Quaker Values in Action

By Jess Dundas, Morris Quaker Advisor

In Morris Primary Years, our focus during term 1 was on community and on examining what makes our school community special and how we can strengthen our school through acts of kindness and sharing our individual gifts with each other. 

Below are some student words from Morris Gatherings during Term 1:

"Something that is special about the Friends' community is that it's so inclusive, because at break different year groups play together"

"Something special about our school community is that we all value each other"

"I am a new student and I really like how Meeting House is a chance to be still and come together"

"I value that our community is welcoming and positive about everyone"

"Meeting House is good for me to clear my mind, to think about good things, calm down and be grateful"

"Our school community welcomes everying as equals (e.g. calling everyone by their first name) and everyone gets a chance to lead"

"You need to be respectful of others if you want a community to be a safe and kind place"

"Our community is special becuase of kindness, authenticity and space for each individual to be who they truly are"

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By Lou Guidici, High School Quaker Advisor

Towards the end of term 1, High School students participated in a Gathering that focused on kindness ripples and making kindness the norm.

What does kindness look like?

What does kindness feel like?

What does kindness sound like?

Kindness is a doing word…

Kindness causes ripples! When we are kind, we inspire others to be kind, and it creates a ripple effect that spreads outwards. Just as a pebble creates waves when it is dropped in a pond, acts of kindness ripple outwards, touching others lives and inspiring kindness everywhere the wave goes

Research shows that acts of kindness have a spiral effect—they keep going, and going, and going. Our time in Gathering is an opportunity to take some time to think about a person in your life who would benefit from you showing kindness in the form of a card you can give them.

The card can be saying thank you for something, telling the person how much they mean to you/how much you appreciate them, telling them something positive you notice or admire about them.

This person can be someone in our school community, a fellow student, a teacher, a support staff member, or a family member or friend outside our school community.

Lou talked about kindness ripples and making kindness the norm. As a result, she received the note and artwork below from a Year 9 student. Even though it seems sometimes that staff do not, they do have an impact that is received by students in important ways. 

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