come up with their own. Students then will be encouraged to accept the challenge to complete as many compassionate acts as possible. The acts of kindness are to be accomplished anytime while at school, though students are encouraged to continue sharing their kindness at home, in their communities and in our world. Different opportunities will be provided throughout the week during art, media and lunch to complete some of the acts of kindness. Additionally, students will be participating in the global service project Kind Coins for Kenya.

Please preview the video to see a short clip about the Village of Mikei. Students will be asked to bring in donation money, and any amount of money will be greatly appreciated (no parameters are set; any contribution makes an impact). Funds will go toward building a schoolhouse in Kenya.

At DKJA, we want our students to understand that all children in the world deserve to go to school, and that learning about global issues helps students to be active global citizens.

All collected money will go to Kids for Peace, a nonprofit organization that hosts the Great Kindness Challenge, which will facilitate building the school.The goal is to build a fully equipped 6-room school for approximately 200 students ages 4 to 8. The entire process will be documented with photos to be shared with our students.

To further the ruach, a mini-spirit week will take place as outlined in the blue box.