Fourth-Grader Organizes Assembly

SEELEY LAKE – Tuesday, May 3, Seeley Lake Elementary School (SLE) teachers were directed to bring their students to the multi-purpose room for a school assembly. Most of the teachers were puzzled, not knowing the reason for the meeting, though many of the students were in on the secret.

Standing alone at the microphone on stage, fourth-grader Ava Thornsberry waited for everyone to be seated.

"Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day," Thornsberry announced. "Kids in the school drew pictures for you teachers. They also signed big cards."

Thornsberry then called each teacher to the stage and gave each an appreciation packet. The students clapped loudly as each name was called. The appreciation extended beyond classroom instructors to include kitchen staff, office staff and every person who works at the school in any capacity.

Thornsberry ended by saying, "I hope all you teachers know how much we love you."

The ceremony was short but the applause and yells of the students conveyed the earnestness of their appreciation.

SLE Principal Chris Stout closed the assembly by saying, "I think it's pretty cool that a student organized all of this - thought about it all on her own, got it going, came up here and had the courage to do it."

Asked what made her decide to organize the appreciation assembly, Thornsberry said, "Last year, we didn't celebrate it at all. A girl from my class just brought in treats. There wasn't a big celebration."

Thornsberry, who is the fourth-grade representative on the student council, proposed the idea at a council meeting. After the proposal was accepted, she was left to follow through on her own. She said, since the idea was hers, it was her responsibility to carry it out.

She enlisted the help of SLE school librarian Michele Holmes to use the library as a convenient place for students to sign the cards. She said all the students she talked to thought it was a pretty cool idea. She also met with Principal Stout to arrange an assembly time.

Asked how she felt after the assembly, Thornsberry said, "I feel so excited, now that it's done. I was kind of nervous getting up on the stage but I felt more comfortable as I was up there. I figured even if I messed up, it's not like anybody would care."