05/11/2026
💜Students need to feel seen, valued, and connected at school.
Research shows that school connectedness supports student well-being, engagement, relationships, and positive school culture.
Through our Mental Health Grants, NAFC educators are creating opportunities for students to practice empathy, build connection, and include others in meaningful ways.
After participating in the LOOK OUT FOR THE LEFT OUT program, Stacey Meadors, S. Ellen Jones Elementary School principal, shared that students are “building and growing empathy and helpfulness on a daily basis,” with staff and students making a more intentional effort to include others and build connections.
Through a Random Acts of Kindness Club project with Kristen Boehnlein at Highland Hills Middle School, students stuffed more than 1,000 lockers with positive notes. Mrs. Boehnlein shared that students talked about keeping the notes because they loved the encouraging message.
These projects help shape the daily culture of our schools.
Because of community support, our educators are creating moments of kindness, inclusion, and connection that students carry with them.