Submitted by Sarah Wasinger, Public Information Officer USD 489

Students and staff at O’Loughlin Elementary School, 1401 Hall, will celebrate Kansas Kindness Day Wednesday by making “pinwheels for peace” and wearing orange in support of October’s National Bullying Prevention month.

Each student and staff member at O’Loughlin will create a pinwheel and display on the front lawn of O’Loughlin, totaling approximately 400 pinwheels.

“The purpose of this project is to remind us all of the simple times in life where we can appreciate the little things,” O’Loughlin Principal Nancy Harman said. ” It is our goal to help our students recognize the power of positive choices and the lasting impact kindness can have upon our students, our school and our community,” Harmon said.

An all school assembly is scheduled at 2 p.m.,  featuring Superintendent Dean Katt, Victor E. Tiger, and FHSU baseball coaches and players.

Mayor Henry Schwaller IV has also prepared a video presentation for the students with the Decree of Kindness day.

Hays Middle School celebrated their Kindness Day with an all school assembly on Friday.

Katt said the schools decided to focus on kindness rather than bullying for National Bullying Prevention Month.

“We feel that advocating for kindness encourages everyone to be more cognitive about daily choices instead of focusing on avoiding instances of bullying. That is the type of environment we want to foster in USD 489,”  Katt said.

The Pinwheels for Peace Project was created in 2005 by two art teachers in Florida. Their goal was to give their students a chance to express their feelings through a visual representation. More than four million pinwheels are projected to be planted in 2014.