Kent Elementary Student Show Thanks

Nine-year-old Kate stood in front of the Gratitude Tree bulletin board at Kent Elementary School and pointed to the many notes of thanks that her classmates posted.   

“I am thankful for my teacher helping make me smarter,” one read. 

 “I am thankful for my soccer team,” read another.  

But giving thanks for friends and family seemed to be the most popular sentiment.     

“A lot of times people don’t even know they are grateful, even though they are,” Kate said. “It’s good to think about it.” 

Nancy Faccilonga’s fourth grade class has thought a lot about gratitude this fall. First, they read the book “Wishtree” by Katherine Applegate. It is a story of kindness and hope that is set in a town where people write their wishes on a piece of cloth and tie them to branches. 

“It’s a book about friendship, compassion and inclusion,” Nora, nine, said.  

The class was so inspired, they decided to make their own tree and decorate it with notes. 

 “I am thankful for my new kitten,” said Sarah Jean. 

Their gratitude was overflowing, so Faccilonga decided to add a Gratitude Wall inside the classroom, where students could add more thoughts. 

Gerald, nine, said he was grateful for his family, but he wanted to write more.  

“I should have put that I’m grateful for food because some people don’t have enough to eat,” Gerald said. 

Then the students worked on a writing exercise called The Twelve Days of Gratitude, in which they expanded their ideas into full paragraphs.  

“I am thankful for the gift of life,” said Kamilah. “I’m grateful this is my life, because some people don’t have all we have.” 

Kaelyn wrote a note directly to her teacher. “Dear Mrs. F.,” she wrote. “Thank you for being a good teacher.”