Kindness 101: Building caring citizens through Roots of Empathy

Rainbow District School Board will pay tribute to its tiniest teachers at a Roots of Empathy celebration on Friday, June 20, 2014 at Algonquin Road Public School at 10:15 am. The character development initiative was delivered in Early Learning Kindergarten, Grade 2 and Grade 4 classrooms in Rainbow Schools throughout the school year. A similar celebration was held at Little Current Public School on June 5, 2014.

Each participating class adopted a baby who visited the classroom, along with his/her parent and a trained Roots of Empathy instructor, once a month for the entire school year. As the children observed the parent-infant interaction and followed the baby’s development, they learned how infants grow and develop. 

“As students develop empathy, they gain an appreciation of each person’s individuality,” says Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “Students also develop a sense of respect and other important values that will help them become compassionate members of our society.” 

During school visits, a number of themes were explored including meet the baby, crying, caring and planning for baby, emotions, sleep, safety, communicating, who am I? and good bye and good wishes. With each classroom visit, students learned empathetic responses to the baby’s temperament, facial cues and feelings.

“The mission is to build caring, peaceful and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults,” says Roots of Empathy Co-ordinator Nancy Ansamaa-Friesen. “The long-term goal of this program is, while raising social emotional competence and increasing levels of empathy, to increase the capacity of the next generation to have more respectful and caring relationships as citizens and parents.”

The program is designed to foster the development of empathy; to develop emotional literacy; reduce levels of bullying, aggression and violence; increase knowledge of human development, learning, and infant safety; increase pro-social behaviour and prepare students for responsible citizenship and responsive parenting.

“Roots of Empathy has proven to be an effective way of developing positive student behaviour,” says Director Blaseg. He adds: “Character development is an essential part of everyday learning and life in Rainbow Schools.”

Empathy is among the 10 character traits adopted by Rainbow District School Board, along with honesty, respect, responsibility, integrity, courtesy, resilience, acceptance, courage and co-operation. These character attributes, being modeled, taught and expected in Rainbow Schools, provide the foundation for ongoing character development.

Parents expecting children in the next few months are invited to get involved in Roots of Empathy this fall. It’s important that babies be no more than three months when family visits begin in September. Students will watch the babies grow throughout the school year.

-30-

Media Contacts:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor, 

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7217.

Nancy Ansamaa-Friesen, Roots of Empathy Co-ordinator,

705-692-0148.

Gavin Minor, a Roots of Empathy baby for Rainbow Schools, waits patiently for the students to arrive.

Roots of Empathy baby, Nicholas Gilbeault, can barely contain his excitement as the Algonquin Road Public School students sing a song for their guests.

Kourtney Tyson, a Roots of Empathy baby for Rainbow Schools is excited to interact with the students at Algonquin Road Public School.