Radical Kindness

Acts of kindness happen on a daily basis.  Students look out for one another, whether taking a friend to the nurse for a skinned knee or helping them with a difficult math problem."

Here at Brandeis Hillel Day School, we are dedicated to achieving a higher standard of human interaction; we go above and beyond what is considered good manners and seek to shower those around us with love, empathy, and understanding. In other words, we don't set the bar at achieving average kindness, but have set a standard for "radical kindness" — kindness that sets Brandeis Hillel apart from other school communities.

Our community abounds with examples of families helping one another: families cooking meals for those who are sick or who have lost a loved one, "buddy families" reaching out to incoming families, people opening their homes to share holiday dinners together or helping one another with transportation.

The objective is to teach children to respect and include others, not just tolerate them."

Acts of kindness happen on a daily basis. Students look out for one another, whether taking a friend to the nurse for a skinned knee or helping a classmate with a difficult math problem. During daily morning meetings, students practice social skills such as how to gracefully enter a game or conversation, how to listen to others, and how to wait your turn. Through the morning meeting rituals, students learn how to deal with people who are different or with whom they might not necessarily connect or bond. The objective is to teach children to respect and include others, not just tolerate them. Students have many other opportunities to hone their social skills, including Peer Helpers, where middle school students work with younger children, or Reading Buddies, where more advanced readers practice with younger friends.

Yet sometimes, despite our best efforts, Radical Kindness requires additional support. At BHDS, we confront acts of unkindness proactively — through staff development, parent education, and a dedicated classroom curriculum. We are committed to tackling the tough issue of bullying and to helping our children navigate the social challenges that shape their school experience.

If we teach each other how to be radically kind, we can change the world.