Forestview Middle School Unites Community Through Kindness and Wellness

“Choose Kindness” Event Brings Music, Meals, and Meaning to Middle School

Forestview Middle School in Baxter has made plans to host a community event to foster kindness and wellness throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area. Sponsored in part by local groups including the Lions Club, Crow Wing Energised, and the Brainerd Public Schools, the school will host a "Choose Kindness" event on October 7. The event is likely to feature live music, a free meal, and various interactive activities intended to foster kindness and connection.

The only part of the program states that Forestview favours establishing a positive school culture through enhancing student well-being with high-quality community-centred activities. Studies from the Mayo Clinic and similar organisations indicate that kindness reduces stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and allows trust and cooperation to be established among members of the Community. Such benefits, in turn, reinforce the aims of present-day school wellness programs, which are mainly focused on creating a healthy environment for physical and emotional well-being among schools and the education system.

Forestview Middle School Principal Tammy Stellmach highlighted that overall well-being is instrumental in making people feel successful and connected. She explained that treating others, oneself, and the environment with kindness helps to create a sense of accomplishment and belonging, values that are at the forefront of the school's philosophy of educating students. As a lead-up to the event, students within Forestview are working on T-shirts based on kindness themes. A winning design for each year level will be chosen, and all students will wear a shirt with their grade's selected design on the event day. This activity promotes active participation while bolstering the sense of community within the intermediate school.

As part of its overall initiatives as one of the region's active community schools, Forestview continues to set an example in inculcating kindness, wellness, and open school activities that benefit the integral growth of young students. More information about the event may be found on the Brainerd Public Schools website.

Editor’s Note:

In an era where schools are being asked more and more to foster not only academic achievement but emotional resilience, Forestview Middle School's planned "Choose Kindness" event is an exemplary model of what schools and education can do when student well-being takes centre stage. This is not simply another school event—it's a considered one that unites families, community organisations, and students to mark kindness as a fundamental value of learning and life. With the aid of organisations such as the Lions Club, Crow Wing Energised, and Brainerd Public Schools, Forestview is demonstrating what it takes to be an engaged community school. The 7 October event will bring music, food, and hands-on activities, but the true power behind the event is its message: kindness makes a difference in people's lives. Supported by Mayo Clinic and other research, the school is appropriately pointing out how just small acts of kindness can decrease stress, enhance wellness, and create healthier communities. Principal Tammy Stellmach's words evidence a profound insight into what contemporary school wellness programs ought to be about, enabling students to feel a sense of purpose, belonging, and achievement. Her focus on being kind to others, to oneself, and to the world is inspiring, yes, but also critical in today's times. Forestview Middle School stands by the practice of creating a favourable school environment with much evidence. This event stands as a testimony to how intermediate schools can set the stage for developing thoughtful, connected, and compassionate learners. 

In this environment where pressures and performances seem to take control over the narrative about student education, Skoobuzz believes that Forestview reminds us all that kindness isn't a soft skill; it is a powerful platform upon which lifelong success can be built.

FAQs

1. How do middle schools promote student wellness?
Middle schools help students stay well by offering activities that support both body and mind. This includes physical education, healthy meals, and lessons about emotions and relationships. They also run wellness programmes that teach students how to manage stress, build confidence, and treat others with respect. Teachers and staff often check in with students to make sure they feel safe and supported.

2. What is the Forestview Middle School kindness event?
Forestview Middle School is hosting a “Choose Kindness” event to spread kindness and wellness in the community. The event will take place on 7 October and will include live music, free food, and fun activities that teach people how to be kind. Students are also designing T-shirts with kindness messages, and each grade will have a winning design printed for everyone to wear. The event is free and open to all.

3. Why are kindness programmes important in schools?
Kindness programmes help students feel happier and more connected. When children learn to be kind, they build better friendships, reduce bullying, and create a more caring school environment. Being kind also helps lower stress and makes students feel more confident and included. These programmes teach important life skills that help students grow into thoughtful and respectful adults.

4. How can schools support student mental health?
Schools can support mental health by creating a safe and welcoming space where students feel listened to. They can offer counselling, peer support groups, and wellness activities like yoga or mindfulness. Teachers can also help by noticing when a student seems upset and offering help early. Talking openly about feelings and teaching coping skills is a big part of keeping students mentally healthy.

5. What are the benefits of community events in schools?
Community events in schools bring people together and help build strong relationships between students, families, and staff. They make everyone feel part of the school and give students a chance to show their talents and ideas. These events also teach teamwork, kindness, and respect. When schools connect with their communities, students feel more supported and proud of where they learn.