Not a Letter to Santa
As I sifted through the different letters submitted by our kids, one letter stood out. While many of the kids chose to write to Santa, second grader Jarquez Finch chose to use Letter Writing Day to write to his teacher at Galloway Elementary School, Ms. Hudson.
In talking with him I discovered he wrote to Ms. Hudson because she’s his favorite teacher, and he wanted to know what she was doing for Christmas. For Jarquez, and all our kids, learning the art of letter writing is a skill they can use all their lives.
Letter Writing Day is an example of the social-emotional learning activities that Operation Shoestring’s Project Rise afterschool provides for our kids. These skills are essential for healthy growth and development. And while there’s an increasing focus of academics and testing in schools, having a space to go to where these skills are nurtured is invaluable for the children and families we serve.
According to an article by Bridget Laird, chief executive officer of WINGS for Kids, a nationwide afterschool program, afterschool programs that incorporate social and emotional learning set kids up to succeed in the classroom, be prepared for the workplace, and thrive in life.
Operation Shoestring strives to provide our kids with as many opportunities as possible to be successful, not only in academics but in life in general. Of course, we can’t do this work alone. Our impact is strengthened daily by the parents, teachers, volunteers, community partners, and donors—like you–who believe that by working together we all can create a brighter future for kids, like Jarquez.
