Vassalboro Community School celebrates World Smile Day every year. Kindness is in the school’s code of ethics so this day is a perfect fit. Students and staff practice kind acts to make a person smile.

According to a school news release, Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts, created the smiley face in 1963. Smiley is a symbol recognized throughout the world as something good.

Ball was concerned about the over-commercialization of his smiley face. Out of that concern came his idea for World Smile Day. He thought that people should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world. He declared that the first Friday in October each year as World Smile Day. World Smile Day was first held in 1999 and it has continued every year in Smiley’s hometown of Worcester.

Vassalboro Community School celebrated World Smile Day by passing out Smiley stickers and bracelets. The walkway into school was lined with decorations, banners and balloons. Students understand kindness is contagious.


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