Students in Mrs. Jackson’s and Mr. Tardif’s fourth grade classes were challenged during the month of March to reflect on the many blessings God has provided in their lives and to write a letter to God thanking Him for those blessings. These “Letters to God” are now on display on two bulletin boards in the hallway outside their classrooms.

“I wanted to help the students think about how God’s love and grace is shown to use every day, regardless of the circumstances or situations we are in,” said Tardif, who came up with idea for the writing assignment. “We wanted our students to think about what they are thankful for on a more spiritual level,” said Jackson, adding that she and Tardif, as well as several high school Child Development concentration students who assist in the 4th grade classes, also wrote thank-you letters.

In Tardif’s class, Malani Christmon thanked God in her letter “for your plan in my life that I will grow up to be strong in you.”  Classmate Rafael Patiag thanked God “for friends that are always here for me.” Kaila Smalls wrote that she was thankful for “my family and school which are a blessing to me.”  Classmate John Mazahreh wrote that he was “grateful that we can pray for others.”

In Jackson’s class, 4th grader Kari Ancharski said she was thankful “for my family, who you found just for me. They love me just for being me.”  Classmate Eva Dimashi, in her letter, thanked God “for the Bible so we can learn about all the amazing things that you have done for us, like parting the Red Sea and sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us.” Classmate Sammy Petrinec wrote that he was thankful “for everything you have done to keep me from getting into the devil’s hands.” And classmate Mason Graham in his letter thanked God “that you gave me a Christian school to go to and make friends.”