Colorful painted rocks with encouraging messages lined the desks of room 421 on World Kindness Day as South Lakes students and staff concentrated and collaborated over their artwork.
There was a wide variety of creative “kindness rock” designs, ranging from a wheel of cheese with the message of “Have a gooda day”, to a baby lion with the message of “Be fierce.”
South Lakes sophomore Ava-Grace Satterfield hosted the afternoon painting session as part of her MYP project, in which she plans to start a kindness rock garden in a Reston community park close to the school.
“Painting kindness rocks has been one of my favorite hobbies since 7th grade, and I think it’s an amazing way to spread positivity in our community,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to create a kindness rock garden, and I thought it would be a great idea for my MYP project.”
Along with other South Lakes staff members, Principal Seward and assistant principal Devers painted a couple rocks; Mr. Seward’s blue rock featured the letters, “SL”, and Ms. Dever’s yellow rock with “Joy”.
“It was so awesome to take some time out of my day and do some painting”, Mr. Seward wrote in an Instagram post.
Sophomore Ava Connor felt that her stress was relieved after participating in the event, and is looking forward to seeing her rock on display in the rock garden.
“I think the rocks will cause people to have hope even if it’s small,” she said. “It’s important to spread kindness in the community because if we all lift each other up, it can make many people happier.”
South Lakes Journalism teacher Mrs. Trigiano felt that the experience was calm, therapeutic, and relaxing. She believes that the kindness rock garden will have a positive effect on the community.
“I think words are powerful, so whether it’s words or art, if it’s affirming, then it can make a difference,” Trigiano said. “[Kind words] can make a difference in how we connect with one another, and it can bring people together, as well as comfort and inspire others.”
The twenty attendees of the event were able to paint more than fifty kindness rocks, and Satterfield plans to host more sessions to add more rocks to the garden.
“My goal is to create a super-colorful and abundant rock garden, and to accomplish that, my goal is to have at least 150 rocks,” she said.
Satterfield plans to put out the “Reston Rocks” garden in December on a Reston trail playground.
“I would like for people of all ages in our community to be able to access the garden”, she said. “Children and their parents could swing by when they go out to play, and teenagers and adults who explore the trails could enjoy it as they walk by.”
If you are interested in painting a kindness rock or would like to see the garden when it is set up, make sure to check out the project’s instagram, @restonrocks, for updates.
