Midweek Motivator: Forestview students lead the way in kindness and positivity
Opinion by Dr. Tammy Stellmach | Forestview Middle School principal
At Forestview Middle School, we believe that kindness is more than just a nice idea. It’s a practice that can transform our school community, strengthen mental health, and help students thrive. This year, our focus on kindness and positivity has been woven throughout all grades and the entire school year. The impact small acts can have when they become part of a culture is truly powerful.
During the first two months of school, our Time to Thrive periods gave students opportunities to explore Kindness 101, inspired by Steve Hartman’s uplifting stories. Students designed kindness shirts, created handprints for our “Have a Hand in Kindness” hallway display, and made student-generated posters about “Be Kind” and “No Bullying.” Students even decorated shoes for “Stomp Out Bullying,” showing that standing up for others can be fun, creative, and meaningful. We then hosted the first annual Choose Kindness event in October, sparking a schoolwide and communitywide celebration of positivity, with over 30 organizations represented and more than 2,000 people in attendance throughout the night.
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Midweek Motivator: Forestview students lead the way in kindness and positivity
Sometimes the most powerful lessons are the simplest: choose kindness, support each other, and watch your community thrive.
Tammy Stellmach.
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Today at 7:30 AM
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At Forestview Middle School, we believe that kindness is more than just a nice idea. It’s a practice that can transform our school community, strengthen mental health, and help students thrive. This year, our focus on kindness and positivity has been woven throughout all grades and the entire school year. The impact small acts can have when they become part of a culture is truly powerful.
During the first two months of school, our Time to Thrive periods gave students opportunities to explore Kindness 101, inspired by Steve Hartman’s uplifting stories. Students designed kindness shirts, created handprints for our “Have a Hand in Kindness” hallway display, and made student-generated posters about “Be Kind” and “No Bullying.” Students even decorated shoes for “Stomp Out Bullying,” showing that standing up for others can be fun, creative, and meaningful. We then hosted the first annual Choose Kindness event in October, sparking a schoolwide and communitywide celebration of positivity, with over 30 organizations represented and more than 2,000 people in attendance throughout the night.
In February, our student council led Random Acts of Kindness Week, bringing fun, creativity, and positivity to Forestview. Each morning, council members shared announcements focused on kindness, inspiring the whole school community. During Time to Thrive, students participated in two engaging activities: a Kindness Chain, adding links to recognize acts of kindness they had experienced, and Kindness Hearts, where students highlighted personal strengths, dreams, or inspirational messages. We also celebrated with three school spirit dress-up days: Dreaming About Kindness Day (comfy clothes), Celebrate Our Differences (mismatch day), and Kindness Warriors Day (Brainerd Warrior gear or blue). These activities encouraged students to connect, celebrate uniqueness, and actively contribute to a culture of kindness.
Building on these activities, we recently welcomed Rachel’s Challenge back to Forestview. This nationwide program, created in memory of Rachel Scott, one of the students lost in the Columbine tragedy, inspires students to practice kindness, compassion, and connection in their daily lives. The program offers a hopeful message: small, genuine acts of kindness can change schools, communities, and even lives. For our students, Rachel’s Challenge was more than a presentation; it was an invitation to reflect on the way we treat one another, celebrate our shared humanity, and embrace opportunities to make someone feel seen, supported, and valued. By fostering these connections, we nurture not just social skills, but mental health and self-worth, helping students build resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
On that same day, over 100 Forestview student leaders attended an additional training to recognize their capacity as change leaders and develop tools to use their voices in meaningful ways. Through this experience, students learned how their actions can create a “chain reaction” of kindness and help foster a positive, inclusive school culture. Students attending the training were members of our leadership groups, including Unified Partners, SMILE Club, Student Council, and Builders Club. These groups meet throughout the school year to focus on their mission and vision while putting ideas into action. This amazing group of middle school students generated terrific ideas and continues to meet occasionally as a large group to keep the momentum going.
Our efforts to encourage positivity don’t stop there. We are also thrilled to introduce the SMILE Club, a student-led leadership group created in partnership with Smiles for Jake, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health awareness. With guidance from our counseling and administration teams, SMILE Club gives students the chance to lead peer-to-peer initiatives, plan inclusive school events, and promote joy and connection throughout our school community throughout the year. Through this opportunity, students grow as leaders, support their peers, and make a lasting impact on our school’s culture.
Why is all of this so important? Creating a culture of kindness and connection directly supports mental and emotional wellness. When students feel seen, valued, and connected, they are more likely to engage positively with peers, take pride in their school, and develop the confidence to face challenges. Positive school climates reduce bullying, encourage empathy, and promote behaviors that support long-term health and well-being. Every hallway poster, handprint, leadership project, and moment of encouragement sends a message: you matter, and your actions matter too.
As we continue the school year, we encourage families and community members to consider how they can help support Forestview Middle School in our efforts. Every volunteer makes a difference. Every community connection makes us stronger, and every donation makes an event or meeting possible. Start with something simple: a compliment, a note of encouragement, or a small act of service. These gestures, while seemingly small, have the power to transform not just the day of the person receiving them, but the spirit of the entire community.
At Forestview Middle School, kindness is not just a theme for the year; we hope to instill that it’s a way of life, where every student, teacher, and staff member has the ability to make a positive difference. We need the support of families with the work that is done at home to encourage kindness, respect, responsibility, and relationship building. By choosing kindness, embracing compassion, and fostering connection, we are building a healthier, happier, and stronger school community, one small act at a time.
Sometimes the most powerful lessons are the simplest: choose kindness, support each other, and watch your community thrive at Forestview.