From December 13-17, North Harford hosted its annual Kindness Week.
On Monday, the theme was “Caught ‘ya being kind.” On Friday and Thursday of the previous week, teachers
were told to look out for students showing acts of kindness. These students were then given gift cards to various
places such as Starbucks, Wawa, Dairy Queen and many more.
Senior Tonya Marks was ‘caught’ by Ms. Denise Smick. “I’ve known Ms. Smick since my sophomore year, but
I really got to know her this year,” Marks says. “My best memory with her would be eating lunch with her and
being able to talk about anything and simply be myself.”
Marks also explains how the nomination felt as though it “came out of nowhere.” She adds “since I didn’t
know, it made me feel good that I was just naturally kind, and a teacher saw that.”
The next event was on Tuesday, being “Chalk the walk.” On Monday afternoon after school, some of the
journalism staff and … stayed after to write nice messages on the sidewalk leading up to the office entrance.
Some of these messages included quotes such as “choose good,” “treat others with kindness,” and “be the
light.” For the next week, students were able to walk along the sidewalk leading up to the entrance with words of
encouragement at their feet.
Junior Valorie Radel enjoyed the chalk drawings and writing, “it was really nice to see so early in the
morning.” She also adds that “sometimes school is rough on teenagers’ mental health and to see someone cares
and put in extra work just for people to read was so nice.”
The event continued through Wednesday with the midweek’s theme being “Our community cares.” Staff
were given uniquely decorated boxes based on the subject they teach.
Throughout the following week and a few days after, students and teachers were asked to fill the boxes with
toiletries to donate to the Mason Dixon foundation to help those in need.
Sophomore Emily Vaughn donated “toothbrushes, feminine products, and deodorant.” Vaughn said that she
“knows that people need help so it was nice to give back to the community.”
Mrs. Barbara Matthews was inspired by “the pandemic,” and also adds “everything that’s happened in the
past two years is cause to look for ways to help someone else.”
On Thursday, students Riley Stoneback, Delaney O’Neil, Ben …, Mackenzie Scott and Mekenzie McCann,
took the kindness to North Harford Elementary School. With a helping hand from Mrs. Erika Edwards and her
students, the journalism staff, were able to deliver a plant called “Mother of Thousands” to lots of elementary
school teachers.
However, the events of that day didn’t stop there. Students Ben Iampieri, Noel …., Reese Showalter, Grace
Feldbush, and Chloe Ward, made a stop at North Harford Middle School. Again, the students delivered the
plants to every teacher in the building, “bringing smiles to their faces,” according to Grace Feldbush, Senior.
To finish off the week, on Friday, the theme was “You’re my reason.” For this day, teachers were given the
opportunity to nominate one student they felt gave them a reason to come to school each day and be a teacher.
Junior Alex Tobias was nominated for the “you’re my reason” award by Mr. Brian Pawlicki. “It was very
heartwarming to me because out of everyone Mr. Pawlicki could have nominated, he nominated me.” Tobias
adds that he’s known Mr. Pawlicki since freshman year and it’s “always been great seeing him in the morning
when [Tobias] first walks in from the bus ramp and giving him a first bump.”
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