Giving Thanks 2024
November 27, 2024 
Turkeys strolling off Gregg Hill Road. Photo by Gordon Miller
Dear readers,
Since 2020, we've asked you at this time of year, “What are you thankful for this year?”
While we received a varied range of responses from readers of all ages during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve heard mainly from youngsters this year and last.
This time, we particularly thank the teachers at Crossett Brook Middle School who shared the prompt with their students to elicit some special responses that they have shared with us and we, in turn, share with you.
And, while you may not have sent in your answer to the question, perhaps you can consider it and share your thoughts with someone you know this Thanksgiving.
Finally, what are we thankful for? Our readers, of course! And for our community that’s embraced the Roundabout since we launched in spring 2020. We are thankful for you supporting our work and contributing your tips and story ideas, your photos, letters and comments.
We don’t expect to run out of stories to tell anytime soon. In fact, we see more stories deserving of coverage than we can get to most weeks.
We are fortunate this Thanksgiving to be in the middle of an important year-end fundraising match that can give us a meaningful boost as we start the new year. We don’t have a pay wall, nor do we require a subscription purchase for you to read the Roundabout. We hope that if it’s part of your routine, you would take a moment to chip in with a tax-deductible contribution that will be matched by NewsMatch.
From the staff and contributors at Waterbury Roundabout, thank you for reading and Happy Thanksgiving!
Lisa Scagliotti, editor
Gordon Miller, photographer
Julia Bailey-Wells, digital editor
I'm thankful for my family and friends, our house and our pets. I'm also thankful for our school and community. Last but not least I am very thankful to be living in Vermont.
Lila Ray, Waterbury Center, 5th grade, CBMS
I AM THANKFUL FOR:
My family and friends
My pets
My house
The money wwe have
The stuff we can afford
My mom and dad
My health
My teachers
My mom and dad’s work
The kindness in the words
And all our kind hatred people in the world!
Amelia Porter, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my parents and my pets who greet me every time I come in from school and who shelter me when I am feeling lost.
I am thankful for my friends I play with almost every day.
I am thankful for my community who help us and all of our neighbors when the floods happen.
Logan Geba, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I'm thankful for my parents and sister being there for me when I'm having a hard time, and even if I'm being difficult they still try to help me. I love them so much. They are the best parents. They have given me a place to live, a caring sister and they love me. They make me feel like the luckiest person in the world. I want them to know that I don't say this enough but I appreciate all the hard work they put into me having a great life. When I grow up my kids will have a great mom because I had the best teacher ever.
Lue Atkinson, Moretown, 5th grade, CBMS❤️
I’m thankful for my family and how they help me through my highs and lows and even when I’m being difficult they're always there for me no matter what they’re always there. I love them so much they give me an awesome home and place to live, they give me what I need, they give me love and encouragement in everything I do. They are the greatest people in the whole world! They give me the best life I could have. I appreciate everything they do for me. I love you so much!
Karlee Lord, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I’m Thankful for Vermont. Not just the place, but the people who live there, my friends, family, neighbors, teachers, doctors, and the places there.
My house gives me shelter and it gives me a place to live. My friends make me feel passionate about myself, they give me joy and happiness. Lastly my family my mom my dad my brother my other brother my two cats they complete me and help me during the hard times. I’m thankful for all these people.
So, Thanksgiving is appreciating the people in your life and for me, I don’t think I do that too often so it’s a good time to just be thankful for people but also for yourself.
Isabelle Kawatsuji, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family. Like my sister, my mom, my dad, my aunt and uncle, my cousins, and more. Even though my sister and my cousin can be annoying, I still tolerate them even though they push my buttons a LOT. I am thankful for my mom and dad because they are always there for me even when I am going through hard times. I am also thankful for my parents because they give me food and water and a home to live in.
Leah Black,Waterbury Center, 5th Grade, CBMS
I am thankful for having access to books and reading.
I am thankful for having a family that loves me and supports me.
I am thankful for having access to education and learning.
I am thankful for having access to technology, and the internet.
Hazel D, Waterbury Center, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family and the love they give me because when I’m feeling down they ask if I am ok and help me feel better.
I am thankful for my dog Hazel (Hazel mc sprinkles marie fluffington mc barks a lot loving corbett lavalee the first). Because she always makes me smile and cheer me up when I get home from school.
I am thankful for my grandparents because they are always so kind to me and take me to the things I love like rock climbing and going out to brunch and making crepes and getting sushi.
Adeline Lavalee, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for all of my family and my friends, especially my pet dog named Honey. I am also thankful for my warm cozy house and my school where I get to learn. I am thankful for the beautiful state that I live in with all of the gorgeous trees and animals. I am thankful when I get to play with my friends and brother. There are so many things that I love and are thankful for and these are just a few of all of them.
Cecily Gilman, Moretown, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my parents.I am thankful for my moms amazing cooking skills.I am thankful for my dog.I am thankful for my brothers.I am thankful for my family.I am thankful for the outside. I am thankful for having friends. I am thankful for my house. I am thankful for my toys.I am thankful for the outdoors. I am thankful for having school. I am thankful for food. I am thankful for life. Am thankful for swimming.I am thankful for people.
Lily Roby, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I’m thankful for:
My dogs odin/thor my cat 🐱 🐶
snowboarding 🏂
Devices 📱
friends/family 😀
My bike 🚲
Sawyer Mongeur, Warren/Waterbury Center, 5th grade, CBMS
I’m thankful for my safe home and that my family can afford all the food and things to make us
comfortable. I'm also thankful for all the people who give their life to protect the U.S.A. I'm thankful for the fresh air that we get to breathe. I'm thankful for how my extended family can
make the journey to come for thanksgiving.
Charlotte Burt, Moretown, 5th Grade, CBMS
Things I'm thankful for:
I am thankful for having a house.
I am thankful for having food.
I'm thankful for having a nice family.
I'm thankful for having pets.
I'm thankful to have a lot of friends.
Wyatt Dinneen, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my friends, my family, my house, my sports equipment, my family's money, and the life that I have.
Warren Motley, Grade 5, CBMS
I’m thankful for my family and friends. Like my mom, my dad and my sister and my grandma. You should always be thankful for what your parents do in your life. They give you food, they give you your life, they give you shelter, they give you water to give you everything that you need for you to be a good parent when you grow up. They help you get back on your feet if you need it. Everyone knows that bills on taxes and the electricity bill and everything will build that you have to pay for your house is hard but all you need to know is that your parents will be right by your side the whole time. Even though your parents going to be mean sometimes and I’m annoying and rude just know that they’ll always be by your side and you never have to feel alone if you ever have a breakup or a Bad time in your life it gets really hard sometimes but if you need help your parents will always be there.
Ryleigh Bossier, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I'm thankful For the dog I have and his name is Beau. His age is 7 and he’s super sweet! Another thing I'm thankful for is my new house I have that we moved into about a month ago. To go on one more thing I'm thankful for is my friends and family. The people who are always there for me, I’m also thankful for the school I have and the people in it. These are some things I'm thankful for. Of course I can't say everything or the paper would go on and on but these are some things I’m thankful for.
Grace Sterner, Waterbury Center, 5th grade, CBMS
I’m thankful for my...
Family
Shelter
Pets
Love
Friends
Food
Water
School
Happiness
Tech (Ipad, chromebook school and home, 2 tv’s, and projector)
Wealth
Eva Marotto, 5th grade, Duxbury, CBMS
I’m thankful for school. Most people in my class and on my bus hate school and wish they didn’t have to go. I like school though. It helps me learn and grow and mature towards possible future careers. Plus, it’s where my friends are. I appreciate all of the teachers and staff too. There’s one teacher who is interested in a book I’m writing, and I’ve shared the link with her, and I’m waiting for her to read it. I’ve even started typing part of my book at school, and that gives my a lot more time for typing.
Lillian Keller, Waterbury Center, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for having a cat that is very cute. I am thankful for having a roof over my head. I am thankful for having a home to live in.
Emmett Chartrand, Waterbury Center, 5th grade, CBMS
Hi, I'm Logan and I'm thankful for everything. I'm thankful for my dad, a roof over my head,
water food and a loving brother friend's summer camp. I'm thankful for everything that I have.
I'm thankful for school sometimes.But anyways you should be thankful for everything you have
because it is special some kids don't even have it in certain places. Adults be glad that you have
a loving dad and a loving Mom some of you Should be glad you have a car a roof I know
sometimes in life there can be bad things like taxes or the electricity bill.You should be thankful
for everything you have. I'm talking to you James Doug Bordeaux.
Logan Bordeaux, Duxbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for having loving friends and family that care about me and help me when I need it the most.
Josh Reen, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my two cats Louis and Dior. I am thankful for my home, my family and my
friends and everything I have.
Vittoria Fossiano, Waterbury, 5th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my Mom, My step-dad, my cats,my grandma's dog,and food. I am thankful for all of these things because I love them.
Aaliyah Benard, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family.
Mason Antell, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my pets
I am thankful for my home
I am thankful for my family
I am thankful for my food and water
I am thankful for all my friends
Ariana Chenette, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family, friends, a roof over my head and my sports equipment.
Audrey Conyers, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family, friends, my pets and my house.
Dylan Derner, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my grandparents house in Florida not getting damaged by the hurricane that passed through.
Txunamy Eley, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family, my pets, my friends, but especially my pets.
Zander Ernstof, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family and my friends.
Harper F, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for a lot of things, like my friends, family, pets, food, home. I am thankful for Mr. Mark. He was a teacher at Brookside for a long time and always had a smile on his face.
Ryan, 6th grade, CBMS
I'm thankful for my family and friends.
Cameron Hough, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my basketball team and also my coaches, for coaching.
Henry, 6th grade, CBMS
I’m Thankful for the Crossett Brook Pride Alliance (CBPA), my family ,books,and local libraries and bookstores.
Finley McCain, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for many things. Some of the things I am thankful for are family, friends, teachers, Vermont, animals and planet Earth.
Emerson Paine, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family and friends. And my baseball equipment.
Alex Peterson, 6th Grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my parents because my mom paints and draws with me and my dad skis and hikes with me.
Charley, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family, my food, my cats (even though they wake me up at 3:00 am), and my friends.
Henry Reichert 6th grade CBMS
I am thankful for my family and my house.
I am thankful for my friends.
I am thankful for my teachers.
I am thankful for my animals.
I am thankful for electronics.
Mackenzie Rutledge, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my pets, my family and my ski equipment.
Landon Simard, 6th Grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family (Mariah, Donie, Paige, Kevin, Rory, Eli, Xari, Xavier, Taylor, Rich, Madie, Megan, Jay, Aiden, Maverick, Lany…)
Thank you all!
Nola Smith, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my mom, my dad, my sister and my cat even though she scratches me.
Hannah Starmer, 6th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for my family.
Anthony Walls, 6th grade, CBMS
I'm thankful for my teacher Mr. Hauge because he's very good at teaching
Thomas Pratt, 8th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for friends, family, my pets
Logan Lora, 8th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for food. If I didn’t have food I couldn’t survive.
Griffin Paine, 8th grade, CBMS
Thanksgiving is the time of year when you need to be grateful for things/people.
I'm thankful for the food that I can eat on Thanksgiving Day and for all my family members that I see.
Fletcher Ayers, Waterbury, 8th grade, CBMS
I am thankful for many things.
One thing I'm thankful for are my parents. They are very loving and I am glad that they have a healthy relationship with me. They also help me achieve my goals. They give me food, water, and a roof over my head.
That leads to another thing I am thankful for. I am so grateful that I have access to healthy food, clean water, and a warm home. I know that unfortunately not everyone has access to those things and that's very heartbreaking.
I'm also thankful for my summer camp, Circus Smirkus, for helping me learn who I am, teaching me how to deal with difficult situations, and convincing me to stay on this earth when times are hard.
Ash Devecchio, Waterbury, 8th grade, CBMS