Kindness Project

During a school year like no other, 4Boyd made a commitment to themselves at the beginning of September that they would become this year's official "Kindness Club." Prior to Covid-19 restrictions, this was a popular lunchtime extra-curricular club that many students looked forward to in grade 4.

Students let their imaginations run wild and came up with many brilliant ideas for Kindness Projects to spread joy throughout the year. Some were large acts, and others were smaller but just as impactful--writing kind notes and paintings for a personal care home project led by Vincent Massey students, making cards to express gratitude for our Senior Admin Team, and more. Our most grand vision of all was to create an Indigenous Giving Back Garden to grow healthy, garbage-free snacks for our entire school community. We pictured garden boxes with plenty of student-grown vegetables, beautifully designed with words and animals to symbolize each of the Indigenous 7 Sacred Teachings. Our intent for these garden boxes was that they would become an outdoor learning space for all K-4 classes at Bonnycastle. With the help of our incredible student teacher, Miss McLennan, 4Boyd students researched and planned every step of this massive project. The class also made phone calls, wrote letters for grants, and created emails for permissions as they engaged in this guided inquiry project.

Thanks to generous grants from the Winnipeg Police Services, Ron Paul Garden Centre, Nutrients for Life Manitoba, Manitoba Association for Art Education, we were able to bring this project to life within a single school year. Our garden boxes have been beautifully handcrafted by Mr. Pereles, Mr. Sheane, and grade 9 Woodshop students at Arthur A. Leach--a huge thank you to them as well!

Our Giving Back Garden represents a lasting legacy to honour Elder Fontaine. He has impacted our hearts in 4Boyd and all of Bonnycastle School. Through Polar Pride, every class has planted seeds and learned new Indigenous teachings through the unique planting method. As the 4Boyd class of 2020-2021 graduates Bonnycastle School in June, this will forever be their legacy at the school as well. They have trailblazed an inspirational path of positive leadership and demonstrated the limitless power of Kindness.

As we read in the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio this year, "Always be a little kinder than is necessary."