Things were backwards at Park Elementary School Tuesday.

That’s because it was “wear your shirt backwards day.” First-grader Lacy Franzone knew why.

“Because words that hurt can’t be taken back,” she said.

Backwards day is part of The Great Kindness Challenge that has lasted all week at the school.

The challenge got off to a rocking start Monday and comes to a close tomorrow. The challenge made its way to Park when second-grade teacher Erin Giuliano came across the initiative online.

“I just randomly came across it. It started in California eight years ago,” she said. “Now it’s in all 50 states and 15 million students participate.”

Guiliano, a teacher in the Warwick school system for 16 years, researched the challenge for a few days to gather as much information about it as she possibly could. She said that once she suggested it, fellow faculty offered to help in any way they could. Giuliano also had help at home as her two children pitched in to give her a hand in planning the week.

The challenge is described as “one week dedicated to creating a culture of kindness and compassion on campuses worldwide.” Each student received a home and school checklist featuring 100 different acts of kindness.

The challenge involves more than just being kind to one another. Each day of the school week features a different kindness theme. Guiliano believes that activities like this one teach children valuable lessons at a young age. “This a great fit for our school,” she said. “It’s a fun week of making a difference.”

Monday was kindness rocks day/dress like a rock star day. Guiliano led a kickoff rally and shot confetti over the students to up the level of excitement.

Also, beginning on Monday, was the poster contest where the students were to make kindness posters to hang on the walls of the school. The poster contest lasts the entire week and on Friday awards will be given out by the Warwick Fire and Police departments.

Students also have the opportunity to have their picture taken in the atrium in front of a large kindness challenge sign. The sign reads “KND” and the students get to stand in between the “K” and “N” to be the “I” in kind.

Tuesday featured the opening of the appreciation station in the school’s atrium where students wrote kindness notes to any faculty member or fellow student to show their appreciation.

“The kids love it. I see them stopping at it all the time,” Giuliano said.

Also beginning Tuesday, students were encouraged to drop random acts of kindness hearts in a box located at the front door. These hearts, which say, “kindness makes me bloom,” are to be hung from the tree in front of the school, which has been deemed the kindness tree.

Wednesday’s theme centered on positivity. Students were told to where a shirt that had a positive message on it. Thursday’s theme was “Don’t judge others on how they look” and it was also crazy hair day.

“Responsive classrooms is about bringing classrooms together as a community,” Giuliano said. “We do morning meetings, talk about what is going on to better help with mental health and any social emotional issues.

Initially, Giuliano wasn’t sure how big to make the weeklong event. Given the response from the students, faculty and parents as well as the involvement from the Warwick Police and Fire departments the plan going forward is to continue The Great Kindness Challenge. Giuliano also hopes to get other schools in Warwick to participate.