On the wall of a portable next to the staff parking lot at Sylvandale Middle School, an image is emerging that makes you stop and take notice. Ms. Wallace, our incredible art teacher, and her students, have been out there on rainy days, on days when the sun’s heat bounces off the walls, painting a very important message to the neighborhood. With the help of stencil artist Kate DeCicicio, students learned to make their own stencils and to create a ‘counter-narrative’ to the political messages we are receiving, that tell Americans we don’t want more immigrants and ‘America is full.’ Students at Sylvandale have a different story to tell: that migration is natural, ‘it is OK!’, and that we are the faces of our immigrant country.

Sylvandale's Leadership students lead the way in making Teacher Appreciation Week a very special event. Everyday of the week teachers received personalized gifts and goodies. They distributed uplifting notes of appreciation, decorative containers with teacher supplies, delicious personalized cookies and candy bars. And, for the Grand Finale on Friday, they provided freshly cooked, hot and fluffy pancakes for teachers and staff to enjoy. Their thoughtful notes and gestures of kindness expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the teachers who have taught them so much this school year. Teachers and staff alike were moved by their thoughtfulness and creativity in making this year so very special for us all.