Thankfulness is the feeling of being happy or grateful because of something or someone. Life gets busy and it is easy to fall into our own routines and take what we have for granted. As the seasons change, the Thanksgiving holiday is a good reminder for us to show appreciation and gratitude to the people who are most important to us.
At New Buffalo, we do a really great job of acknowledging incredible people with staff Shout-Outs emailed to each other and shared at meetings as well as New Buffalo Middle School Students of the Month nominated throughout the year who demonstrate "Bison Strong" character. This week, a handful of my students volunteered to create a giant birthday card for one of our beloved custodians which was secretly passed from class to class for everyone to sign and surprise him! Thank you, Mrs. King, for thinking of this great idea.
On the last day of 1st Trimester and the day before Thanksgiving break, my students were given the option to create a custom thank-you card for someone they are thankful for in honor of the holiday. While there were a few silly kids asking if they could make a card for their dog, most students took up the challenge to make their own cards. Students shared with their groups who they were thankful for before getting out the paint, sharpies, and putting on their thinking caps on to compose genuine words of thankfulness.
Some wrote cards to their friends, parents, grandparents, and little siblings while others came back to me asking for a second or third piece of paper so they could make even more cards!
Students learned how to fold origami turkeys while waiting for the watercolor on their cards to dry.
I've made it habit myself to mail hand-crafted cards to my grandparents over the years so it brought me a sense of pride to see my students enthusiastically carrying on this tradition. What may have been the most surprising to me was to be the recipient of one of my student's thank you cards. Being thankful and sharing gratitude with others is a very simple gesture but it spreads kindness that truly warms the heart.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
Comments