Elementary Students Give Back Through Soup-er Bowl Drive

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Although second-grade teacher Cheryl Wisch won’t be watching the Super Bowl, she has some other traditions that make this time of year special to her. For about 20 years, she has led a Super Bowl-themed canned food drive at her campus.

During the Soup-er Bowl Soup Drive, teachers and students of J.L. Boren Elementary School collect cans to give to those in need. The drive is part of a service project for Bears Care, the school’s student council.

“I knew that food pantries after Christmas start running low because they’re depleted during Christmas,” said Wisch. “I’m trying to connect what’s happening in the world with ways to help others, so I came up with soup and Super Bowl because I know most of the kids do watch the Super Bowl.”

The Soup-er Bowl Soup Drive occurs annually the week before and after the Super Bowl. Boren Elementary usually donates about 15 boxes of canned goods to the Mansfield Mission Center.

Students also wear their favorite jersey to keep with the theme. 

“When we receive donations to our Mission Market, it gives families in our community another way to put food on the table if they're having financial difficulties,” said Carmin MacMillian, executive director of Mansfield Mission Center. “It's a way to show them love and let them know their community cares about them. We couldn't do what we do without the generosity of MISD.”

Wisch said she enjoys doing the canned food drive because the students get to experience giving to others with no reward.

“We try very hard to teach our kids service for others, and I think the parents appreciate we are trying to teach our students that,” she said.

Students who participated said they feel they are making a difference by bringing the cans.

“I think it’s important to help others because some people don’t have food, and then they can have food to stay alive and be healthy,” said Landry Slinkard, second-grader at Boren Elementary.

Their team may not win the big game on Sunday, but Soup-er Bowl Soup Drive organizers said the drive is still a touchdown for the community. The Mansfield Mission Center is open to donations from anyone. Its hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MISD Students Make Holidays Brighter for Community Members

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‘Tis the season to give to others, and many Mansfield ISD students did just for people of all ages before leaving for the winter break.

QUALITY TIME WITH SENIORS

Students at The Phoenix Academy walked down to the Mansfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with decorations, food and games to let residents know that they are not forgotten. It’s a tradition that the teenagers and staff members look forward to every year.

Phoenix Academy students sing carols down the halls.

“We do lots of activities,” explained Sally McClure, a science teacher at the school. “We cut out snowflakes. We pass out stockings, refreshments and Christmas cards. The students go caroling around the halls for the residents. It’s just a great time.”

Although it may seem like a small gesture, senior Kelsy Jackson said she knows it makes an impact in the lives of the elderly residents because quality time is important to them.

“Honestly, I think it just brings them a lot of joy because some of them just haven’t seen their family in a long time or they haven’t had visitors,” she said. “So when we come and visit them, I feel like maybe it just makes them a bit happier.”

McClure said the event helps the development of the students as well. She said they are able to develop empathy and learn how to get along with various members of the community.

KIDS HELPING KIDS 

Over at Rogene Worley Middle School, students adopted 25 Mansfield ISD elementary school students to make their holiday season a little more joyous.

As part of its Adopt-A-Kid program, Worley Middle School gets a list of what some less fortunate students will need for the holidays, and the middle schoolers buy as many of the items as they can.

Worley students gather as their adopted child opens one of many gifts.

Principal Julia McMains said she heard heartwarming stories of fundraising efforts throughout the week, but one in particular really showed how dedicated her students were to the cause.

“My friend came into class, and she had mentioned that she had seen a big dollhouse, and she really wanted to get it, but it was $200,” said eighth-grader Zachariah Castillo. “Whenever I did the math, it would have been $8 per student, so we pushed to raise the money. I was surprised that it worked out. We didn’t get a lot at first; but by the third day, we had more than enough to make a little girl’s dreams come true.”

Apart from gifts, the elementary-aged children are also treated to a time of food and fun.

Worley Middle School has held its Adopt-A-Kid Program for more than 30 years. Hundreds of children have been adopted by the school within that span of time.

Middle Schoolers Adopt a Child for the Holidays

The holidays came a little early for some children at Alice Ponder Elementary School. Students at neighboring Rogene Worley Middle School adopted a few of the elementary school students and showered them with gifts, food and fun.

The Adopt-a-Child tradition has been going on at Worley Middle School for more than 20 years. The school gets a list of what some less fortunate Ponder Elementary students will need for the holidays, and the middle schoolers buy as many of the items as they can.

A Worley student presents a child with one of many gifts.

"It's just a wonderful day to see our students watch joy in the eyes of another person and know that they were a part of that," said Principal Julia McMains of Worley Middle School. "This is one of our best days of the year and one of our proudest moments."

One by one, the elementary students unwrapped their gifts, ranging from bikes to dolls and race cars. The look of excitement could be seen on the faces of the children and the older students who surrounded them.

"We decided that we need to make their Christmas happy," said eighth-grader Malachi Witherspoon. "It was all worth it when we saw the expressions on the children's faces."

Worley's Adopt-a-Child event is sponsored by the student council. The student body spends time decorating classrooms and providing snacks to make the day of opening presents extra special for the elementary students.

Elementary School Focuses on Teaching the Heart and Mind

Sara Buchan and two of her students who have earned blue butterflies.

Although Friday is the last day of National Random Act of Kindness Week, Martha Reid Elementary School spreads the kindness year-round.

Students and staff have all taken part of the Kindness Challenge. It’s an initiative started by first grade teacher Sara Buchan who wanted to teach children how to pay it forward.

“I can make them brilliant in math, but if they do not have social and emotional intelligence, I have failed them,” said Buchan.

The eight-year Mansfield ISD teacher started incorporating what she coined as a kindness mat. The mat is a non-reward-based sheet of paper with different nice gestures students can do. She later contacted the founder of Secret Blue Butterfly and received blue butterflies for teachers to hand out to students who go above and beyond.

The blue butterflies hang to remind students and staff
to spread kindness.

An entire hallway is adorned with blue butterflies hanging from the ceiling as a reminder to children to pollinate the world with kindness and love.

“None of this could have happened without the support I received from the principal and teachers,” said Buchan. “We have a segment on the morning announcements about the Kindness Challenge, and everyone has really bought into the whole idea of promoting joy.”

The saying is true: a little bit of kindness goes a long way. Reid Elementary staff hopes the kids use the lessons learned to continue having a heart of compassion as they grow older.