2025 Grantee Update!

Writing with Purpose; Gratitude and Connection

"Walt Disney?! What do you mean they're from Walt Disney School?! Can we go on a field trip there??? It's not fair that they get to go to Disney for their field trips!" Hahahaha! Oh my goodness, receiving our first pen pal letters from Walt Disney Elementary school was a highlight of the year! Using our grant-purchased stationery supplies, my students were highly motivated to WRITE WITH PURPOSE. They wanted to know all about their pen pals, the school they went to, and what life is like in California. What JOY that brought to our class, and the kids WANTED to write well for their new friends with all of their colorful supplies.

Based on the local feedback I received, members of our community were deeply touched by our hand-written thank you cards. I had people stopping me at the bank and on the streets commenting about what a surprise it was to receive a card from someone in my class. My students became adept at "looking for the good" as we maintained a list of people we needed to write to. "Mrs. McGuire! We better add so and so to our thank you list!" "Mrs. McGuire, what's the guy's name who announces the high school football games? I think he does a good job. I'd like to write him a thank you."

There's a large print hanging on my classroom wall: "There is ALWAYS something to be grateful for." This grant helped us LOOK for the good, which helps us FOCUS on the good and share it with others. THANK YOU for that!

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