Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores City Schools will celebrate its annual Make Waves of Kindness Day with students, staff, and families taking part across all campuses. The event aligns with a broader community push for inclusion and recognition of neurodiversity. Organizers say the goal is to build daily habits of kindness that support every learner. The school system is encouraging residents to participate through simple, intentional acts of kindness.

The Make Waves of Kindness Day happens today, Thursday, November 13th, coinciding with World Kindness Day. City leaders previously endorsed the effort when Mayor Robert Craft and the Gulf Shores City Council proclaimed November 13 as Make Waves of Kindness Day in 2024. Since then, schools, individuals, and businesses have joined the campaign each year.

During this morning’s arrival, faculty, staff, and students will wear Make Waves of Kindness shirts and hats. They will hand out Make Waves of Kindness stickers in car lines and bus loops while collecting donations. The stickers include the motto “Kind people are our kind of people.” The district said these campus activities are designed to welcome families and set a positive tone for the day.

The initiative began years ago as Light It Up Blue, a spring event raising awareness for individuals with autism. It has since grown into a community tradition focused on kindness, inclusion, and recognition of diverse abilities. District leaders emphasize that every person wants friends, to feel valued, and to belong. The effort now reaches beyond school grounds to encourage acts of kindness across Gulf Shores.

“Extending kindness can be as small as offering a smile, an invitation, or a word of encouragement,” said Dr. Sonya Price, Director of Exceptional Education. She said these gestures remind students and neighbors that they are loved, appreciated, and essential to the fabric of Gulf Shores. Dr. Price is the contact for the initiative and can be reached at sprice@gsboe.org. 

Funds raised through Make Waves of Kindness support grant requests from Gulf Shores City Schools teachers and staff. The Make Waves of Kindness Grant Program provides classroom resources that promote academic and social-emotional success. Additional donations come from the Shrimp Festival tip drive and online giving by business sponsors and individual supporters. The district invites the public to use the Donation Station at https://gsboe.square.site/be-kind-gs.

In recent years, grants have funded sensory boxes and supplies for classrooms. Other purchases include fidgets and comfort items for school counselors, a sensory garden at Gulf Shores Middle, and a sensory path at Gulf Shores Elementary. The program has also supported a sensory room and flexible seating and ball seating in multiple classrooms. Additional items include sand and water tables, a privacy cube, sensory swings, and a porch swing.

Grant dollars have covered emotional learning toys and social communication games designed to help students interact and self-regulate. Busy baskets have been provided for Special Needs school buses to support students during transit. Professional development for faculty and staff has also been funded through the program. District leaders say these resources help ensure every student can thrive and feel included.

Gulf Shores City Schools encourages residents to make kindness a daily habit beyond the one day. The district notes that consistent acts of kindness can shape a positive culture on campus and around the city. Organizers say the event highlights inclusion as a shared community value. They believe small gestures can have a lasting impact for students and families.

The school system invited the community to participate on November 13 and continue the practice throughout the year. Supporters can donate online or join school car lines and bus loops during morning arrival. The district says kindness is more than a gesture and should be a way of life in Gulf Shores. More information is available on the GSCS website and through campus communications.