Sometimes a small smile and a few kind words are all it takes to let a friend know they are loved. From Apr. 21- Apr. 25, students across West High have been spreading positivity with kind notes, neon colors and fun messages written with sidewalk chalk. 

Longhorn Council organized a schoolwide positivity week to bring a smile to every student at West High. With AP exams, finals and end-of-course exams packed into the last five weeks of school, the best thing anyone can do is spread positivity. 

“We do Positivity Week every year. It has been a West tradition for a while. The world has been really negative lately, so we felt we had to do something to bring a smile to people’s faces. Everyone loves compliments and knowing that you got a note from someone else, can make you feel good inside,” sophomore and class president Kamori Berry explained.

Positivity Week encouraged students to decorate the sidewalk. With multiple drawings and kind sayings, the sidewalk in front of the school has been filled with color. Students even drew hopscotch squares, bringing back childhood memories. 

“Positivity Week is a great week. On Sunday, we chalked the sidewalk with nice things to say to people. It made our school more positive because you can see these great messages as you walk in,” sophomore and class vice president Camden Wilford said. 

Additionally, students were encouraged to wear neon clothing on Thursday. Neon colors are eye-catching and radiate joy. It’s hard to avoid looking at someone with that special pop of color. The sense of unity created by the fun colors was certainly another positive aspect of the spirit week. 

“Dressing in brighter colors just makes people feel good, so we decided we needed to have a neon color spirit day,” Wilford said. 

The Longhorn Council executive board also set up a table in the cafeteria so students had easy access to write kind notes to their friends or someone they may feel deserves a special message. The notes, written from Monday through Wednesday, were delivered to students on Friday during Academic Lab. 

“Every member of LOCO, [Longhorn Council], played an integral part in organizing activities for the week,” math teacher and Longhorn Council sponsor Emily Lovercheck said. “We wanted to include an uplifting aspect, so we decided to bring back positivity notes to put a smile on students’ faces.” 

All in all, students created a successful week of happiness and positivity by coming together and participating in activities. The Longhorn Council will continue to raise the spirits of students through more themed weeks and celebrations to come.