'Kindness is the root of all good things,' at Ferri Middle School

When it comes to a challenge and acts of kindness, no one does it better than the undergraduates at Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School in Johnston.

Just ask teachers Rhonda Perrotta and Felicia Paige, who double as advisors for Ferri’s Student Council. They have been showcasing the extraordinary Feinstein Kindness Tree that continues to serve as an inspiration to all students, staff, faculty and administration. It is the focal point inside the school’s spic-and-span main lobby.

“Our student council took on the challenge of creating a Feinstein Kindness Tree amidst COVID-19 and a hybrid attendance of students,” Perrotta said with a wide smile on her face. “The group spent hours brainstorming how to have all students involved in the design and purpose of such a task and its theme.”

So, as Paige reported while she and Perrotta showed off the unique work: “The main task was having all students understand how acts of kindness can be simple to do and to observe as well as mighty in creating a world of happiness.”
She also explained that there was a vote to determine the actual theme with the result being, “Kindness is the Root of All Happiness.”

Perrotta then added: “The main task was having all students show acts of kindness can be simple to do and to observe but yet mighty in creating a world of happiness. Acts of kindness were grouped in three categories of something done in school or home or in the community.”

As a further way to promote the unique project’s theme, students were given paper shaped leaves and asked to write messages of the acts they did or observed.

“Even students who are distance learning participated and sent in their acts of kindness,” Paige said. “They were then transposed onto [paper] leaves and rays of sunshine. Student Council made Cherry Blossoms and a 3-D figure soon took over the lobby here at Ferri Middle School.”

The teachers said that paper butterflies also landed on some of the most remarkable leaves, such as the one written by Megan Clark.

“Megan had won two prizes in a recent fundraising contest held earlier in the year and promoted by the student council,” Perrotta noted. “She had graciously given one of her prizes to a friend.”

Yet another of the special leaves depicts an excellent example of kindness which was written by the ever-popular “Mr. Ferri Middle School/Bus Monitor Donald Iafrate” whom both teachers toasted for the way he welcomes every educator and student each morning by holding the main door and saying ‘Good morning’ with a smile.

The entire Feinstein Kindness Tree, Perrotta and Paige wanted it known, “was accomplished in just 10 days and will remain affixed to the bulletin board in the foyer thus and welcoming everyone and reminding people of all ages that kindness begins with each of us and leads to happiness.”