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Waynewood Elementary School students turned paper, crayons and caring words into Valentine’s Day encouragement for people facing serious health challenges.
On Jan. 24, students created handmade cards through a partnership with Valentinesbykids.org. The messages were intended for people who are ill, homebound or living in long-term care facilities.
The project gave students an opportunity to brighten the day of someone they had never met while putting the school’s emphasis on compassion into practice.
“If you are compassionate or kind to someone, it can help them feel better if they’re down or sad,” fifth grader Will said. “You can bring a smile to their face and make them feel loved.”
Throughout the day, students carefully decorated their cards and considered what to write to recipients who might need encouragement.
“It makes me feel good because I know that they’re going to feel loved once they read it,” fifth grader Charlie Mae said. “Valentine’s Day is about spreading love. When you make others happy, it makes you happy too.”
Fifth grader Reese said the chance to reach someone during the Valentine’s season made her happy.
“Some people don’t always receive acts of compassion, so I hope this makes them happy,” Reese said.
The community-service project also helped students practice collaboration and responsible citizenship while showing how a small, personal gesture can extend kindness beyond the school.