Dear NCIC-Immersion Families, 

Your child may come home stating that they filled someone’s bucket or that a classmate filled theirs. They are referring to a school-wide character-building Kindness initiative starting in October based on the book “How Full is Your Bucket” by Mary Reckmeyer and Thomas Rath. The premise of the book is that everyone has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel happy and proud of ourselves and when our bucket is empty, we feel lonely and sad. The book demonstrates the impact of our actions can either fill or empty a bucket by how we treat someone. 

Students will learn that we all carry an invisible bucket that contains our feelings. Bucket filling are the things we do, see or feel that makes us feel like our best self. By bucket filling students fill other people's buckets and their own bucket at the same time. On the other hand, bucket dipping are things we do, see or feel that make us feel like we can’t act the way we want to. Bucket dipping empties our buckets. The bucket-dipping concept is endearing, meaningful, and easily applicable to student’s worlds. It teaches children the concept of giving back in a light-hearted and appropriate way. The concept of “giving to others and yourself” is bucket filling.  While hurtful, irritating, careless words and acts is bucket dipping.

We will be sharing and practicing ways to be bucket fillers in all parts of your child’s life. This week we are challenging students with 25 acts of kindness to practice at home during this month, and you can play it all on a bingo card. Challenge your kids to be kind by having them complete the actions listed on the card. For anyone who completes the full board of kindness acts this year they can claim their own Kindness Certificate at school. Surely, you do something kind for your children every day, encourage them to pass on the kindness by doing something kind for someone else every day as well.  

While children are often praised for winning a competition or passing a difficult test. Rarely do adults express this same level of admiration when a child shares their lunch or helps a fellow student understand a lesson. This month is dedicated to teaching students to value kindness and positive interactions with their peers as a fundamental component to their success. 

If you have any questions about our initiative, please reach out to the counseling department. 

With love, 

The Counseling Department