On Tuesday, November 4, St. Joseph Catholic School in Toledo held a special assembly to celebrate Grade 3 student Anna Donovan, who has been named the Kindest Kid in the World. 

Anna received the international Kindest Kid award, presented by Jessie Hansen from the Kindest Kid in America organization. She is the first child in Canada to ever receive this honour. 

Anna was nominated by her teacher, Madame Claudine Fenard, for her daily acts of compassion, leadership, and courageous kindness at school. As Madame Claudine explains: 

I chose Anna as the Kindest Kid in the World because she truly embodies kindness! Anna practices kindness daily in her French classes, starting with paying attention and waiting patiently for her turn to talk. She communicates respectfully using kind words and feels genuinely happy after engaging in acts of kindness. Anna has an instinct for caring and is a true role model at school, inspiring others with her behavior. 

In celebration, Jessie and Madame Claudine co-authored a book about Anna, with her parents also contributing to the writing. Madame Claudine translated the story into French, and the book was shared during the assembly. 

During her presentation, Jessie taught students something powerful: we always have a choice in how we respond. 

When someone is grumpy, hurtful, or unkind to us, we can pause, reflect, and choose how we want to act. Jessie helped students understand that bullying and meanness can sometimes become a “hate cycle,” where hurt keeps getting passed on from one person to another. But students can be leaders who break that cycle. Even if someone is unkind to us, we never have to be unkind back. We can rise above and still choose compassion, empathy, patience, and kindness. 

Students were challenged to consider their own identity: 

• Do I want to be a kind kid? 
• Do I want to be a brave kid? 
• Do I want to be a strong kid? 

Jessie reminded students that their identity comes from the choices they make — and that choosing kindness builds resilience, emotional intelligence, and true strength. 

Anna’s parents attended the celebration, along with Superintendent Gerber, who was pleased to be part of this memorable moment for CDSBEO. 

The CDSBEO is very proud of Anna — not only for receiving a global award, but for the example she sets each day through her kindness and care for others. 

Congratulations to Anna. Her kindness inspires us all. 

Learn more at: https://kindestkidinamerica.org/