Nearly every student at Mack Benn Jr. Elementary School got a high-five, fist bump, pat on the back or just a round of applause as they exited the building on Friday.

Students encountered two police officers and two sheriff’s deputies, as well as their counselors and others, who were prepared to send them into the weekend with a huge dose of kindness.

The school has been participating in the Great Kindness Challenge all month long, said guidance counselor Robin Riddick.

Students have written encouraging letters to random students at other schools and contributed to a bulletin board about what kindness means to them. They also received a checklist of kind acts that included things like greeting others in the morning, writing a happy message with sidewalk chalk and donating school supplies.

The adults in the building have participated, too.

“We’re really trying to model what kindness is about,” Riddick said.

On the last school day of the month, Deputies Sandy Toby and Troy Babb, as well as Suffolk Police Department Officers Grayson Craun and Kenneth Smith, gave the students an exciting sendoff. They gathered outside as students made their way to the buses and cheered, clapped, hugged and high-fived. The students’ faces shone as they realized they had special company.

“They’re excited to see them,” Riddick said.

“We enjoy every minute of our community outreach,” Toby said. “We think we’re doing a lot of good in the community.”

Kindness won’t stop at the school now that January is over, Riddick said. Next week, the students plan to take a picture in the shape of a heart and send to the Great Kindness Challenge website.