'Tis the season.
Source: Facebook (@gaelscoilmhiciluichoileain)
A national school in Clonakilty in Co Cork has decided to swap homework for random acts of kindness.
For the month of December, students in Gaelscoil Mhichil Ui Choileain will have no formal homework.
Instead, they'll be doing good deeds for friends, neighbours and their communities.
The children are asked to log their acts of kindness in a special 'Dialann Cineáltais' ('Kindness Diary').
Following the success of their gratitude diaries last year, the school is taking a more pro-active approach this year.
In addition to the Kindness Diaries, the school will also have a 'Buicéad Cineáltais' (Kindness Bucket) where students can leave encouraging notes or observations for their peers.
Each Friday at assembly, a selection of these will be shared with the school to show how kinds words and deeds go a long way.
Speaking to Echo Live, vice-Principal Íde Ní Mhuirí explained;
'We are encouraging our pupils to think of the real spirit of Christmas, the spirit of kindness and giving. In this world, consumed by social media, where our young people are constantly experiencing pressure, there is no better way to show them the way forward in the world than by practising kindness.'
'Our message to the children is very simple: They can be the reason somebody smiles today and they can definitely help make this world a better place for others and for themselves' she added.
