Sixth grade students from Haine Middle School paint stones with positive messages Thursday to decorate a rock garden in Graham Park in Cranberry Township as part of a community service project.

CRANBERRY TWP — Motorists who saw students walking down Rochester Road Thursday weren't witnessing a massive school skip day.

Instead, they saw a group of students on their way to give back to their community, as 66 Haine Middle School sixth graders, four parent volunteers and three teachers went to Graham Park for a day of spreading kindness.

Inspired by “Kindness Rocks,” a campaign in which decorative rocks represent positive messages in a community, sixth-grade teachers Danielle Fagan, science and social studies; Julie Fornadel, mathematics; and Julie Mann, English, chose to bring the words of affirmation to their school.

“We asked our kids to think of words that, if you're ever feeling bullied or down, that you would want to hear,” Fagan said.

This is an excerpt — learn more about the program in Sunday's Butler Eagle.