Insight - A final in kidness - By Michelle Libby

Last week Windham High School was rocked by the death of a sophomore. The family’s roots run deep in Windham and the outpouring of support and love was palpable at the boy’s funeral on Tuesday. Practices were canceled and games were postponed. Death is never easy and even more difficult is trying to explain it to young children.
 

Looking for ways to cope with the loss is a normal way to deal with the feelings kids and adults have. Some got together with friends, others wrote poems and some turned to religion. 

This week is also finals for graduating seniors at WHS. This is a time for celebration, parties and excitement. Last Friday, on the last day of senior classes is typically the day the senior class pulls a class prank. We’ve all heard the stories of a principal’s car being relocated to the roof of a school, or shrink wrapping all of the classroom furniture in the middle of the room. This year the class of 2015, in honor of their friend and brother of the class of 2015 president, the class chose to “prank” the school with kindness. Little sticky notes were left all over lockers, windows, on desks and in the halls. Each one with a message, “you matter,” “stay strong,” and other positive messages from the class. Even over the weekend, the messages were still hanging in the halls and around the cafeteria. 

I’m not sure whose idea it was to do this, but bravo. Turning what usually is a day that makes adults grit their teeth, into something positive that shows the community and the school that what they preach, what they discuss and what the school strives for is sinking in. It’s teaching our children and students that kindness matters. Future classes have seen your messages and hopefully will find a way to top the “kindness prank” next year, and the year after and the year after. 

Class of 2015, you have made your mark on Windham High School and looking back 20 years from now, I think you’ll like what you see. Congratulations on your graduation, and again, we at The Windham Eagle are sorry for your loss.