IPS Middle School Wins National Kindness Challenge

IPS’ Harshman Middle School was named the winner in a nationwide Middle School Kindness Challenge on Friday morning. Five hundred schools across the country took part in the initiative to rid their schools of bullying.

At Harshman this initiative was led by a group of middle school students. Teacher Shari’ Thomas was their advisor.

"So our girls went through and actually went from door-to-door to each class, explaining to each class what the kindness challenge was and how the lessons were going to have a large impact on how to spread kindness across Harshman," Thomas says.

These students organized social media campaigns and a school cookout to promote kindness.

Principal James Larkin says it’s made a difference in the culture of their school.

"The fact that we included student voice as part of that -- so students would learn the lesson and deliver the lesson it had a major impact," Larkin says. 

The news was a surprise to students, and the school was presented a $5,000 check to continue the kindness initiative.