BVE Took Kindness to a New Level with February Challenge

Throughout the month of February, Bryce Valley Elementary School was busy with its kindness challenge.

“February is the month of love,” third grade teacher Trista Rich told the school at an assembly introducing the challenge. “Kindness is love, and love is kindness.”

Trista’s family had been struck by an unexpected tragedy just a few weeks before when her niece, Kirsten, passed away in a sledding accident. Kirsten’s loss was devastating. However, the family had been flooded with community support that blew up all around them.

Kirsten Beagley, excitedly holding up a Taylor Swift record. — Kirsten Beagley. *Courtesy of Trista Rich*.

“Lots of communities decided to show support by wearing pink, ‘Kirsten’s Kolor!’” said Trista. “She was the drill team captain. Many other cheer teams and drill teams wore pink to show their love for her.”

Then word spread. When people in other communities heard about Kirsten’s family, their hearts were opened to kindness. The GoFundMe account set up to help with expenses of her funeral raised over $23,000 for its $15,000 goal.

And many people decided to remember Kirsten just by being kind. Kirsten’s family received so much kindness in the past month since Kirsten’s passing, including Trista, from neighbors and elementary school kids in her area. Like so many, Trista decided to pass it on.

BVE’s February Kindness Challenge

Inspired by a “Kindness for Kirsten” challenge created by Castle Dale Library on February 5, Trista decided to get her school involved.

“I asked my faculty if they would wear pink that very Friday,” she said. “They said yes!”

The student council jumped on board as well, and pretty soon BVE was not only wearing pink. They were putting together a poster, hearts, and an assembly all dedicated to being kind like Kirsten.

At the assembly, Trista talked about Kirsten. The happy teenager was just a great example in how she lived her life. Kirsten was so goal-oriented and hardworking. Just a week or so before she passed away, Kirsten had achieved her goal to win a drill down competition. The last interaction Trista had with her was to text her how proud she was for her winning.

Kirsten, covered in makeup, smiles with her award after a drill competition. — Kirsten accomplished her goal of winning a drill down competition just a week or so before she passed. *Courtesy of Trista Rich*.

Quote: "What's the best that could happen" — “We talked about how the common phrase is ‘what’s the worst that can happen’?! By changing one little word, it goes from a negative feeling/thought to a positive,” said Trista. “Kirsten had this phrase on a board in her room. She would read this. She lived by it!” *Courtesy of Trista Rich*.

“Kirsten was also known for her kindness,” said Trista. “In just the last year she really pushed herself to just be kind to everyone. To stop judging others and be more accepting.”

It turned out, Kirsten’s kindness was contagious for more people than just Trista. Little notes reading, “kindness is contagious, pass it on,” circulated the school as Trista shared Kirsten’s story. That day, BVE began a kindness challenge for the month of February.

Kids sit in Bryce Valley Elementary School's gym, listening to Trista, who stands in the front talking near a projector. The projector shows a "kindness for Kirsten" flyer. — Trista at the assembly telling kids at Bryce Valley Elementary about the meaning of “kindness for Kirsten.” *Courtesy of Trista Rich*.

“I told the students that we were going to sign the poster that stated ‘Choose Kindness.’ But I told them that when you sign a document, you are making a promise. A promise that you will show kindness. I said, if you can’t keep this promise, then don’t sign it.”

Students signed the poster then decorated hearts that they hung in the hall with the poster.

‘Kindness Is Contagious’

That night, the kindness continued to spread like a disease through Bryce Valley.

Elementary schoolers who had caught the bug were seen shoveling sidewalks. Over the next week, they were giving volunteers valentines and “heart attacking” school doors. No doubt there were many unseen acts of kindness done as well.

A door to a classroom at Bryce Valley Elementary School covered in pink hearts. — Bryce Valley Elementary School was mysteriously “heart attacked” by pink hearts soon after the assembly. *Courtesy of Trista Rich*.

When asked what kind of an impact the challenge had made on the school, Trista responded enthusiastically. She told how many faculty members had thanked her for the challenge, which also made its way around communities and social media. The school seemed to be an even better place to work and learn.

“It has had a positive impact on our school this month. I’ve enjoyed reminding the kids to be kind,” said Trista, who has her class writing pages and making illustrations for a class book titled “Kindness Matters!”

“I have witnessed kindness in the school and among the students,” she added. “The love and support has been amazing.”

Best of all, the school learned that kindness can be one of the best remedies for hurt, and once the kindness starts, it’s difficult to stop. So pass it on!

– by Abbie Call

Feature image caption: Bryce Valley Elementary School commits to the kindness challenge after the assembly on February 9. Courtesy of Trista Rich.

Read more about BVE and Garfield School District’s fun assemblies at BYU’s Mariachi los Pumas Performs at Local Elementary Schools.

Abbie Call – Cannonville/Kirksville, Missouri

Abbie Call is a journalist and editor at The Byway. She graduated in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in editing and publishing from Brigham Young University. Her favorite topics to write about include anything local, Utah’s megadrought, and mental health and meaning in life. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hanging out with family, quilting and hiking.

Find Abbie on Threads @abbieb.call or contact her at [email protected].