Sleigh Rides of Thanks

Words like thankfulness, gratitude and appreciation often rise to the surface of one’s vocabulary around this time of the year. Teachers emphasize ways students can express themselves in these terms focusing more on others. With that thought in mind, 1st grade teacher Bev “Greenie” Greenberg looked for an opportunity for her students to put these words into action at Parker. Brainstorming what she could do while sitting in traffic at the end of a school day, Greenie thought about those members of the Parker employee community who were less visible to students during the day. Greenie knew that students saw teachers all the time, but what about those folks working behind the scenes who are less visible, the people called “staff” at Parker?

How do children show thankfulness, gratitude and appreciation for people they hardly see but show acts of kindness daily? The people who handle maintenance requests, keep people safe by validating entrance to the building, take care of health needs, coordinate dismissal, feed children with delicious snacks and so many more things that are called “their job” but are done with love and grace. “We know the lives of children at Parker would not be as comfortable and easy were it not for all the staff of our school,” Greenie shared.
 

Greenie discussed this with her 1st grade “Magical Ones,” as she calls them. The group decided to build on an activity typically associated with the winter months—sleigh rides! They began by creating a sleigh out of a flatbed hand-truck the maintenance staff uses for many purposes. “It would give real meaning to thankfulness, gratitude and appreciation,” she thought. Add human reindeer in the form of 1st graders, offer rides and sing songs to brighten the staff members’ day. 

With essential support from Assistant Teacher Carol Josa, the Magical Ones colored paper ornaments, attached them to the transformed flatbed truck and added garland to create a sparkly sleigh. First graders wore headband antlers and bell necklaces to add to the authenticity of the experience.

Greenie offered the staff rides for two weeks leading up to the December Recess. Two staff members at a time (using social distancing) sat on both ends of the truck (atop a comfortable PE mat) pushed by the reindeer-headbanded children singing “Jingle Bells” as added entertainment for the staff’s sleigh ride. 

Greenie captured photos of all who took a ride on the Magical Ones’ sleigh, commenting, “The joy on the adults’ faces underscored that they are an important part of 1st graders’ lives.” Riders received a holiday pencil, a mini candy cane and a pad of paper at the end of their ride. Then the Magical Ones ended the ride with the words, “We hope you liked your sleigh ride and have a happy holiday.”

Greenie says she heard a phrase on a commercial during the Summer Olympics that sums up what she is teaching her Magical Ones through this staff sleigh ride experience—“Be the reason someone smiles today!”

Click here for photos of this experience.