During the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, the students and staff members at Fair Grove High School express how they are grateful during this season.
Director of Student Services, Kayce Knaup, said many things about how she felt about Thanksgiving. She stated, “I am thankful for so many things; it is hard to just name a few. I am thankful for my family, friendships.” Knaup also stated that she was thankful to be working at Fair Grove. She said Fair Grove Schools was such a wonderful place to work at.
Jessica McKeever, who works in Reading Recovery at Fair Grove, also showed her appreciation during Thanksgiving, saying, “Once again I am thankful for my family this year! My family is my proudest accomplishment and I always feel so blessed to have them in my life.” She also added, “I am also thankful to have a job that I absolutely love in a community that means so much to me. Aside from my family, being a teacher in Fair Grove is my second proudest accomplishment.”
During the break that Fair Grove offers for the celebration of Thanksgiving, the staff and students here have traditions that they and their families do on Thanksgiving. Brylee Mallard (10) said, “A tradition my family has on Thanksgiving is a family gathering but more specifically, we all engrave our names on a certain table that has been in the family since before I was born.”
Another tradition, celebrated by Abigail Barton (10) and her family is them meeting a special place every year. She stated, “My family shares one main tradition and that is going to the Lions Club next to the senior citizen building.” She also added, “We also set up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.”
Similar to Barton’s tradition, Susanne Feldman, high school math teacher, stated, “For my family, we decorate for Christmas as soon as we get home.” She also added, “We have a delicious meal prepared by my mom who is an amazing cook, we watch football, play games and usually take a walk before eating again.” Feldman stated that she absolutely loved Thanksgiving. She also said that during Thanksgiving she gets to spend time with her family that she doesn’t get to see that often.
Betsy Small, special education teacher, said, “I think taking time to be thankful is important. It changes our attitudes. We practice writing in a gratitude journal in my classroom to help my students remember to look for the positive. To me, Thanksgiving is a way for all of us to stop and remember the good things in our lives.”
There are many things that the Fair Grove Staff and students are grateful for. They all took a 10 day break to celebrate with their friends and family.
