Throughout each year, SMART START participates in charitable drives for local organizations. This provides our school the opportunity to support and give back to the community while also promoting family involvement within the classroom. We hope these gestures of service foster in our students a sense of compassion, connection to their surroundings, high self-esteem, group cooperation and that they can make a difference in even the smallest of ways!
Read below to see our young learners engaging in acts kindness.
Recently, we had the opportunity to partner with Cradles to Crayons. Molly, a representative from this organization visited our school and explained about how clothing was needed for children. Molly also read an inspirational story to the group and provided them a large box to decorate. She gave each student a purple donation bag to take home to fill with clothing that they may have outgrown or no longer wore. Future humanitarians brought back their generously filled bags of clothes and placed them in the decorated box.
Once the box was entirely full, Molly came back to bring the multitude of bags to their Giving Factory. Older prekindergartners assisted in piling the bags into Molly's "Cradles to Crayons" vehicle. Molly was amazed at the class effort and grateful for all of the items gathered.
Last year, pupils brought in gently used towels and blankets from their homes to give to Nevins Farm MSPCA in Methuen. Our collection assisted animals awaiting adoption living at this animal shelter. SMART START welcomed MSPCA staff member Danielle and her adopted dog, Tucker for an on-site field trip! Miss Danielle enthusiastically shared her love and knowledge of animals and animal safety with the class through an informational story and activity. She taught how to properly approach and pet strange/unknown dogs. Students were able to practice these new skills with Tucker.
Miss Danielle was most impressed with the abundance of towels and blankets the children so thoughtfully gave. She explained how they would be used to provide warmth and comfort to the animals.
Last Holiday season, we discussed the importance of helping those less fortunate. Classmates used wrapping paper, ribbon, tulle and more to decorate a "Friends in Need" box to store non-perishable items they brought from home.
It was an honor to host Maureen from Lazarus House Ministries for an on-site field trip. She enlightened the children about community service and acting compassionately to those in need. Maureen was so touched by the genuine acts of kindness from our students and thanked them for their donations. She explained how the food collections will be used by families in order to celebrate the holidays. All were quite proud of their dedication to community service and agreed that sometimes giving is more rewarding than receiving!
Thank you to our SMART START families for supporting and participating in our community drives! We greatly appreciate your involvement and contributions!
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