Photo: School Counselor Kara Uhrich and Student Assistance Counselor Eileen Conover are pictured with sixth- and seventh-grade students, holding the 2026 Kind School banner.
The school was recognized for making every student feel supported and valued
Ocean City, N.J. – Ocean City Intermediate School was officially designated as a Teach Kindness 2025-2026 Kind School. This honor recognizes OCIS as a school that builds a learning environment focused on encouraging kindness, belonging and positive relationships among students, making every member of the school community feel supported and valued.
As part of this recognition, OCIS will receive a Kind School banner, a digital badge and other materials for use in district communications.
“Being recognized as a Kind School reflects the values that are deeply rooted in our OCIS community,” said Matt Engle, principal of OCIS. “Kindness is something our students, staff, and families work to model and reinforce every day. This is demonstrated through the way we treat one another, support each other and take pride in our school. This designation is a meaningful acknowledgment of the positive culture that has been built over time and the shared commitment to ensuring everyone feels respected and supported, and that they belong at OCIS.”
To be considered for the Kind School designation, OCIS was required to complete a three-step process: identifying a “Kindness Captain,” teaching kindness lessons and submitting a brief reflection of the school’s actions to promote kindness.
OCIS school counselor Kara Uhrich was selected as the “Kindness Captain,” and met with students and staff to define the school’s concept of kindness. Together, the OCIS community identified kindness as “treating everyone with respect and empathy, including others, and helping or encouraging people, especially when no one is watching, so that everyone feels valued and that they belong.”
“This is my first year at OCIS, and my first impression was that this school is a genuinely kind place,” said Uhrich. “That was the motivation for pursuing the designation. Just as I said to the students when I introduced this process in the fall, ‘OCIS is a really kind school, so why not be recognized for it?’ This process has helped us recognize all the kind actions of our students and staff, as well as identify ways in which we can further grow our school’s kindness and expand the impact of kindness both in and out of our building.”
OCIS students received lessons on the topic of kindness – and learned about negative actions to avoid. For example, a lesson on “Rude, Mean and Bullying Behavior” was designed to help classmates reflect on their interactions while encouraging them to treat themselves and others with kindness. During New Jersey’s Week of Respect in October, OCIS students discussed how to continue making their school a kind environment and signed anti-bullying pledges.
The OCIS Student Council put kindness into practice over the holidays with a Santa Paws drive, as the members gathered and delivered more than 500 donations for a local humane society.
“I am grateful to our counselors for leading this work and engaging students in defining what kindness truly means,” said Engle. “At OCIS, kindness is not just something we talk about. It's something our students practice in their classrooms, hallways, and community each day.”
“We are delighted that OCIS has been designated as a Kind School,” said Dr. Christian Angelillo, Superintendent of Ocean City School District. “This recognition is a testimony to the efforts of all our students, staff and families. Each member of our school community consistently practices being encouraging, supportive and kind to one another.”
The Teach Kindness website notes that the organization was launched through a collaboration among leading education organizations, distinguished teachers, and acclaimed researchers, each bringing trusted expertise and a shared belief: Teaching kindness works.
Body photos: OCIS students (group photo) donated and delivered more than 500 items to a local humane society as part of the Student Council’s Santa Paws drive. Below, OCIS students sign anti-bullying pledges during New Jersey’s Week of Respect.