Gratitude in English, German, and Spanish!

This past Thanksgiving, the VHS faculty got a warm surprise as they headed to and from the faculty lounge. Staff was greeted by an international wall of appreciation from their students--- creatively decorated "thank you" cards with personalized messages in German, Spanish and English.  The gratitude cards were organized by department and then by teacher, so staff could easily locate the greeting cards they received from different students in the school. 

"We in the World Languages department wanted our students to apply their learning and to practice their writing while making meaningful connections to our school community.  We also felt that students would be more reflective when they wrote their feelings and ideas in both the target language and English. Therefore, we provided simple templates for them to modify and enrich in their languages of study and then write their personalized message in English. Our colleagues were really taken by surprise!  When they read the beautiful messages of appreciation for all that they do as teachers, sponsors and coaches, many a faculty member was moved and felt seen especially just coming out of the government-lapse in appropriations." 

These gestures build community and strengthen relationships beyond the academic classroom, and it is one that the World Languages faculty would like to start as a yearly tradition.