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Leesburg Elementary is one of Warsaw Community School's Dual Language Immersion (DLI) buildings. This year, they have been working HARD to integrate this year's theme of #KindnessWCS within classrooms and throughout the building!

Leesburg's staff and community partners are great example of how to move the WCS mission forward. They work to support the four Strategic Plan Pillars: Empathy, Experience, Adaptability, and Inclusivity.

The Blazer Boutique is a shop at Leesburg Elementary where students can pick out clothing items including coats, shoes, socks, underwear as well as hygiene products. The shop is free of charge to the students.

In 2019, The Blazer Boutique helped 10 students shop. The number of students in 2022 has grown to 61! The students are given an opportunity to experience "shopping" with a volunteer twice a year, although teachers can also get clothing for students as needed. Students love the ability to choose their clothing pieces! Many times, they see the students wearing their new items the next day.

This year, Sara Nycz, who oversees the Blazer Boutique, organized a stocking drive as well. Along with several volunteers, she was able to surprise many students with stockings filled with toiletries, candy, and a small toy. Some of the fifth and sixth graders volunteered to help with the stockings as well as sorting and finding outfits that may look good together.

“This is my 5th time shopping with kids in the Blazer Boutique, and now when the kids see me, they know it's shopping time! Often they are giddy and hopping up and down in the hallway all the way to the Boutique. Truthfully, I’m JUST as excited as they are. I love getting to know each kid and finding things tailored to their taste!" — Sara Nycz

Miss Binkerd starts each morning with a word of the day and quote of the day. To start off March, their month of empathy, she shared the following quote: “It takes our minds 4 seconds to process a compliment, yet only ½ a second to process a negative comment.”

Many students became passionate about this topic and started sharing stories. One student shared that it is really important to be nice to everyone because they never really know what battles others are secretly fighting.

She then came up with a challenge for her class: to write one genuine compliment about everyone in the class. She gave each student a piece of paper with everyone’s name on it. They had 12 minutes to write one thing they appreciate and/or like about their classmates, which would remain anonymous. Students were then given an index card and asked to write down everything they like about themselves.

Once finished, students gave her their compliment sheet and their index card. She typed all the responses for each student on a separate piece of paper and then wrote down all the things that she appreciates about them. Their laminated compliment pages were then placed in their lockers. Many students now have their lists on their desks and read them during class “to cheer themselves up.”

Mrs. Binkerd shared, "It was really heartwarming to see my kiddos take this activity so seriously. They were very invested in this mini project and genuinely thought of kind things about one another. Watching the kids open their lockers and start reading the list of things their classmates like about them brought not only a smile to their faces, but mine as well.

Most people are in need of some encouragement…the world can be a harsh place. So, let’s spread kindness and compliments instead of negativity…love always wins!"

In Mrs. Humbarger's classroom, they do shout-outs for students to look for and highlight empathetic and kind behavior in each other! They share them each Friday and celebrate together. These are displayed in the classroom and sent home at the end of the year.

Shout outs range from, “Thank you for pushing in my chair!” to “Thank you for cheering me up when I was sad about my dog dying.”

Jayden is a Leesburg 2nd grader with a heart of gold. Just before Christmas, Jayden wrote a letter to Santa asking for help. He had a dream of helping to support students and families in need.

When his mom, Staci Young, posted the story on Facebook, she was shocked at the outpouring of support. Staci ended up raising over $1,000 and with the help of friends and family, was able to make Jayden's dream come true.

With the donations that Jayden received, he was able to support several needs in the building including buying clothes for the Blazer Boutique and purchasing medical supplies for a student in need.

He is also creating Sunshine bags for students and staff who have experienced grief or loss (more below).

Nurse Rachelle shared, "We have had a large number of heavy, emotional losses for students this year. I have wanted to find a way to show that Leesburg cares; we see you, we feel you and you are loved."

Jayden’s mom had reached out letting us know about his Christmas Letter and to touch base with any needs that they might be able to fill. This project seemed like a perfect fit for Jayden! When presented with the idea, Jayden said that he was “200% on board for it!“ With help from his mom and community supporters Jayden is going to begin with 36 sunshine bags.

Students who are struggling with grief, a big move, a family separation, an illness diagnosis, etc. will be given a bag with comfort items such as a craft, a journal, stress toys, tissue packet, a note of encouragement, a book related to their big emotion and parent resources. They will be in English and Spanish.

Jayden and his mom, Staci Young, have already made community contacts to make this a sustainable project and partnered with a local business to purchase the books that will be in the bags.

Leesburg 2nd grade teacher, Miss White, was out at recess with a student who has difficulty communicating. The student got very upset about something that had happened during recess, but couldn't communicate what the problem was.

Jayden witnessed this happen and tried to help this student explain his problem. The very next day, Jayden walked into Miss. White’s class in the morning and handed her communication signs for this student. Jayden explained that he made them, so that this student could better communicate his needs to everyone. This student was so ecstatic and was happily carrying them around during recess. Miss White had never seen him so happy!