Students and teachers gathered in the school gymnasium last week for a heartwarming “Kindness” assembly that was aimed at promoting respect, kind selflessness, and positive actions in the school community. The event featured an act from the Little Mermaid Musical, a celebration of the winter sports teams, and fun activities such as grades competing in a potato sweeping competition. These activities always help to raise school spirit and raise positivity in the community. In the end, messages of empathy and inclusion were talked about, encouraging everyone to make a difference, one kind gesture at a time. 

Coach Shannon Hyde said, “I love these assemblies, it’s always a little bit of old-fashioned fun. I love the competitive parts. Watching students sweep the potatoes was so funny, and it was nice to see students get riled up for some competition. Overall, the assemblies are great for getting the student bodies together. Every time we have an assembly, it raises our school spirit.

Junior Sydney Streckfuss said, “The Kindness Assembly was so great. I always enjoy the dance team dancing, they always do so great. It was so cool getting called up for the state wrestling celebration. I was nervous but it was nice to feel like all of Windsor had my back and support. It shows how much school spirit we have.”  

Senior Alexa Higdon said, “The musical was awesome! It has so much talent to be moving and singing. The costumes looked great! My favorite was probably either Flounder or Ariel. I like how they interpreted the fish into human outfits. The overall performance was great! It was just a great experience.”

Sophomore Triston Palmer said, “It was fun and interesting to see all the performances and my friends from my wrestling season go down and be cheered on for going to state. The little games and activities that the school does during these assemblies always make them worth the watch. Seeing the school spirit and how the Dude. Be Nice. award went to such a good teacher who showed how much Windsor looks out for good character and value in people.”

At the very end of the assembly, coach Jeff Funston was selected as the Dude. Be Nice. Award as a Windsor role model. He is known as one of the hardest workers, and for being such a positive and kind leader. He is a great inspiration to students with how he respects them and treats them like others and not just students. He was rewarded with a $150 gift card and a kiss from his wife.

Funston was very surprised that he won the award and at first wasn’t sure what he got called into the center of the gym for.

 He said, “When I saw my wife coming out to meet me,  I thought two things, I was dying and everyone wanted to see me one more time; or, she had won the lottery and I was being retired from teaching.” 

Being a role model to many students for many years, winning this award means a great deal. 

Funston said, “When you are a specialty teacher and especially coach, you are only in contact with a certain number of students on a daily basis.  You can only hope that you are able to make a difference to an entire school of students you may not see personally.  Hopefully, my time here at Windsor will be remembered as a difference-making time.” 

When Audrey Menkhus was asked how he was chosen, and she said, “It was a group decision. All of the Student Council voted for which teacher we thought represented kindness the best. He always made sure to keep people included and would always say hello to everyone. On top of that, he is one of the biggest student motivators in this school.”