HSE teachers bring kindness to the classroom

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — Two Hamilton County teachers have challenged their students to spread kindness throughout the classroom.

Thousands of schools across the country have signed up for The Great Kindness Challenge. The goal is simple: to spread kindness. 

“It means to be nice and so sweet,” 5-year-old Anna-Gabriella Hiatt said. 

Ashley Conlon and Jennifer Gabbard are kindergarten teachers at Thorpe Elementary in Fishers. They saw the nationwide challenge in November and decided to introduce the idea to their students. 

“When they said it, we were so excited!” Hiatt said. 

Both teachers taught their students what it means to be kind and how to help others.

“We want them to see these are things they can do every single say,” Thorpe Creek Elementary teacher Ashley Conlon said. “It’s things like helping a friend or sitting with a new friend at lunch.” 

The word spread quickly after Conlon posted a video of her students on Twitter asking the community to get involved.

Students have also memorized a pledge. 

“We need more kindness in the world,” Thorpe Creek Elementary teacher Jennifer Gabbard said. “If we start young, hopefully it’s something they will continue to do and hopefully becomes adults that are really kind.

The challenge kicked off Monday with local law enforcement at the school to welcome students off the bus. 

The students plan to visit a nursing home on Friday in Pendleton.