Crestwood fourth-grader Andrew McPherson wasn't too wild about cutting the picture of himself in a Harry Potter costume. But after he realized it was for a class Valentine's Day project, he felt better about it. The fourth-graders had their pictures displayed on cards, which were then posted so classmates could write positive comments about each other.
Andrew donned a big smile as he looked at the comments, "tall and funny, sweet, colorful."
"I liked when people came around and all these people said these nice things about me," he said.
"I wrote that he was imaginative," one classmate added.
The Valentine's Day project was a shift from the projects of old when heart-shaped construction paper, made into a basket envelope, doubled as a mailbox for classmates’ cards. This year, the fourth-graders practiced the use of adjectives and emotions.
"It really is tied in with the writing in the fourth grade," assistant principal Lauren Sheehy said.
The project was the brainstorm of teachers Christina Mangiaracina and JoAn Bosin.
"They made a Valentine with a snapshot they brought from home," Bosin said. "Each student went around and wrote a positive trait about each one."
Ramon Mejia, 10, used his favorite picture of himself with Woody Woodpecker at Disneyworld.
"He's one of my funniest ones," he said.
Classmate Jennifer Sweetapple knows Ramon. She wrote what a good swimmer he was.
"Jennifer, we go to the same pool," Ramon said.
Teacher Christina Mangiaracina even had a card for herself. Comments such as "great teacher, best teacher in the world," even touched her.
"I remember her saying it made her feel good," Sheehy said.
In addition to the positive words, Sheehy felt the advantages of this activity carry over into other areas. It was inexpensive and healthy, instead of buying cards and eating candy.
"They made it with character-education traits," Sheehy said. "When it's done in the right way, kids feel good about making good comments about each other."
After the cards filled up with comments, they were displayed on the bulletin board in the hall. Taylor Boucher, 10, remembered the heart-shaped envelopes last year.
"We usually make these little bags. It was fun [this year] because you know that they're your friend and tell them how you feel," he said.
Andrew's classmates joined in, reassuring him that there were positive aspects of cutting his Harry Potter picture. He also remembered last year's Valentine's Day.
"With the little baskets, I didn't have a picture," he said.
Bosin noticed one problem they encountered. There are only so many adjectives.
"The problem was coming up with different ways to write the same thing," she said.