The Echo

By Staci Cote - 7th grade counselor

For our issue 3 newsletter, I reached out to 7th grade teachers to share some student highlights. We have such amazing kiddos at CRMS and wish we could highlight them all! Our CRMS Eagles are truly amazing.

Hudson Steinberg is a great student leader and always helps others.

Parker Proft is a hard-working student, has a great attitude, is creative and inclusive.

Jack Garner is a great hard-working kiddo who is always willing to help others in class! Turns in his work on time, if not early, and it always exceeds expectations.

Jacob Vitek is such a fun addition to my class! He works diligently every day and always has a smile on his face! He is a perfect example of a fantastic student athlete, balancing his academics, sports, and extracurriculars.

Kate Simpson is a hard-working student, creative, and helps others.

Tyler Kinsey is an outstanding student and a great young man. He is a hard worker and is always willing to help others.

By Lauren Gripentrog - 8th grade counselor

In chapter 6, Kraft discusses the differences between personality and character. Personality being something we are more or less born with, typically set by the age of 7 according to Kraft. Character, on the other hand, is where change can happen. Our character, Kraft explains is all about our daily choices that, big or small, shape the way we treat others. We have the power to choose to be kind, patient, loving people, but that isn’t always the easiest choice. Creating a culture of character takes hard work and a willingness to become selfless.

So, why is creating a culture of character so hard? Kraft discusses 3 main barriers to kindness: incompetence, insecurity, and inconvenience. Incompetence is when we tend to avoid the things we don’t understand or haven’t yet mastered. Empathy is easy to avoid if we feel inadequate at this skill. Insecurity being that we have to overcome the fear of being judged, of embarrassment, of failure, etc. Being vulnerable comes with risk. As Kraft puts it, “You can’t invest in passion without risking some level of pain.” And finally, inconvenience. We live in a busy world, and making time to “be there” for someone in need of connection or a listening ear or a word of genuine encouragement may not be high on our priority list, but should it be? The bottom line is, “I” get in the way of choosing kindness. Where can change begin? Where “I” make the decision to pursue kindness in the midst of my own chaos. Where “I” choose to prioritize the needs of others over my own. This is where a culture of character can begin.

So what does “deep kindness” sound like? So much of the kindness we see in the world, can come across as shallow: “I like your shirt! You’re awesome! You look nice today!” These catchphrases, Kraft explains, tend to come off as “fluff” and are rarely the type of encouragement that boosts a person’s view of themselves long term. Complimenting someone can be the easiest way to fill the gap between “I want to be kind in this moment, but I have no idea what to say.” Genuinely kind communication comes with specificity. Finding something noteworthy in another and having the courage to voice that to that person. On pages 42-43, Kraft gives several prompts for putting this act of specific complimenting into practice. He challenges us to think of people in our lives that fit certain noteworthy descriptions and asks us to compliment them with specificity. Who can you think of that has made a difference in your life with which you could share a genuine, specific compliment?

Kraft, H. (2020). Deep Kindness: A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness. Tiller Press.