Random acts teach giving spirit

Christmas is known as a time of caring and joy, a special holiday connecting individuals with a message of peace. Passing that teaching down to the next generation, the Granton Elementary Student Council spent some time last week spreading Christmas cheer to members of the Granton community.

Held every few years, the students participating in Random Acts of Christmas Kindness (RACK) traveled around the village to businesses and homes of elderly community members bearing small gifts and good wishes for the Christmas season. Kim Aumann, the advisor to the Elementary Student Council and founder of the event, said the event goes a long way in teaching the students how to give back.

“I like the idea of showing our kids how to give back and the joy you feel when doing something kind for others who don’t expect it,” she said. “The kids loved this activity. It was so great to see how excited they were to present their small gift, shout, ‘Merry Christmas,’ at everyone they saw and sneak candy canes onto car door handles. It is a day they will remember forever.”

In the past, Aumann said the event was done only with members of the fifth grade class, but was changed this year to be a Student Council event. With 17 members in grades 3-5, she said RACK will be able to have more of an effect on the students starting at a younger age.

“This was our first year doing this as a Student Council,” she said. “In the past I did this a few times with my fifth grade class … It is important for our students to learn to give back and to see the joy it brings to do so.”

Before going out to deliver their gifts, Aumann said the students brainstormed ideas on what to give and where they would drop off their gifts. Some of the members, she said, even went a step further and donated a few items to give.

“We used Student Council funds to pay for most of it but some members donated candy canes,” she said. “We gave out small poinsettias, ornaments and candy canes. We brainstormed as a group businesses we could walk to from school. The students also knew some older community members that they thought would appreciate a poinsettia. We only wish we had an unlimited budget so we could do more.”

Even though the gifts themselves were small, Aumann said the members of the community were very appreciative of the gesture made by the elementary students.

“Our gifts were met with lots of smiles,” she said. “The Granton Community is so supportive of our school. I think they loved seeing the children and everyone can use a little extra kindness this year.”

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Taping the holiday show

Greenwood Elementary School recorded its Dec. 17 Christmas concert under the direction of Mr. Andrew Piehl, elementary music teacher. Students gathered in the gym, one grade level at a time, to sing their songs for the camera. A video link to the complete concert will be emailed to parents and posted on the District Facebook page before the holiday. Matik Lucas (left) performs with his class during the recording and Kaelyn Englebretson (below) gestures during a song.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS