we decked our halls: giving tree 2013
The 2013-2014 Giving Tree program is themed "Deck the Halls." Rather than creating the sign on my own, I asked a group of fifth grade girls to make our signs (didn't they do a great job?). They used butcher paper and die cut snowflakes were added.
Our Giving Tree program is a food drive that benefits families in our communities. Here's how it works at our school:
1. Students select an undecorated paper ornament with a label (for a food or hygiene item) from the tables on either side of the tree in the lobby.
2. Students then bring in the food or hygiene product from their ornament/tag (with parent permission, of course). The item(s) are placed in the proper labeled box in the lobby.
3. Students hang their uniquely decorated ornament on the tree; it's a visual way to display the school's generous giving on our tree!
4. Donated items are sorted into boxes and delivered to families in the community.
Below is the Q & A posted on our school website:
1. Students select an undecorated paper ornament with a label (for a food or hygiene item) from the tables on either side of the tree in the lobby.
2. Students then bring in the food or hygiene product from their ornament/tag (with parent permission, of course). The item(s) are placed in the proper labeled box in the lobby.
3. Students hang their uniquely decorated ornament on the tree; it's a visual way to display the school's generous giving on our tree!
4. Donated items are sorted into boxes and delivered to families in the community.
Below is the Q & A posted on our school website:
bring the change, be the change
To see more photos, see the ASC Blog!
The second week of February is crazy, extra, SUPER special at our school! It's Valentine's, a Penny Drive for a local charity, and R.A.K. Week- all rolled into one!
The catch phrase is, "Bring the Change, Be the Change!" When I visit each classrooms, we talk about empathy and practicing random acts of kindness (the super secret code: R.A.K.). In K-1 classrooms, students generate an ABC list of kind things they can do around the school. In the upper grades, we watch a great video about kindness (see below), discuss how kindness comes around full circle, then make a list of ways students can practice RAK in our school community. All students are asked to be RAK spies and catch their peers in the act of being kind to others, then write down each RAK on a simple rectangle of paper. These slips can then be posted in the lobby's display case, or drawn from a basket to be read to the entire school over the intercom. The display case also features a collection of all of the change being brought in by grade level, so everyone can clearly see the changes happening over time. That way students can be encouraged to see that when they BRING the change in, they can actually BE the change in their community!
The catch phrase is, "Bring the Change, Be the Change!" When I visit each classrooms, we talk about empathy and practicing random acts of kindness (the super secret code: R.A.K.). In K-1 classrooms, students generate an ABC list of kind things they can do around the school. In the upper grades, we watch a great video about kindness (see below), discuss how kindness comes around full circle, then make a list of ways students can practice RAK in our school community. All students are asked to be RAK spies and catch their peers in the act of being kind to others, then write down each RAK on a simple rectangle of paper. These slips can then be posted in the lobby's display case, or drawn from a basket to be read to the entire school over the intercom. The display case also features a collection of all of the change being brought in by grade level, so everyone can clearly see the changes happening over time. That way students can be encouraged to see that when they BRING the change in, they can actually BE the change in their community!
winter food drive: the giving tree
In addition to the staff adoption of three families (see the post below for details), the entire school came together to collect food and hygiene products for families who might need the items over the winter break.
The principal of our school, who happens to be a masterful decorator, put up a gorgeous tree in the lobby. In order to prepare on my end, the following needed to be created (attached docs coming soon):
I spent a week visiting all 24 classrooms to explain how the Giving Tree works:
As the tree filled up with ornaments, the school could clearly see just how generously we had shared with others! After two weeks, student leaders organized the donated food into 10-15 boxes using lists I had preprinted with foods and hygiene products to go into each box (see below). One evening, staff members came together to deliver the boxes to families in our community (I printed up maps to keep families confidential).
The principal of our school, who happens to be a masterful decorator, put up a gorgeous tree in the lobby. In order to prepare on my end, the following needed to be created (attached docs coming soon):
- a list of items needed for each box
- labels with individual food/hygiene items
- about 500 die cut shapes (trees, circles, mittens)
- letter to send home with students
- a sign for the lobby ("Decorate the Giving Tree!")
I spent a week visiting all 24 classrooms to explain how the Giving Tree works:
- Every student must get permission from a parent/ guardian before participating.
- Students may take one or two blank, white ornaments from the tables in the lobby.
- Students decorate their blank ornament and bring it back along with the item(s) listed on the label.
- Students then hang their ornament on the tree and put their donation underneath.
As the tree filled up with ornaments, the school could clearly see just how generously we had shared with others! After two weeks, student leaders organized the donated food into 10-15 boxes using lists I had preprinted with foods and hygiene products to go into each box (see below). One evening, staff members came together to deliver the boxes to families in our community (I printed up maps to keep families confidential).
winter adopt-a-family (or 3)
This time of year is always so fun, as everyone feels festive and generous. It's such a joy to participate in this spirit of giving during my first holiday season as a school counselor!
My school has a tradition of adopting three or four families each holiday season, and this year I am the one to continue the (confidential) tradition. Each adopted family member made a wish list and the items will be purchased by staff members. Gifts will be wrapped while we enjoy a festive potluck brunch, then delivered during the annual "Ring & Run" (it's exactly like it sounds: we drop off presents and the Giving Tree food boxes at the families' front doors, then go out to celebrate our success).
This year, I chose the theme "Winter Wishes" and decorated the staff lounge accordingly. First, there is a clothesline with the theme's letters and red mittens hung out to dry. Then I cut out snowflakes to add to our windows; I plan to add fake white snow and a few stray red mittens to the counter once all of the tags have been taken. Finally, I made the gift tags. I had originally planned to use die-cut mittens, but then I realized I could use the scraps from the die-cut trees I'd made as ornaments for our school wide Giving Tree. (That will be another post!) Staff members can use the tags to write a note and add it to the gift when it is wrapped at the brunch. I am hoping that every family member has their wildest winter wishes come true!
My school has a tradition of adopting three or four families each holiday season, and this year I am the one to continue the (confidential) tradition. Each adopted family member made a wish list and the items will be purchased by staff members. Gifts will be wrapped while we enjoy a festive potluck brunch, then delivered during the annual "Ring & Run" (it's exactly like it sounds: we drop off presents and the Giving Tree food boxes at the families' front doors, then go out to celebrate our success).
This year, I chose the theme "Winter Wishes" and decorated the staff lounge accordingly. First, there is a clothesline with the theme's letters and red mittens hung out to dry. Then I cut out snowflakes to add to our windows; I plan to add fake white snow and a few stray red mittens to the counter once all of the tags have been taken. Finally, I made the gift tags. I had originally planned to use die-cut mittens, but then I realized I could use the scraps from the die-cut trees I'd made as ornaments for our school wide Giving Tree. (That will be another post!) Staff members can use the tags to write a note and add it to the gift when it is wrapped at the brunch. I am hoping that every family member has their wildest winter wishes come true!
Red Ribbon Week 2012
The theme of our Red Ribbon Week (October 22-26) was "Set your sights, reach great heights." Students focused on setting goals to encourage healthy choices, including eating well, exercising regularly, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and standing up to bullies.
In the week prior, I set students up to discuss goals by reading the book, Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull and David Diaz. The next week, we used the "do my best" sheet in grades K-1, and the "have a goal" sheet in grades 2-5 (see attachments below; I will attach the Spanish versions soon). Once students chose a goal that was important to them, they wrote their goal on a red slip of paper to form chains. These chains formed the streams from stars representing each grade level (see photo above).
On Red Ribbon Day (October 31st), students wore red to celebrate the culmination of Red Ribbon Week. The class wearing the most red won a pizza party! They also signed the banner as a pledge to strive toward their healthy goal. The display case in the lobby was filled with exemplary samples of student goal sheets. I have filed away the completed goal sheets and plan to revisit students' progress toward their goals at the end of the school year.
In the week prior, I set students up to discuss goals by reading the book, Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull and David Diaz. The next week, we used the "do my best" sheet in grades K-1, and the "have a goal" sheet in grades 2-5 (see attachments below; I will attach the Spanish versions soon). Once students chose a goal that was important to them, they wrote their goal on a red slip of paper to form chains. These chains formed the streams from stars representing each grade level (see photo above).
On Red Ribbon Day (October 31st), students wore red to celebrate the culmination of Red Ribbon Week. The class wearing the most red won a pizza party! They also signed the banner as a pledge to strive toward their healthy goal. The display case in the lobby was filled with exemplary samples of student goal sheets. I have filed away the completed goal sheets and plan to revisit students' progress toward their goals at the end of the school year.
