Sage Elementary School

Principal’s Message

Hello Sage Elementary School Students. Parents and Guardians:

Be Wise,  Be Kind… For the World! As you enter Sage Elementary School and take several steps down the hall, you cannot miss a new art mural installation. The mural was unveiled during the Spring 2024 Art Walk. Set on the background of Sage green, each student and staff decorated a 3×3 tile designing drawings of dogs, cats, skateboards, hearts, rainbows and of course, owls. The tiles spell … BE WISE, BE KIND. 

The motto Be Wise, Be Kind … for the World was introduced to students and staff by our former principal, Ms. Espinosa as the topic of kindness became one of our prioritized initiates. Through the Kindness Initiative, Sage elevated kindness, social emotional lessons, and debuted a Kindness Hoot for students to honor each other when witnessing kindness. In addition, the Kindness Initiative remains part of our yearly improvement plan. Sage teachers and students discuss kindness and what it means to be kind. In addition, the Sage team regularly measures kindness at Sage and monitors ongoing progress by reviewing data and listening to our students.

As part of ongoing kindness lessons and conversations of what kindness looks and sounds like at Sage, we ask students and staff to catch Kindness and report catches for a shoutout on morning announcement. Details of reported Kindness Catches include sharing crayons, taking turns with a classroom rocking chair and asking others to play during recess. The students who report Kindness Catches directed toward them are appreciative and those who demonstrate the action are pleased their act is recognized. Many times, the catch is reported by bystanders taking pride in their school community. 

As teachers and family members it’s important for us to support our students in uncovering the underlying feelings around exercising the kindness muscle. In supporting students to identify the payoff feelings, our students grow in their empathetic responses.  For who knows … which feels better? Receiving kindness, showing kindness to others or to witness kindness? By asking young people questions uncovers the positive emotions behind witnessing kindness and increases opportunity for another Kindness Catch. Some questions to consider include: 

• Can you think of a time when someone was kind to you? How did it make you feel?
• Have you ever done something kind for someone else? What did you do? How did it feel? 
• Why do you think it’s important to be kind to others? 
• What would the world be like if everyone were kind to each other? 
• What does it feel like when you witness kindness to someone else? 

As Sage Elementary School kicks off another school year, our teachers and students will continue the Kindness Initiative including Catching Kindness. In doing so, remembering to Be Kind, Be Wise … for the World. 

Sincerely,

Colleen Chamberlain