Dear Village Family,
As we enter Valentine’s week, the words of Paul in his first letter to the church at Corinth provide a perfect backdrop for the week as we remember that the greatest of these is love.
Jamil Zaki, an associate professor of psychology at Stanford University and the author of The War for Kindness, spoke with Character Lab recently about one aspect of love that Paul highlights, kindness.
Q: What does it mean to be kind, and why is it so important?
A: Kindness is any action that you perform that’s not designed just to help yourself, but to improve the well-being of somebody else. That can include acts of cooperation where two people mutually benefit, like working on a project together. It can also include altruism, where you help somebody else and don’t benefit yourself—for instance, donating to charity. Why is it so important? I would say that human beings are not that impressive as a solo species. If we had to do everything alone, we simply would not have survived. What we do that’s special is work together, and cultures of collaboration and camaraderie are built on our willingness to show up for other people and to fulfill their needs, not just our own. Many people tell me that they think empathy is important, but then they praise kids mostly for their individual successes. We can focus instead on what kids are doing for each other. Ask kids at the end of the day not just how you did on that exam, but what’s some way that you helped somebody today.
Or, to paraphrase Paul, did you care more for others than yourself?
This week join me and spend a few minutes each day reading and reflecting on 1 Corinthians 13 to see how God is filling your life with His love and how you can share kindness in His world.
As we start the week, a congralutions and a few reminders.
First, congratulations to our MYP team for finalizing and submitting our Application for Authorization last Friday to the International Baccalaureate® (IB). The application begins the final phase of our IB Middle Years (Grade 6 to 8) authorization culminating in a site visit in the April or May timeframe.
Finally, here are a few reminders:
- February 14: Friendship Day Celebrations and Town Hall will be pre-recorded and shared via Toddle; so enjoy your Valentines!
- February 17: Dress Uniform and Class Photo Day; End of 2nd Trimester for K-8; School Chapel presented by The Mustard Seed Bible Study Group
- Looking Ahead to Next Week: Spirit Week, Book Fair, Heart for Arts, and Progress Reports
Together, this week let us model for and inspire our children to reach out and serve each other in joy to bring Valentine’s to life.
In His Grace,
Derek Cummings
Head of School
