Lakeville School
Student Council 2011-12
Great Neck, New York
Laugh, Learn, Live, Love…Lakeville
Name___________________________
Date:
Subject:
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Thursday, January 26th, February 2nd, 2012
Tuesday, February 14th …Valentine’s Day aka… Compliment Day…Spirit Day #2
Compliment Day/Friend Raiser
Starting the day on a positive note is simply wonderful. One of the best things that will bring
sunshine into our day is when we receive a genuine compliment from someone we love and respect.
To remind us of the value of genuine appreciation in our life, Compliment Day was created by two
Americans, Kathy Chamberlin and Debby Hoffman. This observance began on January 24th 1998.
The day is meant to provide an excellent opportunity to say something pleasant and cheerful to
people that we usually come into contact with — family members, friends and colleagues
Compliments are a simple, yet powerful, relationship building tool. There are many different
reasons to give a compliment. The most compelling - it makes you feel good. You cannot give a
sincere compliment without feeling great. It's impossible. Why does it feel so wonderful to pay a
compliment…because you are connecting honestly, directly, and kindly with another human being.
There are also many hidden benefits to giving compliments. It's amazing that such a small, simple
skill like giving away compliments can change the way you view yourself and the world around you. It
will strengthen your relationships, boost your self-esteem, and increase your self-confidence. You
will experience joy and happiness as you learn to give selflessly.
Each time you give a compliment, you focus completely on the other person. You actively look for
positive traits or attributes and specific examples. By doing this on a regular basis, you begin to see
how richly multi-faceted people really are. People's positive traits jump out at you. Your thought
processes shifts from looking for the worst in people to looking for the best. Being proactive will
spill over into your life. You see the possibilities, not the obstacles. Compliment giving is a jumpstart for looking at the world in a positive, refreshing, stimulating, and creative way. A compliment
can raise your friend’s spirits.
Compliment Tag
Play “Compliment Tag” in your classrooms. This is a fun activity that does not require any materials
or supplies, and it is best carried out in small groups of four to six students. Students sit in a circle
and decide on one person to be “it” first. This student has to tag another person in the group.
However, unlike a typical game of tag where you run and use your hands, this game requires you to
tag a person with your words. The student who is “it” will say another student’s name in the group,
give her a compliment, and then say, “Tag you’re it.” The person, who gets tagged, responds by
saying, “Thank you,” and the person who gave the compliment responds with, “You’re welcome.” The
person tagged, then picks someone else and so on until everyone has had a chance to give and
receive a compliment. After the game of tag, it is always a good idea to discuss the questions below
for the class to consider:
What does the word “compliment” mean to you?
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Think about the game…was it easy to give someone a compliment?
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How did it feel inside when you had a compliment given to you?
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Word Bank
admiration
honesty
praise
respect
qualities
internal/external trait
(additional words)
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A compliment means the most when it is reflective of someone’s character (friendly, helpful, funny,
etc.) rather than his or her physical appearance. List 5 “internal” compliments below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Mark Twain once said: "I can live for two months on a good compliment."
1.
What does the quote mean to you?
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2. Explain whether you agree or disagree with Mark Twain.
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3. How can we make Compliment Day work at Lakeville? What tips can you share to help us
celebrate Compliment Day?
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Knowing something is good for you doesn't always translate into action. Make compliment giving a habit - a
compliment habit. It costs nothing but a little time, energy, and the desire to make your life and the lives of
others better. Compliments are defined as gracious words, given freely, which create happiness for both the
giver and the receiver. They are based on the universal truth - everyone appreciates kindness.
It has been said that a compliment makes the sky a little bluer, the sun a little brighter, and the heart a little warmer.