SHAWNEE SCHOOLCHILDREN OVERTAKEN BY KINDNESS

McCLURE, Ill. -- Youngsters were all smiles Friday at Shawnee South Elementary School in McClure, where a week of kindness ended with a pledge to continue doing good deeds throughout the year.

Three weeks ago, first-graders put their heads together to think of kind things they could do for each other, their teachers and their community during Random Acts of Kindness Week, which concludes Sunday.

"We came up with some wonderful ideas, and some crazy ones," said Donna Robert, first-grade teacher.

One youngster suggested he take over for a day to give principal Rick Goodman a day off. Instead, the children brought cookies for teachers and the principal.

"We gave popcorn and soda to say thank you to everyone on the staff," said first-grader Amanda Dorris.

"Our whole class picked up trash outside the school," said Anthony Crane, also a first-grader.

Ashley Rhymer said she and her classmates on Friday took a walking trip through McClure to deliver potted plants to elderly and shut-in neighbors. The children also made kindness cards to deliver with the plants.

Students brought canned food for the needy. They took a field trip to The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau to sing for residents.

"I tried to be nice all week," said first-grader Matt Hale. "I listened."

Throughout the school, teachers filled out forms on each student caught doing something nice. Next week kind students will be honored. The school sent 100 ideas of kind activities home to parents.

Why organize all these projects? "To help people," explained first-grader Kiersten Simon. "Some people are poor and need help."

Anthony Crane added. "It's fun."

And it's the right thing to do, said Della McMahan, who coordinates the school district's "Polite is Right" program.

All year youngsters have been learning lessons about manners and kindness. This week culminated the series of lessons, McMahan said.

"Children are just wonderful," she said. "And they love doing something kind for someone else."