'Filling Buckets' for a Caring School Climate

Have you filled a bucket today?

It’s a question that teachers at the are asking their students these days, an effort designed to enhance school spirit and promote both teamwork and random acts of kindness throughout the school.

Plantsville staff on Friday, partnering with the , introduced the school-wide program at a school wide pep rally and the response from the students has been overwhelming, said second-grade teacher Patrice Clynes.

“It’s not a new concept and it’s something we’ve done with the second-grade classes for several years now, Clynes said. “In the past, my students have loved it and when they found out we were expanding it to the whole school, they were excited by the idea.”

The concept of the program, which is part of the STEPS “” initiative designed to promote caring school climates, is simple. Students are encouraged to participate in random acts of kindness for one another and are rewarded with a note of gratitude in a bucket with their name on it. These acts can be anything from helping carry a bag to holding a door.

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Moira Myers, a staff member at Plantsville Elementary School and representative of STEPS, and STEPS Youth Prevention Coordinator Kelly Leppard each said the program helps build a foundation for the "Asset Building Classrooms” program by getting the students directly involved.

Although several classrooms have done this program in the past, this is the first time the entire school will be involved, Myers said.

“It’s really aligned with everything we are trying to accomplish in regard to asset building classrooms,” Myers said. “As part of this program, we will be hosting a ‘First Friday’ celebration each month to encourage students to continue to get more involved in making their school a better place.”

Christian Cahill, a fifth-grade student who first had the opportunity to experience the program when he moved to Southington two years ago, said he would never have been able to adjust to the new setting as easily if not for the “bucket filling” experience.

The program allowed him to make friends easily and really made him “a nicer person,” he said.

“It’s a great thing to help other people out,” he said. “If everyone participates in this, it will make the school and Southington a nicer place.”

For more on the bucket filling program, visit the Bucket Fillers website by clicking on the link provided.

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