BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Seeliger Elementary School principal Laurel Terry, center, plays the part of Capt. Bones while teachers Dennis Beeghly, right, and Tara Hornemann act at a 'Students for Kindness: Mission Possible' assembly at Seeliger Elementary School on Friday morning. At top, Jessica Burgarello, from right, Kailee Fiorica, Sierra Biddle, and Makenzy Nuckolls cheer during the assembly.
Sienna Collins, 9, upheld her commitment to practice kindness always.
"When I was jumping single jump rope, I let other kids play when they asked me," she said. "I didn't want to play alone."
Every student at Seeliger Elementary School signed a contract this month pledging not to "fight, bite or push anyone."
"I promise not to talk in a mean or unkind way," the contract read. "I will speak kindly and I will work cooperatively with others. I also promise to do all I can to encourage kindness."
The month culminated in a "Students for Kindness: Mission Possible" assembly where principal Laurel Terry dressed as a pirate, the school mascot.
"I'm Captain Bones to you today," she told the children.
As Captain Bones, she acted the part of teacher in a skit featuring a school of pirates where other teachers acted as students.
The students quarreled over items at recess then demonstrated the appropriate way to resolve conflict.
"I'll share," resolved one student who had argued with another over a parrot. "It will be more fun to play together."
Joshua Lynch, 11, took note of the skit.
"I liked it when they were messing around with the bird - it was funny," he said. "Sharing is a good thing."
Helena Normandie, 10, appreciated the message of the assembly.
"A lot of people should remember to be kind," she said. "This assembly gives you the idea of how to be kind and how to treat others."
Students were awarded for essays written on kindness and posters drawn on the same subject.
Kristi Shaffer drew a heart-shaped world with multi-colored children surrounding it and won the grand prize in the mural contest.
Former Seeliger student Gabrielle Gallegos, now 16, will paint the mural on the school's ball wall after spring break.
"Art is one of my favorite things," Gallegos said. "It's nice to be able to do it for the community."
Karissa Parra, 11, expects it will serve as a reminder of the students' resolve to be more compassionate.
"It will be a better environment because everybody's being nice and not mean."
Contact Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or at 881-1272.
