- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
- WS/FCS Day of Caring
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WS/FCS Day of Kindness, Community, and Connection
November 12, 2021
On Thursday, October 28, 2021, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education voted to make Friday, November 12, 2021, a day off for students and staff. The "assignment" for staff and students for that day is to "take care of themselves", said WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus. It will be a day to focus on the mental health of students and staff by showing kindness, community, and connection.
All WS/FCS staff will be still be paid in accordance with what would be their regularly assigned duties on that day. Students will not have to make up the missed school day.
Superintendent Tricia McManus noted that this has been a trying year and staff and students need a day to focus on their well-being. She noted studies from the Mayo Clinic that say performing acts of kindness for others or yourself can alleviate feelings of loneliness, stress, and anxiety.
On, November 10, WS/FCS will provide students with meals for Nov. 12. The district is closed on Thursday, Nov. 11, in honor of the Veterans Day holiday.
Below you will find ideas for Random Acts of Kindness, some Social-Emotional Learning activities you can participate in with your children, some instructional activities that also have kindness, caring and compassion as a theme. Last, and perhaps most importantly, there is information on childcare programs that are open all day on Nov. 12. The centers on this list have a certain number of spots available for Friday, Nov. 12, that are paid for by the district. Those spots are available on a first come first serve basis, and the one time, one day of free childcare must be verified through the childcare center. Again, only the centers on this list have spaces available at no cost to parents.
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Acts of Kindness
Want to know some ways that you can practice kindness today? Start here! Most of the ideas listed here are ‘kid-friendly’
Kindness to Strangers Kindness to Veterans and/or the Elderly Free Style! Love your Mother Earth! Give money to a nonprofit Give an unexpected Compliment Offer to do crafts at a Retirement Center Send an uplifting text to a family member Pick up trash on your street A Bed and A Book Pay for the Meal behind you at the drive-through Ask at the desk of a retirement center who hasn't had a visitor in a while, and visit with that person Reach out to someone you haven't spoken to in a while Plant flowers for a stranger Autism Society Put coins in an expired parking meter Make some healthy snacks for residents Go to the Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro Weed a school's front yard Lead Girls of NC Help someone load their groceries Create toiletries kits for elderly/homeless vets Do something nice for yourself Clean up a water source Forsyth Backpack Program Leave a gift or a card for your postal carrier Offer to do someone's nails or hair Post ONLY positive comments on your social media Go for a hike Forsyth Humane Society Write a positive note on Social Media Offer to be a resident's lunch buddy Make cookies for all your neighbors Help restore bird habitats Big Brothers Big Sisters Pick up trash around town or in your neighborhood Sit down with a grandparent or aunt and ask for recipes take a pastor to lunch Plant a tree Action4Equity Make cookies for your local Fire station/Law Enforcement station Make cookies/treats with a grandparent Try out a new skill Recycle United Way of Forsyth County(Workplace Campaign kicks off 11/3/21) Donate to a food pantry Take an elderly friend shopping take clothes to Goodwill Plant a small garden Bookmarks of Winston-Salem Donate to a school clothing closet or our Social Worker’s closet Go to the VA hospital and listen to stories Leave a kind note on a windshield Support a local food kitchen Hispanic League Sign up to volunteer at a community event Take thank- you cards to the VA Hospital for staff/patients Cook a meal for someone Make a terrarium ReadWS. Say a pleasant "hello" to every stranger who makes eye contact Offer to read to a resident Sign up to tutor someone Reduce red meat consumption The Enrichment Center Leave some pretty plants for a local school Call your grandparents Let someone in front of you in line Organize a toy drive for the holidays greeNest Put a bag of school supplies at the front door of a middle school Do some yardwork for an older homeowner Do someone else's household chores Go for a walk H.O.P.E. of Winston-Salem Volunteer at a Retirement Home for a couple of hours Volunteer at Senior Services Tell a kid a joke Tour a recycling plant IFB Solutions Sign up at the library to teach reading to adults Volunteer for a field trip with the elderly Start a good habit Go camping Crosby Scholars Take thank-you cards/cookies to a local hospital Pick up the tab for a veteran's meal Sign up to take someone to chemo treatments Support indigenous communities Latino Community Services Volunteer at a Homeless Shelter Replace one light bulb in your home with a green one to honor our military Buy a birdfeeder for your yard Have a bake sale to donate to an eco-organization Imprints Cares Have a conversation with a stranger Make a care package for a member of the military Leave a houseplant on your neighbor’s porch Switch off and unplug! Second Harvest Food Bank Weed a local school’s front entrance/yard Help sponsor an honor flight to veteran’s memorials Provide snacks for a youth soccer practice Support a local business Junior League of Winston-Salem Go to a transit terminal and provide coffee or lunch for some drivers Drive a veteran to a medical appointment Volunteer at a pet shelter Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth Urban League Take doughnuts to a local first responder station/hospital Get involved in a veteran’s assistance program Take new crayons and coloring books to a daycare center Spend some time watching a documentary on the environment The Parenting Path Donate to a book drive Put flags on a veteran’s grave Say thank you to 10 random workers around town Download an Astronomy app Forsyth Educator Partnership (Educator Warehouse) Put a bag of school supplies on the front entrance of a local school Do yardwork for an elderly neighbor Do someone else’s household chores Go for a walk YWCA Volunteer at a Local Boys and Girls Club Take an elderly neighbor to dinner Take a frazzled parent’s kids to the park Clean up a local park Shalom Project -
Social-Emotional Learning Activities
If you are looking for more ideas, try SEL for Families which has activities and lessons for all grade levels.
Elementary School
Link Description SEL Competency Mindful Activities for Kids Mindfulness practice and activities for kids including breathing exercises, kindness coloring, and sharing their feelings. Self-Awareness, Self-Management, and Relationship Skills Compliment Suns This activity helps children understand and value compliments. Relationship Skills, Social Awareness Random Acts of Kindness Activities These activities are designed for kids to create and share random acts of kindness at home and in their community. Self-Awareness, Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills Kindness Rocks! Creating kindness rocks with kids and placing them in areas where they can be passed and enjoyed OR kept at home as a reminder of the importance of kindness. Self-Awareness, Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills Kindness Coloring Notes These coloring pages are fun and have words of kindness and encouragement on them. Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills Feeling Charades A new spin on an old classic! This charade game helps kids understand emotion and movements and their connection. Self-Awareness, Self-Management, and Relationship Skills Gratitude Game This game lets families engage in an activity recognizing what they are grateful for and show kindness towards each other in a non-traditional format. Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social-Awareness and Relationship Skills Middle School
Link Description SEL Competency Gratitude Box Write thank you notes to family and friends and then wrap them up in a box as a gift. Social Awareness, Relationship Skills What is Empathy? Worksheet on Understanding Empathy Social Awareness Steps to Create a Self Care Plan This link includes a worksheet for students and adults to complete that allows them organize their self-care priorities and goals. Self-Management, Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision Making Learn About Mindfulness Watch the video together and discuss how to be mindful Self-Awareness, Self- Management The Science of Kindness Watch the video together and discuss how to show kindness. Ideas for Acts of Kindness Social Awareness, Relationship Skills Self Care for Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers Read and watch a video about self-care and its importance. Self-Awareness, Self-Management Create a Vision Board Learn how to create a vision board and then make one. Responsible Decision Making High School
Link Description SEL Competency Write Down, Rip Up and Throw Away Your Stress Have your child write down their expectations and insecurities, rip them up, and throw them away. This emotional check-in takes about three minutes. By acknowledging how your children are feeling you’ll acknowledge their barriers to learning and create a safe space for your children to overcome them. Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision Making Breathing Exercises Try practicing the following breathing exercises to practice non-meditative mindfulness:
- 4x4x4 Breathing: Inhale deeply for four counts, then exhale for four counts. Repeat this cycle for four minutes multiple times a day.
- Simple Breaths: Imagine while you are inhaling that your breath is going all the way down to your pelvis. Then let the breath expand in your lower belly. When you exhale, let the breath fall out effortlessly. Repeat 5 to 10 times.
Self-Management Appreciation, Apology, and Aha Have your family get in a circle and share an appreciation, apology, or realization with other members of the family. For example, - I would like to appreciate Mom for helping me with my project as well as cooking dinner 3 times this week.
- I apologize to everyone for leaving the family room in a mess. In the future, I will make sure that I clean up my mess so that others can enjoy the room too.
Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Responsible Decision Making Steps to Create a Self Care Plan This link includes a worksheet for students and adults to complete that allows them organize their self-care priorities and goals. Self-Management, Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision Making Letter to Self Students will take time to write a letter to themselves that can be kept in an envelope over a period of time until a specified time. For example, students can write a letter to themselves a year from now about where they hope to be, what they hope to have accomplished and any other ideas or goals students want to include in their letter. This can also be held until other milestones such as graduation or other milestone age. Self-Management, Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision Making Quote of the Day Introduce a quote that you feel is relevant to what your child may be learning or to a shared experience—for example, an act of violence in the community. You can facilitate a discussion, or have your child share a one-word response to the quote. This gives your child the space to reflect on their beliefs and experiences and whether they agree or disagree with the quote. This would also be a time for you to share your opinion on the quote which will allow for your child to have insight into another person's perspective and feelings. Social Awareness, Self-Awareness Adults
Link Description SEL Competency Kindness Calendar This fillable calendar lets you set a goal to do one random act of kindness a day for a month. Self-Awareness, Social-Awareness, Self-Management, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making Kindness Rocks Free printable quotes and directions to create a bucket of kindness rocks to spread. Social Awareness, relationship skills The Missing Ingredient in Self-Care A TED Talk on the impact of disregarding self-care. After viewing, take this self-care assessment. Self-Awareness, Self Management Mindfulness Activities for Adults Pick one of the 9 mindfulness practices described in the article and try it. Self-Awareness, Self Management -
Physical/Instructional Activities
Pre-K Resources
English Activities Actividades en Español Frog Chant I am Thankful for... Kindness is in you Math Around Me Paper Bag Puppets Thankful Tree Thanksgiving Conversation Cards Thanksgiving Reading Log Kindergarten - Second Grade Resources
Third - Fifth Grade Resources
Middle School Resources
English Activities Actividades en Español Career Word Search Conversation Starters Game Show Workout TP Spaptula Flips High School Resources
English Activities Actividades en Español Body Weight Training Sessions Reality Check Activity Table Topics: Teen Edition Rules of Chess Chess Board Printable: Half 1 Chess Board Printable: Half 2 Chess Pieces Black Chess Pieces White -
Free Child Care Partners
Child Care Center Locations Contact Grade Level Hours Capacity YMCA of Northwest NC YMCA branches Kim McClure, 336-655-2021, k.mcclure@ymcanwnc.org K - 8 7:00 am - 6:00 pm Call for Availability Sedge Garden Community Center 401 Robbins Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27107 Jessica Garrett, 336-650-7694, jessicag@cityofws.org K - 12 7:30 am - 5:30 pm 24 Miller Park Miller Park Recreation Center, 400 Leisure Ln, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 Christian Settle, 336-727-2831, Christians@cityofws.org K - 5 7:30 am - 5:30 pm 24 YWCA Best Choice Center YWCA Best Choice Center, 1031 E 11th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Marilyn Odom, 336-722-05971, marilyno@ywcaws.org K - 3 7:00 am - 6:00 pm 25 TURN Tutoring & Enrichment - Flyer TURN, 4951 Manning Street, Winston Salem, NC, 27105 Carrie Woods, 336-287-6171, turncbo2012@yahoo.com K - 12 7:30 am - 5:30 pm 40 AlphaBEST Education Inc - Flyer Bolton ES, Clemmons ES, Cook ES, Southwest ES - Ashley ES, Clemmons MS, Flat Rock MS, Forest Park ES, Hall-Woodward ES, Kernersville MS, Konnoak ES, Mineral Springs ES, Northwest MS, Old Town ES, Philo-Hill Magnet, Southesast MS, Wiley MS Larry Roberts, 336-816-2064, lroberts@alphabest.org Pre-K - 8 7:00 am - 6:00 pm 50 Per Site Imprints Cares - Flyer Imprints Care Downtown - 502 N Broad St., and Meadowlark Elementary School, Smith Farm Elementary, Speas Elementary School, Ward Elementary School Betty West, 336-817-6373, fridaycare@imprintscares.org K - 5 6:30 am - 6:00 pm 50 Per Site Sherman's Drop-in - Flyer 2101 Peter's Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC (Marketplace Mall) Bryce Sherman, 336-403-8329, ShermansDropin@yahoo.com K - 6 9:00 am - 6:30 pm 40 Kaleideum North - Flyer 400 W Hanes Mill Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Shari Brady, 336-714-7106, sbrady@kaleideum.org K - 6 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Early drop-off available, Late pickup until 5:30 pm 27
No more spots available.
Salem Gymnastics & Swim - Flyer 4870 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27104 Charlene DeVito, 336-765-4668 Pre-K - 5 9:00 am - 2:00 pm 50 - 100
Rise Indoor Sports - Flyer 419 Twins Way, Bermuda Run, NC 27006 Lane Newsome, 336-253-2204, lane@riseindoorsports.com K - 8 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, late pickup until 5:30 pm 300
