Acts of kindness encourage Panther students
Standing proudly at the Route 209 entrance to the Panther Valley High School, a simple marquee bears a bold message to students, teachers and passers-by alike: Be kind today.
That is the message that Save Our Bubble group organizer and 1992 PVHS graduate, Andrea Davis would like students (and everyone) to hold close to their hearts every day.Save Our Bubble is a community group born on Facebook and consisting of residents of Nesquehoning, Summit Hill, Lansford and Coaldale (known collectively as "the bubble") who are determined to bring positive change to the Panther Valley communities and schools of which they are a part.On Tuesday, students of the Panther Valley High School were washed over in positivity as part of a combined effort to offer a Random Acts of Kindness Day.Davis, along with several parents and members of the PV cheerleading squad, arrived at 6:30 a.m. and in "great spirit" to prepare for event.Pegged as an anti-bullying campaign, students were treated to signs, banners and individual Post-it notes of encouragement on each and every locker."I think it's important that kids find self-worth and happiness. It's up to us as parents to help guide our kids to act kind to others every day," said Davis."Cyberbullying has got out of control and it needs to stop. There's got to be zero-tolerance," she said.As students entered the building, members of the cheerleading squad held bright, fluorescent signs with messages such as "Love yourself," "Achieve your goals," "Stop bullying" and "Words do hurt."Once at their lockers, students found further notes of encouragement such as "Keep your head held high," "You are pretty" and "I 'heart' You."To make things even more special for the students, the community rallied together to provide over $500 in prizes to give away in drawings throughout the day.After getting over the initial confusion as to what was going on, students smiled as they read the messages that were left for them.Freshman Robin Krajcir said that seeing the note on her locker "Made me feel happy."I think it is a good idea that people are trying to make a difference," she added.Panther Valley High School principal Joseph Gunnels embraced the event.Gunnels said the school was in the process of putting together a "positive behavior support team" and that the Random Acts of Kindness day coincides with it."What is really important is that a community-parent-student-school connection has been made," Gunnels said.Gunnels said there has been "too much attention toward bullying, fighting and nasty social media" problems, but that something like Tuesday's event helps to "build positive relationships" and to "focus on positive things," adding, "If this is a place that can be the safe place and supportive place, that's great."In an effort to bring continued positive change to the schools and communities in "the bubble," Davis is looking for everyone, young and old, to become involved in some way in order to face the task head-on.Principal Gunnels said, "Be part of the solution, not the problem."A similar event is planned for the middle school in the near future.