{"id":1316995,"date":"2019-11-27T14:29:15","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T21:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/?p=991325"},"modified":"2019-11-27T14:29:15","modified_gmt":"2019-11-27T21:29:15","slug":"glenwood-middle-school-students-show-thanks-the-old-fashioned-way-with-many-hand-written-notes-of-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/glenwood-middle-school-students-show-thanks-the-old-fashioned-way-with-many-hand-written-notes-of-gratitude\/","title":{"rendered":"Glenwood Middle School students show thanks the old-fashioned way, with many hand-written notes of gratitude"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.7769607843137\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-991325-553\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-4-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-4-1-1024x863.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"John Stroud\/Post Independent | Students and teachers at Glenwood Springs Middle School, including band teacher Chane Smith doing the honors, prepare the school's Gratitude Chain to hang in the hallway last week before the start of the Thanksgiving break.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Students and teachers at Glenwood Springs Middle School, including band teacher Chane Smith doing the honors, prepare the school\u2019s Gratitude Chain to hang in the hallway last week before the start of the Thanksgiving break.<\/strong><br \/>John Stroud\/Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-4-1-1024x863.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-1024x734.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"John Stroud\/Post Independent | Glenwood Springs Middle School sixth grader Elisa Arana, left, and seventh grader Alyssa Plantz, jot down something they're each thankful for on a strip of construction paper, to be included in the school's Gratitude Chain that was hung in the hallway last week as part of Gratitude Month at the school.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Glenwood Springs Middle School sixth grader Elisa Arana, left, and seventh grader Alyssa Plantz, jot down something they\u2019re each thankful for on a strip of construction paper, to be included in the school\u2019s Gratitude Chain that was hung in the hallway last week as part of Gratitude Month at the school.<\/strong><br \/>John Stroud\/Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-1024x734.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-5-718x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"John Stroud\/Post Independent | Students and teachers at Glenwood Springs Middle School prepare the school's Gratitude Chain to hang in the hallway last week before the start of the Thanksgiving break.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Students and teachers at Glenwood Springs Middle School prepare the school\u2019s Gratitude Chain to hang in the hallway last week before the start of the Thanksgiving break.<\/strong><br \/>John Stroud\/Post Independent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-5-718x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/glenwood-middle-school-students-show-thanks-the-old-fashioned-way-with-many-hand-written-notes-of-gratitude\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/glenwood-middle-school-students-show-thanks-the-old-fashioned-way-with-many-hand-written-notes-of-gratitude\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Glenwood Springs Middle School technology teacher Stacey Maule goes old-school each November when it comes to having her students express their thanks.<\/p>\n<p>As part of her regular sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade \u201ccrew\u201d character-building sessions, students are asked to hand-write messages of gratitude for a series of exercises calling attention to the meaning of Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe do this every year at this time, which also fits really well with our Veterans Day program, because it\u2019s another element of showing gratitude,\u201d Maule said.<\/p>\n<p>One of the exercises involves old-fashioned letter-writing \u2014 right down to penning a note of thanks to someone in the students\u2019 world of influence, putting it an envelope, addressing, stamping and sealing it, and dropping it in the mail.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a dying art, but it\u2019s something we feel is really important,\u201d Maule said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a practice that stemmed from many years ago with my own children. When they got a gift, they were not allowed to use it or wear it until they wrote a thank-you note.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The lesson continues into December, when Maule\u2019s students learn about giving through words and actions, rather than physical gifts.<\/p>\n<p>The whole school gets involved in three other ways.<\/p>\n<p>One is a \u201cgratitude wall\u201d that greets students, staff and visitors near the GSMS entryway. There, students have written a personal note to someone within the school who they are grateful for and displayed it on the long window that looks into the media center.<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-6-1024x486.jpeg\" alt class=\"wp-image-991328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-6-1024x486.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-6-300x142.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-6-768x364.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-6-1536x729.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-6.jpeg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>The Gratitude Wall near the entrance at Glenwood Springs Middle School asked students to hand-write a note of thanks to someone within the school.<\/strong><br \/><em>Provided<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Another is a handprint wreath project, where students trace their hand on construction paper and cut it out, then write something they are thankful for on each finger.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The hands are assembled into multiple wreaths that are displayed on classroom doors and other places around the school building.<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-2-1024x945.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-991329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-2-1024x945.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-2-300x277.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-2-768x708.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-2-1536x1417.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-2.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>A handprint wreath hanging in Glenwood Springs Middle School technology teacher Stacey Maule\u2019s classroom expresses five fingers of thanks from each of the participating students.<\/strong><br \/><em>John Stroud\/Post Independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The third project is a \u201cgratitude chain,\u201d where students again identify someone they are grateful for and write their name on a strip of construction paper with a short message about how that person made a difference in their life.<\/p>\n<p>The strips are connected to make a chain that\u2019s hung along the hallway for as long as it stretches.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-3-1024x779.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-991330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-3-1024x779.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-3-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-3-768x584.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-3-1536x1168.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/11\/GSMSgratitude-gpi-112819-3-2048x1557.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>Students at Glenwood Springs Middle School prepare the school\u2019s Gratitude Chain to hang in the hallway last week before the start of the Thanksgiving break.<\/strong><br \/><em>John Stroud\/Post Independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt joins us as a crew and a community,\u201d Baylee Burton, an eighth-grade student at GSMS, said. \u201cI\u2019ve learned that there\u2019s a lot more than just yourself in the world and that you need to show that you\u2019re thankful \u2014 not just at Thanksgiving \u2014 and that there\u2019s more than just your little bubble.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sixth-grader Eric Laroche agreed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI learned that you can believe in yourself, but it\u2019s not just all about you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>While stringing up this year\u2019s chain, student Zoe Worley said they found a strip from last year that was still stuck in the ceiling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt just said they were thankful for their freedom,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great experience that everyone gets to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Appropriately enough, GSMS band teacher Chane Smith has the privilege each year of hanging the gratitude chain.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s really easy to get sucked into negativity, and when you think about even the tiny things that make you happy&nbsp; \u2014 like, I had enough milk for my cereal today \u2014 even those little gratitudes \u2026 really can turn a day that\u2019s not so great into something that\u2019s at least tolerable, and makes you happy,\u201d Smith said of the annual Thanksgiving project.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"mailto:jstroud@postindependent.com\">jstroud@postindependent.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/glenwood-middle-school-students-show-thanks-the-old-fashioned-way-with-many-hand-written-notes-of-gratitude\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Students and teachers at Glenwood Springs Middle School, including band teacher Chane Smith doing the honors, prepare the school\u2019s Gratitude Chain to hang in the hallway last week before the start of the Thanksgiving break.John Stroud\/Post Independent Glenwood Springs Middle School sixth grader Elisa Arana, left, and seventh grader Alyssa Plantz, jot down something they\u2019re [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1316995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-06 11:32:38","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski 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