Kindness and thoughtfulness for others are values that are important for building character in our students while also creating a culture of kindness in our schools and communities. At The Be Kind People Project, we define kindness as intentionally extending good to others and we believe that everyone can make a difference.
The Be Kind Pledge lists 10 skills of intentional acts of kindness and when used as a habit can assist in making a lasting impact. Whether in school or online, ignite the power of kindness by allowing students to focus their attention and actions on making a difference through their relationships with others. Use this writing prompt to celebrate positive behavior, enhance the learning environment, and spark a culture of kindness in your schools, homes, and communities.
Prompt: “This is how I can use the skills of The Be Kind Pledge in my community.”
Guiding Questions: While not required, you may use these additional questions and examples to inspire your submission.
How can I apply the skills of The Be Kind Pledge in my relationships with others at school, at home, in the community, and online?
Brainstorming Exercises:
Entries Due: Friday, March 14th, 2025 by 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time
Winners Publicly Announced: Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
Students should write an original essay that answers the prompt, references The Be Kind Pledge™, and is based on real actions of kindness relating to the student’s life. To receive maximum points, each entry should be student-written, not AI-generated, and follow the corresponding rubric. Judges will be exclusively using the rubrics to evaluate the submissions.
For students with writing difficulties or who may need some additional support, we have created templates with sentence stems to help structure their essays. If a student struggles to write an essay, they are welcome to record a 90-second video of themselves sharing their response to the prompt orally. Please refer to the following sections for more information.
This year, Kindergarten students must use one of our provided templates.
Option 1: Written Submissions
All written submissions should be mailed to 731 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007. They should include a cover page with the following information, in addition to the student submission.
*For group submissions, please include a class roster with the parents’ contact information.
As indicated on the template, please write the student’s information on the back of the page to ensure that entries are judged anonymously.
Option 2: Digital Submissions
Here is the link to the online submission platform:
Individual Submissions:
Please complete all of the required fields and upload a PDF of the student’s submission. Make sure to include a photo of the front and back of the template.
Please use the following formula to label the student’s PDF: Grade Group_Individual Submission_Student’s Name_School.
Example: Kindergarten_Individual Submission_David Smith_Jefferson Elementary
Class Submissions
Please complete all of the required fields and upload one PDF with all student submissions. Make sure to include photos of the front and back of each student’s submission.
Please use the following formula to label the group’s PDF: Grade Group_Class Submission_Teacher’s Name_School.
Example: Kindergarten_Class Submission_Mrs. Jones_Northwest Elementary
For group submissions, please make sure to upload a class roster with the parents’ contact information.
Option 3: Video Submissions
If a student struggles to write an essay, they are welcome to record a 90-second video of themselves sharing their response to the prompt orally.
Here is the link to the online submission platform.
This year, 1st-2nd Grade students must use one of our provided templates.
Option 1: Written Submissions
All written submissions should be mailed to 731 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007. They should include a cover page with the following information, in addition to the student submission.
*For group submissions, please include a class roster with the parents’ contact information.
As indicated on the template, please write the student’s information on the back of the page to ensure that entries are judged anonymously.
Option 2: Digital Submissions
Here is the link to the online submission platform:
Individual Submissions:
Please complete all of the required fields and upload a PDF of the student’s submission. Make sure to include a photo of the front and back of the template.
Please use the following formula to label the student’s PDF: Grade Group_Individual Submission_Student’s Name_School.
Example: 1st-2nd Grade_Individual Submission_David Smith_Jefferson Elementary
Class Submissions
Please complete all of the required fields and upload one PDF with all student submissions. Make sure to include photos of the front and back of each student’s submission.
Please use the following formula to label the group’s PDF: Grade Group_Class Submission_Teacher’s Name_School.
Example: 1st-2nd Grade_Class Submission_Mrs. Jones_Northwest Elementary
For group submissions, please make sure to upload a class roster with the parents’ contact information.
Option 3: Video Submissions
If a student struggles to write an essay, they are welcome to record a 90-second video of themselves sharing their response to the prompt orally.
Here is the link to the online submission platform.
Option 1: Written Submissions
This year students choosing to handwrite their submissions must use one of our provided templates.
Submissions should be mailed to 731 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007. They should include a cover page with the following information, in addition to the student submission.
*For group submissions, please include a class roster with the parents’ contact information.
As indicated on the template, please write the student’s information on the back of the page to ensure that entries are judged anonymously.
Option 2: Digital Submissions
Here is the link to the online submission platform:
This year, all digital submissions will be handled by the students themselves. Students MUST use one of the provided fillable digital templates. They will type their essays into the template, save the template, and then upload their essays digitally.
Teachers, feel free to complete this page with your class information and share it with your students to give them all of the necessary information to complete the submission form.
Option 3: Video Submissions
If a student struggles to write an essay, they are welcome to record a 90-second video of themselves sharing their response to the prompt orally.
Here is the link to the online submission platform.
Option 1: Written Submissions
This year students choosing to handwrite their submissions must use one of our provided templates.
Submissions should be mailed to 731 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007. They should include a cover page with the following information, in addition to the student submission.
*For group submissions, please include a class roster with the parents’ contact information.
As indicated on the template, please write the student’s information on the back of the page to ensure that entries are judged anonymously.
Option 2: Digital Submissions
Here is the link to the online submission platform:
This year, all digital submissions will be handled by the students themselves. Students MUST use one of the provided fillable digital templates. They will type their essays into the template, save the template, and then upload their essays digitally.
Teachers, feel free to complete this page with your class information and share it with your students to give them all of the necessary information to complete the submission form.
Option 3: Video Submissions
If a student struggles to write an essay, they are welcome to record a 90-second video of themselves sharing their response to the prompt orally.
Here is the link to the online submission platform.
Based on their submission, first, second, and third place winners will be selected in each of the following grade levels: Kindergarten 1st-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, 6th-8th grade. All winning students will receive a BE KIND Make a Difference Essay Contest Certificate, a prize of their choice, and an invitation to join the BE KIND National Youth Leadership Board. All teachers of winning students will receive free access to The Be Kind Academy™ online classroom resources for the 2025-2026 academic school year.
Winners will be notified on May 06, 2025, and first, second, and third-place winners will choose one of the following grand prize options. Specific product details and options (including model, color, brand, size, etc.) will be shared with parents and student winners upon prize selection.
Reach out to us! Email writing@bkpp.org or call 602-559-9399.
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