Lower School Outreach
by Deena Tarleton
Although there are projects all year long, several Lower School grade levels are taking the opportunity to reach out to others at this time of the year. Beginning with Veterans Day, second graders made packages of candy and wrote special notes to soldiers overseas. This also gave them the opportunity to talk to grandparents and relatives that were veterans about what it was like to sacrifice so much for their country. Many of those experiences were reflected in the kids’ writing that week. Currently, second graders are decorating a Christmas tree for their classroom with ornaments made by hand. On the 16th this tree will be donated to a needy family that might otherwise go without a tree this Christmas.
As usual the school wide can drive was very successful. Some of the preschool and kindergarten children built up their upper body strength dragging in sackfuls of cans and other nonperishables for the food bank. The food bank workers always bring extra barrels to collect the St. Anne’s contributions.
At the end of December third graders will be making craft projects to contribute to nearby shelters. In the past we have seen sleds and reindeer made from toiletries or other useful products. What a great way to express their creativity and do something kind for someone else!
Fourth graders fill Christmas stockings with items appropriate for boys, girls or adults. Every year the stockings make the holidays a little more special for families at Warren Village. They also walk to Christ Church and sing some carols with some of the older members of the congregation.
As a part of their participation in the new Changemakers Club sponsored by Kelsey Smith and Stephanie Bakken, several girls from 5th grade initiated a Shoe Drive for the organization, Clothes to Kids. They had been inspired by a presentation from that group and leaped to action by initiating a school-wide shoe drive for children in need. The response has been very gratifying. The girls were so excited that so many “like new” shoes that have been outgrown and were sitting in closets are now on their way to children who greatly appreciate and need them.
One of the many things that makes St. Anne’s such an unusual and special place is the excitement all of our students feel when they are a part of helping others. These projects are happening currently, but many others are a part of the experience of our children throughout the whole year.