Every year, on the last Wednesday of November, NAISR students have the pleasure of welcoming their parents, guardians and friends to a Thanksgiving lunch at the school. This has been one of the most beautiful traditions at our school for many years now.
To prepare for this special day, our students took part in numerous activities to help them better understand the world that surrounds them, and learn more about it.
NAISR's educational programs and practices are designed to inspire and guide a commitment to a grateful living, and ensure that learning is a journey to a meaningful life.
To embrace and bring to life the numerous blessings and opportunities that are available to each one of us, the students created a display of “Thanksgiving flowers”. Throughout this activity, each student in the Elementary school took a moment to realize and appreciate the truly important and precious things in their lives, but also to feel grateful for themselves - for their dedication, their bravery and self improvement. The “Thanksgiving flowers” were on display in the school foyer to welcome families at the entrance, and guests were invited to design their own flowers, and add those to the magnificent display.
This year’s preparation coincided with the Unicef week at school, and the special visit of NAE Global Campus Writing Competition guest author and judge, Margriet Ruurs. Our students enjoyed the interactive read aloud “Stepping Stones”, Margriet’s story of Rama and her family, who are forced to flee their once-peaceful village to escape the ravages of the civil war raging ever closer to their home. In the reading classes that followed, the students studied connections between this book, and other stories they have read to their own lives, homes and families. They then reflected on how grateful they are, simple wisdom and learning new ways to apply it to our complex lives.
Research shows that gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. Gratitude is the secret to being happy. We want our students to thrive, and to be able to make the world a better and happier place with the power of gratitude and appreciation.
Happy Thanksgiving!
