Empathy is a skill that anyone can work on. It is the ability to step into the shoes of another person, aiming to understand their feelings and perspectives, and to use that understanding to guide our actions. Ms. Miller and the Evergreen ASB and Leadership students feel that we can use a week to focus on Empathy, aimed at continuing to improve our school culture and how we treat one another. From April 24th to 28th we will do just that.
Empathy Week Events:
In preparation for Empathy week, on Friday, April 14th, all students and staff had the opportunity to share struggles and things they are proud of, anonymously on two notecards. During Empathy Week, students and staff will be watching empathy related videos in homeroom classes and having discussions. On Tuesday, April 25th, after the first video and discussion, the notecards that students submitted last week will be word processed and used to construct two notecard “walls” in our Commons. One wall will be the “Wall of Struggles” and the other will be the “Wall of Pride”. The goal of the two notecard walls is two-fold. The first goal is to increase awareness. By making students more aware of the struggles of others, we hope to encourage more empathy and kindness at Evergreen. The second goal is connection. As students read and witness the struggles and proud moments of their classmates, our hope is that they will find connections to their own lives. They will be able to say “me too” in response to some of the proud moments and struggles that their classmates face. On Friday, April 28th, students will attend an Empathy Assembly with their classmates to finish off the week. The goal of this assembly is to provide students with more information, including ways that they can work on building the skill of Empathy at school and in other aspects of their lives. Finally, students will be given the opportunity at lunch to work on Empathy. They will practice asking good questions and really listening to each other. Conversation starters will be given to all lunch tables to help students initiate conversations with those they might not know as well.
The events of Empathy Week could be difficult for some students. Counselors will be available all week for students who are struggling. Homeroom discussions will be monitored by staff and framed in such a way as to be positive, and sensitive to the needs of all students.
If you have questions about Empathy Week, please contact Trish Miller at trimiller@lwsd.org or your student’s counselor.
PTSA#2.8.68| 6900 208th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98053 | 425 936-2320 | Lake Washington School District