/grat·i·tude/ 

 the quality of being thankful;  

readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness 

As we are heading into the holiday season, no matter what your traditions and celebrations, we are often bombarded by commercials, messages, asks, needs and all the things! It is often difficult to discern our needs and wants and challenging to keep focused on what is important with so many competing priorities. Dr. Jody Carrington started her December challenge and one of those is all about gratitude. When we give ourselves permission to breathe and take time to think about what we are grateful for, it allows us to re-center ourselves. The holiday season is the perfect time to practice gratitude. 

This week we were incredibly grateful to all our Kindergarten to Grade 2 students and staff for their time, effort and dedication to creating a wonderful Winter Celebration. It was so great to see so many of our families coming together as a community to enjoy in music and poetry. I know we were all ready to snuggle up in our coziest outfits and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate after getting into the holiday spirit. Thank you for taking the time to join us for the evening. 

As we continue our learning through the month of December, some of our classes are also taking part in acts of kindness and gratitude to members of our community such as first responders, seniors, or other helpers around us. Take some time this weekend to remind yourself where gratitude lives for you. We are grateful for all of you! 

Sincerely,  

Lisa Patten 

Acting Principal