The Thanksgiving season is the perfect opportunity to step back, reflect on our lives, and recognize all the wonderful things we have to be grateful for. This past October, GFESS students did just that. Day after day, students see each other in class, build connections, and form friendships. Before long, the people around us become just as important as the lessons we learn. Student Council decided to celebrate this by organizing the Thankful Turkey Campaign, a simple but meaningful initiative that allowed students to write kind messages to others within the school and have them delivered to their homeroom classes. It was a chance to let kindness and gratitude take center stage, one turkey at a time!
Photo Credit: Cathy Li, Riri Kuku, Landon Girardi, Ella Filek, Sophia Yaremko
During the first week of October, a table was set up in GFESS’s atrium, where students could write their message of gratitude to friends, teachers, or anyone else they wanted to recognize. These paper turkeys offered a simple but meaningful way to ruffle up some happiness in the GFESS community, showing that kindness is always worth flocking towards.
Photo Credit: Cathy Li, Caitlin Brunning, Nina Spada, Rachel Natale, Lola Szabluk
Grade 11 Student Cathy Li had the opportunity to deliver the Thankful Turkeys to homeroom classes and saw firsthand just how much of an impact these messages made. She shared how “it was so sweet to see how excited students were to receive their turkeys, and how just a couple of kind words from a friend could change someone’s entire mood and instantly light up someone’s face with a smile.” Students were able to keep these turkeys as a reminder that even small gestures of appreciation can make a lasting difference.
GFESS challenges you to think about all that there is to be grateful for. Whether it’s thanking a friend, recognizing someone local who makes your day a little brighter, or simply letting someone know they’re appreciated, these small gestures can go a long way. The Thankful Turkey Campaign serves as a good reminder that kindness doesn’t need to be a grand gesture; rather, the most simple acts of appreciation can mean the most. So, as we move beyond the Thanksgiving Season, don’t let gratitude fly under the radar. Take a moment to consider the people who make a difference in your life. After all, there's plenty to be thankful for when we take a moment to look at our own flock!
Written By: Rachel Natale