Giving Thanks 2021
Art by Julian Taylor, age 6, a first grader at Brookside Primary School
To our readers,
The past year has been intense for pretty much everyone everywhere in the world. A year ago the pandemic was still relatively new and daily life was greatly curtailed. Kids especially had their daily routines turned upside down with remote school and a seemingly endless list of new rules to follow. Still, we asked them then about what made them thankful and they surprised, entertained and inspired us with their answers in words and pictures.
So we asked again this year and our youngsters didn’t disappoint with their observations, wit, kindness and honesty.
We’re thankful to them and their parents and teachers, friends and family members, who are navigating 2021 together. And to everyone, really, in our community looking out for each other, giving each other a hand, and just understanding that we’re all doing our best to get through a unique time.
Here’s wishing everyone a bit of a respite to celebrate Thanksgiving 2021.
~ Lisa Scagliotti, editor
Hunger Mountain Children’s Center
Brookside Primary School, 1st Grade
Brookside Primary School Preschoolers
The Children’s Early Learning Space Preschool
"I am thankful for how hard Ben works at cleaning my mom's classroom" writes Emmett Chartrand, Waterbury, Grade 2.
Ben Peck is a custodian at Brookside Primary School. Emmett's mom, Rebecca Chartrand, teaches French at BPS.
Happiness is the Sound on the Rain on My Bedroom Window
Happiness is the sound on the rain on my bedroom window
Happiness is the smell of pine trees in the forest
Happiness is the sound of fire crackling in the winter
Happiness tastes like mint tea on a rainy day
Happiness feels like the softest fur on my dogs after a hard day Happiness is like seeing mountains on a bed of fog
Happiness is the sound on the rain on my bedroom window
Happiness is the scent of gunpowder after the first shot
Happiness is the sound of waves crashing on the shore
Happiness tastes like chocolate chip cookies strait from the oven
Happiness feels like singing the first note of your favorite song
Happiness is like seeing the first star in the black midnight sky
Happiness is the sound of rain on my bedroom window
Happiness is the aroma of the perfect candle on a rainy day
Happiness is the sound of my dogs thundering feet on the floor
Happiness tastes like warm pancakes fresh from the griddle
Happiness feels like a warm hug from your family
Happiness is like seeing your favorite movie again
Happiness is the sound of rain on my bedroom window
Isabella Pockoski, Waterbury Center
Grade 6
I'm thankful for electronics
I’m thankful for basketball
I’m thankful for family
I’m thankful for friends
I’m thankful for candy
I’m thankful for my dog
Khloe Carpenter, Waterbury Center
Grade 6
I'm thankful for my hockey team because…
They make me giggle, we work really well together and I enjoy spending time with them.
Elyse Seitz, Warren
Grade 6
Thankfulness
I’m thankful for my family but mostly my mom, my grama and grampa, and my brother. When I was a little girl my dad was not mentally healthy. He was an alcoholic. This had an effect on me and my brother, but our mom was always there for us whenever we needed her. One night I woke up to police sirens, I was only six at the time, so I don’t remember any of it. My dad got taken away in a police car, but my grandmother was there to comfort me, my brother was awake the whole time and understood what was happening. Even though my brother and grama were both nervous and scared, they were both there to comfort me as long as I needed.
My mom. A wonderful and powerful strong woman. My dad wasn’t there for me, a child who truly did love her dad and hoped he didn’t forget about her. I haven't seen my dad in years. All the time my dad spent trying to get better, my mom was the one taking care of me. My single mom paid the rent, paid for everything my brother and I needed, put us to bed, helped us with school, and made sure we always had fun. She was always there when we needed her.
Lastly, I am thankful for my family because they take care of me and are always there when I need them!
Charlotte Lang, Moretown
Grade 6
I am thankful that I can get vaccinated.
I am thankful that I have a roof over my head.
I am thankful that I can go to school.
I am thankful that I have a family.
I am thankful that I have friends.
I am thankful that I am not poor.
I am thankful that I have good health.
I am thankful that I can have three meals a day. I am thankful that I have money.
I am thankful that I live in Vermont.
Max Marotto, Duxbury
Grade 6
Wifi Poem
I am thankful for Wifi that lets me watch sci-fi. Wifi is the power of connection.
Wifi gives you affection.
I am thankful for wifi that lets me watch sci-fi. Wifi, Wifi, you make me happy.
Wifi, Wifi, you entertain me.
I am thankful for wifi that lets me watch sci-fi. I’m grateful for wifi because it helps me with zoom. I’m grateful for wifi because it shows me the way. I am thankful for wifi that lets me watch sci-fi.
Mateo Metcalf, Waterbury
Grade 6
Taking Time to be Thankful
I’m thankful for having Buff Orpington chickens because I love to play with them and get free eggs. Besides feeding them and giving them water, it’s free. One other thing that is really funny is that if my dogs go in the fenced area, the chickens jump on top of them and then just lay down. You would think that the dogs would hate it and the dogs would try to get them off, which is true for one of my dogs, Boone. He’s also not as big as my other dog, Dixie. She's a rough haired collie which is a big dog, and she’s the one who doesn’t care if they jump on her. If you think chickens can't fly, you're right, but they can jump high. At my house they jump into the trees and they won't come down until the next day. This is a little annoying, but that just shows that they can jump high. We cut all the lower branches so they need to jump like ten feet high to get in the tree. Not long ago, I also figured out that if you run then jump in place and then look at them, a lot of them will charge at you, which is very funny. This is one thing that I'm thankful for this year... my chickens.
Elias Burdick, Duxbury
Grade 6
Emalee Wells, Waterbury
Grade 6
I am thankful for Earth, for life, for air, and food for love and warmth. I am thankful for school and knowledge. I am thankful for a house to keep me warm and for my pets. I am thankful for the vaccine and my family. I am thankful for everything that makes me happy. I am thankful for Life.
Caitlin Geary, Waterbury
Grade 6
Thanks
What are things I am thankful for? Most years I would say, family, friends, and a roof over my head, but this year it is different.
Yes, I am still thankful for those things. I am thankful for good health, vaccinations, responsible people, and of all things masks. The reason I am thankful for these things this year is because they all keep me and others safe. The one thing that I am the most thankful for is teachers and school staff. Every day they remind us to wear our masks, wash our hands, and use hand sanitizer. They do this all so we all can stay safe while learning and having fun.
Lila Pacholek, age 11, Waterbury
6th grade
Giving Thanks
I'm a student in Waterbury in the 6th grade, and I am writing this letter to share the things that I'm thankful for. I am thankful for being able to get my COVID-19 vaccine and get protected from the virus. I am thankful for having a loving family that cares for me. I am thankful for having a place to go home to after the day ends. I am thankful for having food on the table every morning evening and nigh., I am thankful for having very good friends to play with. I am thankful for my family having enough money for me to go to school. I am thankful for having very interesting books to read in my spare time. I hope you liked this paragraph because I am thankful for being able to write it.
Connor Rowley, Waterbury
6th grade
Thankful
Thanksgiving is a special time of the year.
It’s almost like Christmas, but with a different type of cheer.
You gather with family and friends until the night ends.
You remember what makes you happy. You remember what you’re thankful for.
You open up your heart and let the gratefulness stream through your door.
You may be thankful for love, for friends.
You may be thankful so much you never want it to end.
You may be thankful for your family, your animals,
the nature right outside your door, or if it depends on your cats, the porcelain floor.
What are you grateful for, it really could be anything.
I feel grateful for my neighbor, for the woods outside my door.
For the cats that curl up next to me, for the dogs that lick the floor.
I feel grateful for my chickens.
I am grateful that before coronavirius I was able to travel to New Hampshire and celebrate
Thanksgiving with my loving family.
I am thankful that I live in good health and that I have good food on my table.
I am grateful, thankful, and happy, and you should be too, because this is happiness you don’t get anywhere else.
It’s not a free tire you find on the road.
It’s not an easy code.
Just have fun, because there is no journey the same as the one you are on.
Hazel Rost, Duxbury
6th grade
Top 10 Things I'm Thankful For
1. I’m thankful for having a roof over my head.
2. I’m thankful for having food and water.
3. I’m thankful for my family and friends
4. I’m thankful for clothes, shoes, purses and jewelry.
5. I’m thankful for my cat and my dog.
6. I’m thankful for the internet and its entertainment.
7. I’m thankful for being able to go to school.
8. I’m thankful for being able to go on vacation sometimes because my family doesn't have that much money.
9. I’m thankful for having a place to call home.
10. I’m thankful for books, so I can read.
Sophia Brusca-Zeno, Waterbury
6th grade
I am thankful for family
I am thankful for friends
I am thankful for food
I am thankful for a house
I am thankful for clothes
I am thankful for my life
Elijah Patenaude, Moretown
Grade 6
I am extremely thankful for my family.
I am so thankful that every morning I walk downstairs and I see my parents' faces awakening me.
I'm so thankful that every night my mom is right by my side saying good night.
I'm so thankful that I can joke around with my dad.
I'm so thankful that I can tell my mom anything.
I'm so thankful that every night I go to bed, I know I´ll see my parents' faces in the morning.
I'm so thankful that my family is healthy during this pandemic.
I'm so thankful that when I come home from school my parents are right at the door
waiting to greet and welcome me home.
I'm so thankful that my family is right by my side every step of the way.
I am extremely thankful for my family.
Lianna Bravin, Waterbury
Grade 6
My name is Adelaide Chalmers, I just moved to Waterbury in 2020 and I'm in 6th grade at CBMS. This year I am thankful for my best friend who I've only known for a year and a half. I am thankful for my best friend because she always makes me laugh and we always have fun whenever we hang out together. She is nice to everybody and always makes time for me. She has shown me what to look for in a friend. We are best friends forever without exceptions and nothing will change that. She said, "There are like 204 countries, 802 islands, and 9 planets, and out of all that I got the privilege to meet you."
She is always so thoughtful, smart, goofy, and kinda stupid at times but it's funny so we can laugh about it. I love my "bffewe" because she is AWESOME!
We do makeup together and end up looking awful but it's fun because I do it with her. We spy on her sister and get locked out of her room. Last year we were sitting in the snow eating candy and my brother saw us and said, "BUSTED!" We laughed about it because we were busted together. We went to party city and dressed up funny. She always raids my pantry and she loves piroulines. We biked into town and she was going to get sushi for breakfast but it wasn't open so she got a pie. She makes awesome drawings that don't look real at all but they are so cool. She gave my goats nicknames the first time she saw them.
Adelaide and Beacon
These are the many reasons why I am thankful for my "BFFEWE." <3
Adelaide Chalmers, Waterbury
Grade 6
One thing that I am so grateful for is one of my best friends and neighbor Adelaide. We have so many memories together that I will hopefully remember forever. One of the things I always get to look forward to in the morning is being able to walk to the end of the road and go to her house in the morning to wait for the bus. Or how easy it is to go and walk to her house and hang out. Also, I love Duke her dog, Monty, Archie, Benji, the goats, and the horses.
Beacon Sadowsky, Waterbury
Grade 6