Students at Robert Frost Elementary spent Friday showing what it means to be a friend in their community.
As part of a school-wide Friendship Celebration organized by Robert Frost's PTA, students worked on a variety of projects that extended messages of love, thanks and friendship beyond their school doors.
"We really want them to understand that friendship is more than you and your buddy," PTA President Julie Cormell said. "It's kindness within the world."
They made handprint friendship wreaths for their older peers at Heritage Middle and Westerville North High School. They shared their thanks and support for local police officers and fire fighters through brightly-designed cards. They decorated cards for hospitalized kids as part of the Seeds of Caring's Show HeArt for Hospitalized Kids project which starts next month. Seeds of Caring is a Columbus-based nonprofit that empowers kids to make a real difference through service, social action, and community-building projects. They created art pieces for friends, family members or themselves. Fourth- and fifth-grade students created snack packs for Ronald McDonald House families.
Instead of holiday parties, Robert Frost's PTA has organized school-wide Friendship Celebrations throughout the year. They kicked-off their first event in October, which focused on friendship within the school. Their third celebration is in April where students, staff and parents will focus on friendship in the world.
More than 100 parents volunteered during Friday's Friendship Celebration.