My Ramblings on The Bucket Filling Song

Here in Syracuse something very cool has been happening over the last few days. Some of our amazing local performers have a song, The Bucket Filling Song, that has been steadily climbing the iTunes Children's chart... less then 24 hours ago it cracked the top 200, and as of right now (1:00 pm on Tuesday) the song sits at #9. So what? You might be asking. Songs rise and fall all the time. Why write about it? 

Well, because I've never known people more deserving of the success. Peaceful Schools is a company in Syracuse that works with the local schools to create more caring and successful communities. Per their website: 

Peaceful Schools programs, products and services are developed to promote a school community that engages students and staff in positive productive conflict resolution.

Peaceful Schools seeks to develop character and social skills in youth and prevent acts of violence in educational settings. The Peaceful Schools Model works toward curbing problem behaviors and developing social competence in order to prevent youth violence and create positive, productive school climates.

They do all that and so much more. At my school they come in and do assemblies on positive behaviors and how to treat everyone with respect, they help with conflict resolution strategies and assist us with our PBIS program. They are generally the first people I email when I run up against an issue that I'm not sure how to handle. 

They also have a great play that they perform in local schools- written by Ann Marie Gardiner Halstead and based off of Carol McCloud's award winning book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? uses humor and charm to teach children how to treat each other with kindness and respect. The show happens to include The Bucket Filling Song and now it seems like people outside our area are discovering it as well. More information about the play can be found here. 

Peaceful Schools has worked tirelessly to help teach our students to treat each other with respect and have fun while doing it. I'm so excited that they are getting some much deserved recognition! I've known some of the staff members (Hi Dani and Shawn!) for almost 15 years, and they have always been some of the most welcoming and supportive people in our local theater community. I'm especially excited to see their music climb the charts. 

Please check out the videos below, if you are in the area (or even if you're not) contact Peaceful Schools and see about using their services, and above all,  go to iTunes and download The Bucket Filling Song. Let's see if we can make this thing #1!