STE. GENEVIEVE – Bloomsdale Elementary Counselor Amy Rowland and the student Kindness Leaders held their last visit of the year, closing out the program with several meaningful, student-centered activities that explored how words shape the way we feel, relate, and build each other up.
In the “Words in Water” experiment, students watched as drops of blue food coloring—symbolizing hurtful words—transformed clear water, representing a person’s heart. As they added yellow drops to represent kind words, they observed how it took many positive words to even begin balancing the effect. Even then, the water never returned to its original clarity.
“This simple demonstration helped students see that while kind words can help, they don’t always erase the hurt,” Rowland explained. “It sparked some powerful conversations about how important it is to choose our words with care.”
Another activity, “Pats on the Back,” gave students an opportunity to reflect on the power of thoughtful, specific compliments. Instead of using general words like “nice” or “cool,” students practiced writing detailed affirmations that showed genuine appreciation for their classmates’ kindness, helpfulness, or unique strengths.
“These activities helped our students connect kindness to something deeper than just being polite,” Rowland said. “They learned how much their words matter—and how choosing kindness can make someone’s day brighter.”
As the Kindness Leaders wrapped up their final visit, they left behind more than just lessons. They left a reminder that our words have weight—and using them wisely can help create a school environment where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported.