DeLuca Students Learn about "Giving Back"
“Giving Back” was the holiday theme of writing assignments for the month of December for 5th graders in the class of Miss Jeanne Saeli at William E. DeLuca Elementary School. Students were given the lyrics to Kelly Clarkson’s newer Christmas song entitled: "My Grown Up Christmas List." The class discussed the meaning of the song and were asked what their wish would be if they were able to have one wish to help others. The students wrote their own "Grown Up Christmas Wish" with ways in which this wish could be accomplished. Wishes included everything from saving the environment, to having better health care, to finding a cure for cancer, to helping in the rebuilding of Haiti, to helping spread the word on the dangers of smoking. The students' essays were read over the loud speaker during the week before vacation.
Then the class read the story, "The Shoemaker and the Elves," and wrote essays about what they would do if they were a helpful elf, who they would help, and how they would help. Miss Saeli's Helpful 'Elves' wanted to help feed homeless people in soup kitchens, make clothes and blankets for the homeless that are living on the streets, help the country of Turkey after the earthquakes by bringing the sick and hurt to the hospitals, and making medicines available to those who can't afford medicine or who do not have insurance. These altruistic students put their own wants and needs aside and proved that they understand the meaning of “giving” and the true meaning of the holiday spirit.