Finley Observing 26 Days of Kindness

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School PTA is spearheading a “26 Days of Kindness” initiative as a tribute to those who lost their lives when a madman burst into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut last December 14 and opened fire on students and teachers.

That dark day will never be forgotten around the country. The gunman killed 20 innocent students and six staff members. “26 Days of Kindness” is being observed all around the country. On each of the days, a different victim of the Sandy Hook massacre is recognized in a special way. The program will continue through December 14 when Sandy Hook Principal Dawn Hochsprung will be honored. She was killed while trying to subdue the madman responsible for the shootings.

“We started ‘26 Days of Kindness’ yesterday,” Finley PTA President Julie LaBella said on Wednesday. The parent leader visited each of the school’s lunch periods and addressed students about last year’s massacre and this year’s initiative.

“Beginning yesterday, I have asked them to try and do one act of kindness, big or little, for 26 days with the last day on December 14,” Mrs. LaBella said. “Each day will be in honor of one person killed at Sandy Hook. I have listed every name for them and gave out a log sheet for them to keep in their agenda books to keep track of their acts of kindness.”

Mrs. LaBella provided students with simple examples of kind things to do. Each day the name of the innocent victim being recognized is posted on a hallway bulletin board dedicated to the initiative.

“We are encouraging Finley students to pass on the kindness,” Mrs. LaBella said. “I think this is an important thing for these middle school students.”