When school counselor Kelsey DePompei joined the Springfield Middle School team this school year (after serving in the same capacity at Springfield High School for several years), her talents and compassion were both well known and the perfect complement for those of Mrs. Hagan and Mrs. Davis. Together, the team has been working very hard to encourage SMS students, and they came up with an idea that has taken root in the SMS front hallway.
Our school counselors constructed this “gratitude” tree after inviting all SMS teachers to encourage students to write something they are grateful for during recent FOCUS classes. The effort is an important, visible expression of our school’s efforts to challenge all students to focus on and practice gratitude.
We hope this idea continues to grow and we all find ways during the month of December, when it’s easy to become wrapped up in getting rather than giving.
Practicing gratitude is beneficial for our health, for the culture of our school and a great way to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. The school counselors will continue to showcase the tree, during the changing of the seasons, as a constant reminder of the importance of gratitude appreciation.
