What I Like About You

School shootings and other terrible acts of violence have focused some much needed attention on the issue of bullying.  In a recent workshop that many of us at All Saints attended, we learned several actions that teachers can take if there were ever a dangerous situation at our school.  However, the most important thing that we can do is act now instead of waiting until it is too late.  The best defense against violence in our schools is helping all of our children to know that they are valued.

Our sixth grade class has been learning how to use "a" with a noun or prepositional pronoun, the indirect object pronouns, and the verb gustar with singular and plural nouns to express things that are pleasing to us--what we like.  I am so proud of the work they have put into that.  It sounds grammar-intensive, and it is.  But what is most impressive is how they are using these expressions.

This week, the sixth graders took lists of every one of their classmates and wrote down qualities about each person that they like and admire.  We wrote several items on the board, especially phrases that were not in the textbook.  I loved seeing the depth of their responses.  Over and over, they chose character qualities like kindness, love for God, boldness, a sense of humor and other traits as the things that they admire most about their classmates.

As a precaution, I looked over all of the responses before sharing them with the recipients, but not once was there a mean-spirited remark, and every person was included.

I am not naive enough to think that all of our middle schoolers will always be kind to each other, that there will never be teasing, or that no one will ever hurt another's feelings.  However, our students are learning that bullying is never acceptable at All Saints, and that each person here is created in the image of God.  I hope that as they read all of the things that their classmates like about them that the lesson will go beyond Spanish grammar.  I want every student here to feel valued as part of our community and liked for who they are.

P. S.  To all of the parents here--thank you for raising such likable kids.  You make my job a happy one!