First in a series
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Principal Reggie Brunson and parent Ali McCann
El Rincon Elementary’s second annual Random Acts of Kindness Week is beginning at this hour, one of the remarkable upbeat stories in the midst of a thunderstorm of criticism rained down on public schools.
Under the baton of fourth-year principal Reggie Brunson and a core of activist parents, Random Acts of Kindness Week is not a slogan but a total immersion of impressionable students in the study of often overlooked values.
By Friday, the eve of Valentine’s Day, El Rincon students will deliver Valenkind cards to selected senior citizens and to a nursing home.
Parent Ali McCann was meeting the other morning with Mr. Brunson in preparation for this week, and she explained how it took form.
“I came into an assembly one day last year,” Ms. McCann said, “and they were showing ‘Kid President’ (a popular YouTube video). It was a rainy day, so all of the students were inside the Cafetorium,” where she was standing at the moment.
“I was so impressed with this inspiring little man (‘Kid President’) and the message he was giving to the children.
“I wondered if we could do this our own students, and make videos and do assembly presentations.”
Aggressively, Ms. McCann committed to undertaking what has blossomed into an ambitious and rewarding pursuit.
“I went home and started researching,” she said. “I came across the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. I found out the second week in February was going to be Random Acts of Kindness Week.
“A group of parents got together, and with Mr. Brunson, we brought it to El Rincon.”
In addition to Ms. McCann, Maya Chasen, Michelle Adams and others convened, said Mr. Brunson, so they could begin immediately, last February.
(To be continued)
