Potowmack Elementary School recently hosted its first Kindness Fair, an event aimed at promoting empathy, inclusion, and respect among students. Organized by the school’s counseling department, the fair gathered students from all grade levels in the gym to participate in a variety of hands-on activities focused on kindness.
The event included several activity stations where students could engage creatively. At one station, children decorated popsicle-stick characters to symbolize friendship. Another allowed them to make friendship bracelets with colorful beads and strings, which they could keep or give away. Students also created superhero masks with positive messages and crafted tissue paper flowers intended for friends or family members.
Other activities included a dance party meant to reinforce that kindness can grow when shared. Students wrote encouraging messages on paper hearts for classroom decorations or sharing with peers. A hand mural project involved tracing hands on paper matching their skin tones; these will be used in a hallway display titled “Diversity Makes Us Stronger – We All Belong at PMK.” In addition, coping circles provided strategies such as taking breaks or talking with friends to help support emotional well-being.
PEER students from Potomac Falls High School assisted by guiding younger participants through each station and serving as role models.
Principal Cassie Colasuonno stated, “Our students walked away with a tangible reminder that being kind means celebrating the things that make us unique, because our differences are exactly what make our school community so vibrant. Being kind is cool!”
The Kindness Fair was sponsored by the Mrs. Haake Memorial Fund in memory of Kourtney Haake, who taught at Potowmack Elementary for more than ten years. The fund supports events like this one as part of its mission to give back to the school community.
Through these activities, Potowmack Elementary continues its efforts to ensure every student feels valued and included.
