At the heart of Hershey Elementary, the fourth grade is making a big difference—proving that kindness and initiative can start young and go far. The Kindness Club, founded by Jerome Fuchser, began with a simple but powerful idea: to spread kindness not only through the school, but out into the wider community and the world.
Jerome was inspired after a guest speaker visited the school and spoke passionately about the importance of kindness and viewing the school as a second family. That message struck a chord with Jerome and his classmates. They wanted to do more than just talk about kindness—they wanted to live it.
So, every week, a group of fourth graders voluntarily gave up one of their recesses to meet as the Kindness Club. Their mission was to brainstorm and carry out acts of kindness that could have a lasting impact. They started with small gestures—positive notes, helping other students, and creating a welcoming school environment—but their ideas quickly grew.
In April, with Earth Day approaching, the Kindness Club saw an opportunity to connect kindness with caring for the planet. They launched an ambitious initiative: a school-wide recycling program. The students created colorful posters, developed a slideshow presentation, and drafted a petition to gain support.
Club members took their message to different classrooms across grade levels, presenting their ideas and gathering signatures from students and staff. Their efforts paid off. With confidence and passion, they presented their slideshow and petition to Mr. Thomsen, the school principal. After reviewing their plan, Mr. Thomsen gave his full approval.
Now, thanks to the Kindness Club’s leadership, the school will have a brand-new recycling program—and a renewed sense of what young people can accomplish when they work together for a good cause.
The Kindness Club’s journey is a powerful reminder that students, even in elementary school, can spark real change. As one student proudly shared, “One act of kindness goes a long way.” And in this case, that one act has already led to a movement that will impact the school—and the environment—for years to come. Just wait to see what these kiddos in The Kindness Club do in the future! A special shout out to Mrs. Alexis Allan for her efforts in guiding this project, giving up her planning time and supporting these students to make the school a better place!
