As part of January’s Great Kindness Challenge, Monroe Elementary students did their part to spread cheer throughout the New Richmond community.
Keeping the theme of ‘Kindness Warms the Heart’ in mind, some students at the district helped decorate coffee sleeves for the Wholy Beans Café in New Richmond. Throughout the month, the school collected various winter weather clothing to help families in need.
“Everyone in the building embraced the challenge,” Monroe Elementary principal Dr. Jamie Kunz said. “Ms. Dreier’s and Ms. Todd’s preschool classes were no exception. Not only were they the leaders of our hat, glove and scarf drive but their extra effort went a long way to spread love and kindness throughout our building.”
That extra effort involved completely transforming their classroom into a café right at the elementary school, which earned Noelle Campbell, Dax England, Holden Hauke, Katherine Shaw, Allie Williams, Philip Young (along with Ms. Katie Dreier and Ms. Sherry Todd) February’s Beth Webster Leading Lion award.
“Not only did they take personalized orders but they also made the hot chocolate and delivered it to staff members with a smile and a hug, celebrating kindness for everyone in our building,” Dr. Kunz said. “The students that I’d like to recognize this evening often go above and beyond to recognize all of their classmates and make the classroom a wonderful place that it is each and every day. Not only were they some of the best baristas that I’ve ever had, they’re proof that even our littlest Lions are certainly leaders.”