Aliso Niguel Students SNEAK Up On Kindness

ALISO VIEJO, CA — Students at Capistrano Unified School District are on the front lines when it comes to bullying prevention. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, but by no means does that stop Nov. 1, according to Capo District spokesperson Chelsea Turner. The district puts practices in place to reduce bullying and increase awareness all year long, she told Patch.

Whether students attend seminars on social media awareness, or learn how to stand up when they witness bullying, creating a culture of kindness is far more meaningful and long-lasting, the district believes. CapoUSD schools strive to focus on kindness in hopes that this will develop empathy and eradicate bullying from schools.

Nowhere is this seen more than at Aliso Niguel High School. This fall, Principal Deni Christensen kicked off a kindness initiative that is making great strides in 2019. Students and staff were challenged to put their best foot forward every Friday, opting to wear "zany shoes" for the chance to win a pizza party.

Underneath the crazy-colored vans and teal shoelaces, Christensen's "Sneak Up ON Kindness" idea has a simple acronym 'Show Never-ending Empathy And Kindness.' The goal is to make kindness, empathy, inclusion, and acceptance as an everyday thing. And what is more everyday than slipping on a pair of sneakers?

The shoes are an outward symbol of positively influencing school culture for the better. Behind the scenes at Aliso Niguel, students have all week to meet teacher-led "kindness" goals.

Each Monday, students are encouraged to hold open a door for someone, introduce themselves to someone new, or invite someone to have lunch at their table. Kids send a compliment text to two friends, write a thank you note when someone does something you're grateful for, even offer to help a classmate who is struggling.

It can even be as simple as making eye contact, smiling, and saying, "hi."

"Kindness doesn't cost a lot of money and time – it just takes a mindset," Christensen said. "I feel that when people do kind things, it just changes the outlook on your life."

The events happening in Aliso Viejo are just part of the overall district-wide effort to maintain kind schools.

Capistrano Unified School District wears the mantle of being the largest district in the US to be Common Sense Certified.

At each school site, counselors teach lessons on compassion and empathy. Counselors hold restorative circles regarding bullying, conduct conflict mediations, provide self-regulation group counseling. They also meet individually with students that have been victimized by or participated in bullying to provide support and strategies, she told us.

"Capo's counselors also refer families to community resources when students need additional support."

On Oct. 23, all Capo District kids and staff will wear orange to promote unity and the message that no one should suffer bullying.

"Kids these days are under a lot of stress and anxiety for different reasons. Just looking at social media, there so much negativity – there are more likes for something snarky than kind," Christensen said. "I believe all kids are good, and we have to tap into that goodness. Let's face it – adults are not always giving the best example. If we can make our school a softer place for students to land, we will have a kinder campus – and a kinder world – for everyone."

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying and a child's unthinkable decision to end their own life in hopes we might offer solutions that save lives.

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