Nina Kumar is on the Clinton School PTA.
Clinton School Gratitude Graffiti Project
During November Clinton School will be incorporating gratitude into the school day. Among other benefits, focusing on what you are grateful for has been linked to increased determination, attention, enthusiasm and energy, and school connectedness***.
The expression of gratitude at Clinton will be incorporated seamlessly into the school day and all students will participate thanks to the help of an optimistic Clinton parent and a virtuous Girl Scout troop.
Candice Davenport, a Clinton mom and co-creator of the Gratitude Graffiti Project (https://thegratitudegraffitiproject.com), has teamed with Girl Scout troop 22908 (lead by Megan Young), to supply Clinton students with this opportunity.
On the first day of school in November Troop 22908 covered an entire wall of the Clinton cafeteria with a swath of paper accompanied by the prompt, ”What are you grateful for?” All students can draw, write, and express answers to this question. The kids also contemplate the writings of their peers. Many children look forward to writing down their thankful thoughts and revisit the wall regularly. The mural will be removed right after Thanksgiving day.
It takes only a few moments, but putting your gracious thoughts on paper (or in chalk, paint, or any medium) can change your mood on any given day. Try it sometime!
***See, for example, Emmons and McCullough (2003) Counting blessings versus burdens: an experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. American Psychological Association, 84(2), 377–389.
Writers note: Clinton School is one of several elementary schools nationwide that are participating in the Gratitude Graffiti Project. However, Co-Founder Candice Davenport is particularly proud of the program at Clinton as her children attend this neighborhood school. This year there are 25 stores in SOMA that are also participating with the Gratitude Graffiti Project. To find out more about starting this project at your school, please visit the website.
