October 2016, page 55 | Arcadia News

October 2016

Page 54 October 2016 Tino Ferrulli In an age where electronic marketing is doing its best to overwhelm us, I must thank all of you for your referrals to me when your friends, neighbors and co-workers are looking for a new vehicle. These quality referrals come with your trust in the Team Tino approach of placing you in a Mercedes-Benz. When we do something right, tell everyone, and of course if we don’t live up to your expectations, tell me and I’ll fix it. Remember, to let your referral know to mention your name, because if they purchase or lease a vehicle from me, you will get rewarded as well. Our CPO sale continues to the end of March. Thank you for your referrals last year. teamtino@mb-scottsdale.com 4725 North Scottsdale Road • Scottsdale, AZ 85251 By Ian Kraft Bible verse Luke 6:31 reads, “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” and is commonly referred to around the world as a fundamental rule for human beings. It is this verse that encapsulates the concept applied to Tavan Elementary in the Be Kind project. The Be Kind People Project is a nonprofit organization that emphasizes the importance of social, emotional and academic learning, according to their website. In a statement also on their website, Troy Peterson, the executive pastor of worship and creative arts at Scottsdale Bible Church, said, “We, at Scottsdale Bible Church, have been pleased to partner with The Be Kind People Project.” This past December, soon after forming the partnership with Be Kind, members of the Scottsdale Bible Church made a sizable donation to Tavan, which included a dance performance put on by the Be Kind Dance Crew. Principal Margaret Serna said when she saw the kids dancing and preaching to be kind to one another, she was hooked. “With the way the world is today, I just want my kids to be kind to each other and to know that it is OK to say please and thank you,” Serna said. “I saw the kids respond to the dancers, and I saw the student’s joy so it just felt right to pursue The Project for our kids.” Serna, who is in her 19th year as principal at Tavan, said the biggest hurdle was funding. “Robert and Amy Joffe were willing to give the school a sizable donation to make us a Be Kind school. Their roots are deeply engrained in the Arcadia community and we truly could not be where we are without their help.” One of the biggest components of becoming a Be Kind school, according to Serna, is the implementation of a new language of regulation. “Something that the kids, parents, teachers and administrators are looking for is a common vocabulary,” said Serna. “The kids need to follow the ‘Tavan Two’ rules, which are to follow directions and to be kind. Whenever the kids come into my office, I can evaluate them by checking the two rules, did they follow the directions and were they kind. “I want the kids to become educated, good citizens and to make the world a better place filled with kindness,” said Serna. “I want them to be successful and to take the education they have and apply it to others. I truly believe the Be Kind project is a huge step in the right direction.” Fifth-grade teacher Shelly Rose said she saw the results instantly and is excited for the future of the program. “It’s really been a good thing. Students are recognized on the morning announcements as other students or staff members catch them in the act of doing something kind. In fact, the ‘Be Kind’ logo is being incorporated into Tavan supplies and T-shirts, as it is so important to us,” Rose said. Rose also said her dream is for the program to evolve into more than a set of rules, but for it to become, “the culture and part of the branding of Tavan.” Maria Hase is a former teacher at Tavan who said the school is blessed to have a leader like Serna who makes kindness a priority. She also said Tavan is truly a kind place, and that the program represents the school wonderfully. “I cannot stress enough what a special place Tavan is,” said Hase. For more information on The Be Kind People Project, visit their website at thebekindpeopleproject.org. Tavan begins its tenure as a Be Kind school