MADISON – Horizon Elementary School students demonstrated sound character during Kindness Week on Feb. 13-17.

“National Random Acts of Kindness Week is Feb. 14-20. Our school counselor, Jennifer Walker, decided on the dates so that we could make this a schoolwide event for our students, faculty and staff,” Horizon Principal Dr. Demetria Freeman said.

“The objective of Kindness Week is to spread kindness throughout our school building until it becomes a habit,” Freeman said.

Feb. 13 involved a dress-up day in pjs (pajamas) with the theme “Cozy Up With Kindness.” For their challenge, teachers encouraged students to thank five people who had helped them.

“Our students were and are continuing to show acts of kindness this week. As part of Kindness Week and Valentine’s Day, the students and teachers looked forward to sending and receiving candy grams,” Freeman said. “They took pride in writing sweet notes and doing kind things for their teachers and friends.”

What better day to demonstrate kindness than Valentine’s Day? Students wore red, pink and white. They gave Valentine’s Day cards to friends.

On Feb. 15 for “Share the Spirit of Kindness,” the children wore spirit gear for favorite athletes – whether Auburn Tigers or Alabama Crimson Tide.

Is a child born with kindness, or do they learn the quality? “Children often observe how we adults treat and talk to others, and they model what they’ve seen. I do believe children are born with it (kindness) and learn it at the same time,” Freeman said.

“Peace, love and kindness” on Feb. 16 will reflect the mantra of hippies from the 1960s. Students were challenged to compliment friends.

On Feb. 17, Horizon’s population observed “National Random Acts of Kindness Day.” They wore neckties to symbolize the tie that kindness gives.

“Our counselor and teachers do an outstanding job of teaching ‘character’ . . . it is essential for students to understand that doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, is the ultimate test of character and a kind heart,” Freeman said.