MCCLURE STUDENTS SHARE WITH OTHERS

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Kathy Matlock's kindergarten students loaded up the red wagon with marigolds and impatiens, handmade greeting cards and a little sister and headed into town to greet their neighbors.

The students from Shawnee Elementary School South walked up and down the streets of McClure handing out flowers and offering up choruses of "Have a Nice Day" to those they met along the way."We're giving flowers away to old people and doing kind things," said Brittany Pind."We're doing this to make them feel happy," said Sommer Gerber.

Kindergartners at the school have made the gift-giving trek through town an annual event, Matlock said, as she herded the 6-year-olds from one house to the next."We start the year learning conflict resolution," the teacher said. "We learn to be kind, to speak kind and to be nice. Those are really important things to learn."By the end of the school year, kindergartners are ready to share their kindness with others.

They also learned that kindness pays off.

Near the end of the trip, the youngsters made a stop at Brown's Grocery Store. They were surprised with cold drinks from store owners Mike and Linda Brown."Have the nicest day you ever had," said Anthony Crane after finishing his fruit punch."My legs are tired," Billy Smith complained. But then he perked up. "We are just thanking people for their kindness," he said. "My card says, `Have a nice day,' and I made a nice, spring picture on the front."Earlier in the week, kindergartners made cards for the school nurse, janitor, secretary, cooks and principal. They brought canned goods for the needy and provided a cookie platter for teachers. The youngsters also cleaned up the play yard.