Comstock Park — One of the lessons fourth-grade teacher Stephanie Gerard works hard to impart to her students is that they matter. On one of the last days of school, two of her former students showed her just how much she matters to them.
Fifth-graders Pepper Smith and Asher McNair, who will head to Mill Creek Middle School next year, said they wanted to do something before that move to thank Gerard for her support.
Gerard was one of 14 teachers to receive special gifts from Pine Island students — gifts the students purchased with tickets they earned doing the right thing, going above and beyond, performing school tasks or acts of kindness.
“I’m so proud of both of you,” Gerard said as she hugged Pepper and Asher.
About every couple of months, students have the opportunity to shop at the school store. Teachers bring their classes and students have about 20 minutes to spend their tickets or place remaining tickets in an end-of-year drawing for prizes, said Nicole McKay, who supervises the school store.
During the final shopping day, students were demonstrating kindness by sharing tickets with classmates and buying gifts for friends and teachers.
“We wanted to do something special because it’s our teacher’s birthday and she’s retiring, so this is her last year,” said fourth-grader TJ Dusendang as he and classmates Hudson VanderHoff and Tenley Welch picked out gifts for teacher Wendy Hawes.
While TJ’s group chose individual items to give to their teacher, others opted for the “99 to be kind” teacher appreciation package. For 99 tickets, students can purchase and personally deliver a special goodie bag created for a teacher.
Wanting to Say ‘Thanks’
“Wait, you have Mrs. (Allie) VanSolkema too?” said third-grader Kaleb Mutlend to fifth-graders Aiden Greenlee and Reese Hansen.
“She’s the best teacher ever,” Aiden said as the three students each collected goodie bags for the third-grade teacher.
VanSolkema said she was surprised by the students’ generosity.
“It really means a lot,” she said. “We have so many awesome kids here.”
Teacher Austin Mora was definitely uncertain why fifth-grader Ryleigh Hunter was at his door with a goodie bag.
“I wanted to say sorry for all the trouble I caused you this year,” Ryleigh said to Mora as she shyly handed the bag to him.
Third-grader Addy Andree gave a goodie bag to support staffer Holly Tomcala, who also is her friend’s mom.
“It’s super wonderful,” Tomcala said. “You are always talking throughout the year about doing the right thing and being kind, and they show how they appreciate you.”
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