Boothbay Region High School’s students and staff  focused on having a “good week” prior to April vacation. The school participated in a national program promoting kindness from April 5 to 12 as part of Better World International’s weeklong program #GoodWeek. The California-based organization offered a supplemental curriculum to address positive solutions toward ending school bullying, depression and isolation. 

On April 5, #GoodWeek began with five U.S. schools engaging students in “actively doing good,” according  to the  Palo Alto, California educational non-profit business. BRHS was joined by Thrive Middle School in San Diego, California, Monroe County High School in Monroe, New York, Bennett-Hemenway Elementary School in Nattick, Massachusetts, WE Club at Garvy School in Chicago, Arbor Vitae Woodruff School in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin and El Paso Community College in El Paso, Texas. 

The adventure began with “The Good Class” curriculum and teaching about the power of doing good. Students receive a Good Card (a recycled plastic card) and a download. The Good Cards app tracks each Good Card as it travels around the school district, connecting students with each other, and community members — close to home and around the world and showing everyone the ripple effect of the kindness their good deeds make.

“As a school, we have been focusing on community building this year, as well as highlighting all the good that our students do. When we came across The Good Cards, it was the perfect addition to our mission,” said BRHS staff members Caitlin Shepherd and  Christina Morley.  “The Good Cards program gives our kids, from a small town in Maine, the opportunity to see how far kindness can ripple through society, while at the same time bringing them together for a common, community-based cause. This platform allows us to connect our communities locally and globally.”

In Boothbay Harbor, only Tanya Hammond’s ninth grade English class received cards. But four student leaders from each grade —Zach Rollins (9), Marissa Peters (10), Ben Rumney (11), and Faith Blethen (12) — received the remaining cards for peer distribution so each grade has connection to the "game."

BRHS began #GoodWeek with an invitation from staff. “We hope you’ve had a lovely first week of April, snow and all. The Project Kindness Committee invites and challenges you to participate in #GoodWeek with us. So keep your eyes and ears open next week for opportunities to get into the kindness game,” said BRHS #GoodWeek organizers. 

On April 8, the day’s theme was “Be kind to yourself.” Students were encouraged to exercise, eat healthy and participate in any activity gauged to reduce stress. Students were invited to participate in yoga during a locker break and a special activity in the gym during lunch. 

On April 9, the theme was “Gratitude.” Students wrote thank you notes to a current or past teacher during their locker or lunch breaks. Organizers expressed gratitude to the school’s juniors for taking school aptitude tests. 

On April 10, the theme was “Reaching Out.” Students were encouraged to initiate a conversation with a person not in their immediate group of friends. School staff were also encouraged to eat lunch with students. 

On April 11, the theme was “Community.” Organizers reminded students they live in a beautiful place filled with “some truly wonderful people.” Students were encouraged to perform an act of kindness for someone in public health or safety. During their locker break, staff encouraged students to sign a condolence card for Maine State Trooper Ben Campbell who lost his life on April 3 while off-duty assisting a motorist on Interstate 95 in Hampden. A logging trailer truck lost two wheels and one struck Campbell in the median.

During lunch, students penned notes and decorated Oreos with thin colored lines: dispatch, yellow; emergency medical service, white; fire, red; and police, blue. Staff delivered the cookies to Lincoln County Communications, Boothbay Region Ambulance Service, local fire departments, Boothbay Harbor Coast Guard station, and Boothbay Harbor police department and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.

April 12 was the final day of #GoodWeek. The day’s theme was goals. Students were encouraged to spread #GoodWeek beyond the “school’s walls.” Students were encouraged to set a goal for spreading kindness during their locker and lunch breaks. The week ended with students viewing a film about kindness.