Ms. Valenzuela's 4th grade class teamed up with Ms. Krumholz's 5th grade class to complete two projects in the month of February! For their first project, the classes decorated coffee sleeves with kind messages and uplifting pictures. The coffee sleeves were handed out at Village Coffee on Valentine's Day and we hope they brightened some days and made the recipient smile.  Later in the month, the two classes made tie blankets for "My Very Own Blanket." We support this amazing organization often because they support our community in such a special way. Each blanket is given to a child in the foster care system with the hopes of providing them with a sense of comfort and security. Thank you to these classes for going above and beyond to share some kindness with their community. (February 2025).

Mrs. Tuel's fifth graders wanted to send some love to The Inn at Walnut Trail, a local nursing home. Students worked hard to create several activities to spark conversation, encourage reflection, and make residents feel loved. The class decorated buckets and included a different activity in each bucket. They sent Valentine/kindness themed conversation starters, jokes, phrase matching, trivia and puzzles. We hope the residents enjoyed the activities and we have no doubt they appreciated the time and thought that went into creating them!  (February 2025).

Mrs. Estep's first graders chose to complete several projects throughout the school year to support a classmate that is unable to attend in person. Their goal is to ensure she feels included & loved! For Thanksgiving, they put together a basket with cozy goodies including; blankets, slippers, snacks & a movie gift card. They also included picture books with a QR code to scan. Once scanned, it will allow the student to hear her classmates reading the book to her. For Christmas, students surprised her with a mini tree decorated with handmade ornaments. They also sent 24 days of books for her to unwrap - one each day. Valentines Day was all about love, so students decorated a large canvas with handprints from the class & a basket of things their classmate loves, including art supplies. We appreciate the kindness of this group of students and we have no doubt they're learning some valuable lessons along the way!  (2024-25 School Year).

Every single Big Walnut Elementary classroom teamed up to give back to the Friends of Faith Pruden Foundation. This organization provides financial and emotional support to oncology patients and their families at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Each grade level was in charge of a different project: Kindergarten painted suncatchers, 1st grade crafted memory games, 2nd grade assembled art kits and tie dyed pillowcases, 3rd grade put together planter kits, and 4th grade put together clay bead bracelet kits.  BWI joined in and decorated cards with uplifting pictures and messages and then our teachers wrote notes on the back. They say it takes a village and we were proud to bring our village of classrooms together to share some kindness with a group of kids who could use some kindness. All donations were made to the Friends of Faith Pruden Foundation on behalf of Ally Anderson & her family.  (February 2024).

Big Walnut Elementary and Big Walnut Intermediate teamed up for a project to share some kindness with Turning Point Shelter. This organization assists families in need of emergency assistance and our students were all in on completing projects to brighten their Thanksgiving. Ms. Norris worked with BWE's third and fourth graders to create some festive centerpieces for Turning Point's Thanksgiving dinner. The centerpieces contained decor, as well as notes of kindness and inspiration from students. BWI included a service project in a Friendsgiving Celebration they had planned. Each classroom put together a student created coloring book and packs of crayons for the children that may be coming to the shelter for assistance during the holiday. Our students had a lot of fun completing these activities, but they also had a big impact on those receiving the projects. We're so proud of our students and their eagerness to light up the world with kindness (November 2023).

Mrs. Lyons and Mrs. Graven's sixth grade classes celebrated World Kindness Day by taking a trip to The Inn at Walnut Trail to do activities with the residents. While there, students led a "grateful tree" watercolor craft, read their student created trivia questions, played chair volleyball and bowling, completed puzzles and more! It was great to see our students interacting with the residents and vice versa. Our sixth graders then returned to school to continue celebrating the day while completing more acts of kindness planned by their teachers.  (November 2023).

Each class at Big Walnut Elementary completed a project to distribute on World Kindness Day. Kindergarten students sprinkled leaves with kindness quotes on the playground, the walking trail, and other places to be discovered. First graders decorated reusable placemats for Big Walnut Friends Who Share. Second graders decorated a paper pizza slice with kindness messages and the slices were then delivered with Branch Pizza orders on World Kindness Day. Our third graders created puzzles for the residents at The Inn at Walnut Trail. Fourth graders wrote "thank you for your service" cards for local fire, police and EMS departments. So many acts of kindness were sent out into the world on this special day to recognize kindness and we thank our students for their part in this project. (November 2023).

For the second year in a row, Mrs. Valenzuela's fourth grade class created hygiene bags for a local organization that helps residents in our community. HelpLine of Delaware County provides 24 hour resources to people in crisis. Our students donated individual personal hygiene bags for HelpLine to be able to hand out to people during a time of need. The students decorated individual bags with positive messages and then filled them with the items requested by HelpLine (soap, deodorant, shampoo, toilet paper, etc). Thank you to our fourth graders for thinking of others and working together to share some kindness with others who are experiencing a tough time. (September 2023).

The Kindergarten classes at Big Walnut Elementary worked together to lend a helping hand to the pets in our community. Source Point of Delaware County offers a PET "meals on wheels" program. Pet food is donated to SourcePoint in bulk and local volunteers separate it into smaller portions. Our kindergarten students were excited to help out and did a great job! Thank you for working together to help our local furry friends. (August 2023).

Big Walnut Elementary students participated in their third annual school-wide project. The Delaware Co. VCAS organization pairs veterans with rescue dogs and covers all of the expenses for the first year.  Our students created "Gotcha Boxes," which is a box full of goodies for the Veteran and his/her new furry friend. Kindergarten filled and decorated bags of treats, 1st grade decorated the boxes, 2nd grade made no-sew blankets, and 3rd grade braided t-shirt chew toys. Our 4th graders created framed artwork, wrote "thank you for your service" letters, and made PVC enrichment toys. A big thank you to Bubbles and Bows for donating toys and a $10 gift card for each box. It was a team effort and everyone came together to create twenty-four boxes filled with the aforementioned goodies. (February 2023).

Big Walnut Intermediate students came together in a big way to share some kindness with Country View of Sunbury (nursing home). Each classroom contributed a project as part of their school-wide kindness week. By the end of the week students had made the following; 96 puzzles, 48 water bead stress bags, 75 fiddle rings, 84 framed kindness messages/pictures, and beaded suncatchers. Also, students painted and put together 48 planter kits for residents to assemble as a craft. We also provided the residents with chap stick, hand lotion and fuzzy socks.  We truly hope each resident enjoys a little piece of kindness that our students crafted with care. (February 2023).

BWE's art classes created mugs for the seniors at Big Walnut Friends Who Share. The "Winter Warmth Project" included a hand-painted mug, hot cocoa, tea and lip balm. Big Walnut Friends Who Share also donated socks and gloves to be included in the package. The goodies were made available for the seniors to pick up during their January Saturday hours. Thank you to Ms. Norris and her art classes for sharing some warmth and kindness with the seniors in our community. (January 2023).

BWE's third grade classrooms partnered with My Very Own Blanket for the third year in a row. Each class made 8 blankets; donating a total of 32 blankets to this wonderful organization. Each blanket is given to a child in the foster care system. The blankets provide a whole lot more than warmth to these children during a scary time in their lives. Thank you to each third grader, for working together to help others during their time of need.  (December 2022).

Mrs. Segars' sixth grade advisory class hosted a "Cookies and Kindness" event with some seniors from the community. The students and community members decorated cookies, had great conversations and made some amazing looking cookies. The cookies were donated to "Bountiful Backpacks," which is an organization that provides food to our Big Walnut students and their families. A big thank you to Kendra Jarrell from "Boy Mom Bakery" for providing the cookies, decorations and expertise. We'd also like to thank Elaine Miller from HelpLine of Delaware County for connecting us with the community members.  (December 2022).

Big Walnut Elementary and Big Walnut Intermediate students teamed up to lend a helping hand to LifeCare Alliance. LifeCare is a food pantry in Columbus and each year they serve their elderly population a holiday meal. Our students decorated the bags for the meal, and created some festive and kind cards to be included as well. We hope this brings a little extra cheer to the individuals that will be receiving these meals. Thank you to our students for their hard work on this simple yet powerful project. A little sprinkle of kindness can go a really long way! (December 2022).

Our first grade classrooms made 40 kindness calendars for Turning Point in Delaware. This organization assists families in need of emergency assistance. The first graders wanted to bring families experiencing tough times a little joy each day for the entire month of December. Each of the four first grade classrooms made 10 kindness calendars that each contain 31 treat bags. Each bag has a small toy, a sweet treat, and a kindness quote. Thank you to our first graders for thinking of others and trying to share some happiness (November 2022).

Mrs. Eikenberry and Mrs. Byanski's 5th graders took a field trip to Boardman Arts Park in Delaware to give back. While there, these hard working students raked leaves, spread mulch, trimmed fence rows, washed tables, picked up trash, dug a hole for a tree and more! Mrs. Haer's art classes also contributed to the project by creating wire beaded art for the students to hang in the pergola at the park. It was amazing to watch these students come together to help in a BIG way. Thank you for giving back to your community fifth graders!  (October 2022).

Mrs. Valenzuela's fourth grade students kicked off the school year with a project for a local organization in need. HelpLine of Delaware County is a local organization that provides 24 hour resources to people in crisis. The fourth graders decorated individual bags and filled them with positive messages and essential items such as soap, deodorant, shampoo, toilet paper, etc.... HelpLine will then be able to better support families in their time of need with this thoughtful donation. Thank you to this amazing group of fourth graders for coming together to help (October 2022).

Each classroom at Big Walnut Elementary teamed up in a BIG way to share some kindness with Nationwide Children's Hospital: Hematology, Oncology & BMT (Bone & Marrow Transplant) patients and staff. Each grade level contributed a project with the different age levels of patients in mind. Kindergarten put together toiletry bags for the families of patients with handmade cards. First grade created designs for 20, 110 piece puzzles. Second grade drew the designs for 30 coloring books (donated along with 30 boxes each of colored pencils and crayons). Third grade made QR code read alouds for 30 books. 4th grade created 15 pillowcase designs. Students also made cards for staff and a special thank you to Crumbl for donating 75 cookies for the staff. Our students were on a mission to "Lift up Liam." Check out our video for more details about Liam's battle with Neuroblastoma and about this amazing project. "Find your why, and make kindness matter." Tinyurl.com/BWEgivesback (February 2022)

As part of TIDE week, the students at Big Walnut Intermediate School gifted each Sunbury square business a potted plant to display in their storefront. Students put together 36 potted plants, added kind notes and quotes, and set off on their mission to deliver their kind gesture. The Sunbury square will be "blooming with kindness" for months to come. Be sure to support our local businesses and check out the flowers and kind words from the students at BWIS.  (May 2022).

Mrs. LaSota's first grade friends paid a very special visit to our local police department. They delivered snacks, artwork and thank you letters. They also had pizzas delivered for different shifts at the station. We are very thankful for this group of men and women who support our community and we hope they enjoyed this kind gesture. The first graders were also excited to be able to sit in Officer Whiteside's patrol car and hit the siren and lights. Thank you Sunbury Police Department for ALL you do! (May 2022)

The Forgotten Initiative is a special organization that supports the foster care community. Mrs. Norris' art classes created 62 Christmas cards that will be given to teens within the foster care system. Kids Inspiring Kindness also donated $200 which will go toward purchasing gift cards to be given to the teens as well. Our hope is that these special kids know that someone is thinking of them and that there is a lot of kindness and people willing to help in this great big world.  (December 2021)

Our third graders partnered up with My Very Own Blanket for the second year in a row. This organization provides an easy and fun way to give back to a community in need. Each of our three classrooms made 10 blankets that will be donated to children within our foster system. The best part about this project is hearing the conversations while students are making the blankets. They understand the importance of these blankets; that they'll be providing comfort during a very scary time in a child's life.  These 8 and 9 year old students take their role in constructing the blanket to heart and put so much love and care into their jobs. With each print and pattern that is created they talk about what type of child might like it and how special it will make them feel. They all come together for a special purpose and they feel that special feeling in their hearts that one gets when you take part in an act of kindness. We are so proud of this young group of Eagles.  (December 2021)

Our fourth graders once again opened their card business. For this venture, the fourth grade students create handmade greeting cards. Cards are sold to teachers and students within the school. All proceeds are then donated to a charity of their choice. This year, students decided to donate profits to Nationwide Children's Hospital.  (December 2021)

Our four second grade classrooms took part in a "Holiday Give Back Reading Project" with the residents of Heinzerling Community. Students' met with the residents via Google Meet to read books. Since the pandemic, the residents at Heinzerling (children with severe and profound developmental disabilities) do not receive many visitors. This was an excellent way for them to see some new faces, and our second graders were able to practice their reading skills while also learning about and appreciating those with differences. The residents were sent copies of the series, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" and met twice per week with BWE second graders.  (December 2021)

Our first grade students teamed up to share some kindness with a special group of nurses at The James Cancer Hospital. We are so very thankful for the men and women that work at The James:  this dedicated group is on a mission to create a cancer-free world, one person, one discovery at a time. Our students wanted to boost their moral and remind them just how much they are appreciated. Each of our four first grade classes put together goody bags full of; a hand sugar scrub, hand-painted picture frame with inspirational quote, hot chocolate packet, and a handmade card.  (November 2021)

In the midst of a pandemic, we were able to connect with an organization in need and spread some kindness. Heinzerling serves children with severe and profound developmental disabilities. EVERY SINGLE BWE classroom came together to create 85 sensory boxes for these deserving children. Each box was filled with ten sensory items to keep their hands busy and their senses stimulated. Kindergarten created fiddle rings. First graders put together rainbow rings and smelly bottles. Our second graders were in charge of shake eggs. Third grade created feely frames and positive quotes. Finally, our fourth graders assembled water bead stress bags. Also included was chap stick, hand clappers and noise putty. The boxes were decorated with the utmost care, kindness and creativity. Cheryl's Cookies donated 200 cookies to the staff which were sent along with hand made cards from all of our students. This project, along with the rest of the school year's projects, just goes to show that even in a pandemic, KINDNESS IS NOT CANCELLED. (February 2021)

Mrs. Leinweber's 4th grade virtual students each made a blanket for My Very Own Blanket. The blankets are donated to children in the foster care system to give them a sense of security as they navigate through a difficult time in their lives. This activity not only provided a blanket to a child entering the foster care system, but also provided the child making it with an opportunity to work toward a common goal with his/her classmates while learning virtually from home. We are so proud of this classroom for coming together in the name of kindness. (January 2021)

Mrs. Tuel's fourth grade class teamed up with Bountiful Backpacks to share some holiday cheer with some of our local families.  This organization provides food to families in need within our district. Along with the holiday meal provided by Bountiful Backpacks, the 4th graders made cookie decorating kits to be included. Each kit contained cookie mixes, icing, sprinkles, a rolling pin, spatula, cookie cutters and more. The students decorated the bags, packed them up, and sprinkled on lots of love. We hope these kits brought some holiday cheer to our community members experiencing times of hardship. (December 2020)

Mrs. Dunlop, Mrs. Kavalieros and Mrs. Kuzevski/Miss Wolford's third grade classes got crafty by making fifteen blankets for a wonderful organization, My Very Own Blanket.  At their location, you can purchase blanket kits for $10 that make it SO easy for people of all ages to help a child in need of some kindness. It was so fun watching these students work together toward a common goal - KINDNESS!  A few of our students had the opportunity to drop the blankets off at the Westerville location. We cannot say enough wonderful things about the staff. The girls were shown around the building, got to learn how some of the machines work and were given lots of information that they were excited to come back and share with the rest of their classmates.  (December 2020)

Our Kindergarten and Second Grade classrooms teamed up to share some kindness with Turning Point Shelter in Delaware.  This amazing group of students created pictures to decorate the halls of the shelter and made cards filled with messages of kindness that were given to survivors of domestic violence. They also donated $200 to the Holiday Giving Program which benefits families who have become free of domestic violence. We are so thankful for the teamwork of Mrs. Killilea, Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. Zirillo, Mrs. Gathers and Mrs. Horman's classrooms. (December 2020)

Ms. Norris' art classes got their creativity and kindness flowing by decorating place mats for LifeCare Alliance, a food pantry that serves the elderly in Columbus.  The place mats were distributed to clients with their Thanksgiving meals. The organization was even featured in a news story covered by Channel 4 News, and the place mats made a guest appearance: click here to view the clip. (November 2020)

Mrs. Killilea/Miss Bryant, Mrs. Pyles and Mrs. Zirillo's second grade classrooms teamed up to help some animals in need. They were given guides and specifications from The Ohio Wildlife Center on some items that would be helpful to their organization.  The students worked together to construct 15 PVC bird perches, 36 rice sock warmers and dog ropes made out of t-shirts. (February 2020)

Mrs. Kavalieros and Mrs. Kuzevski's classes teamed up to create dementia blankets and 40 love boxes for a local nursing home.  Each resident received a "love box" on Valentine's Day. The boxes contained a student-made framed piece of art/inspirational quote, cozy socks, candy, a student-created adult coloring book, and many more comfort items. The dementia blankets were made with the goal of providing a fidget for the dementia unit residents to keep their hands busy.  (February 2020)

Ms. Norris' art students worked to design coffee sleeves with cheerful and kind messages.  The sleeves were handed out at the Coffee Vault in Galena during the month of February.  It also coincided with "Random Acts of Kindness Day."   Coffee sleeves were also distributed during Donuts for Dads at Big Walnut Elementary. (February 2020)

Mrs. Dunlop’s third grade classroom was full of animal lovers.  They decided to put their kind efforts to use and made blankets and chew toys for an animal shelter. They also collected treats, dog food and cat food. (January 2020)

Mrs. Kavalieros’ third grade classroom volunteered at LifeCare Alliance in Columbus.  While there, students bagged pet food, worked in the food pantry and Meals-On-Wheels distribution kitchen. They also decorated holiday placemats for Meals-On-Wheels to deliver on their routes. (December 2019)

Mrs. Estep’s, Miss Griffith’s and Mrs. Yankie’s first grade classrooms donated a Christmas tree kit to Turning Point Shelter in Delaware.  This included a tree, handmade ornaments and a kindness chain, along with treat packets they assembled. (December 2019)

Mrs. Cannell, Mrs. Sinram and Mrs. Tuel’s fourth grade classrooms created cards for their greeting card company, "Kids Crafting Kindness."  These cards were sold to students and staff at BWE as well as community members.  All proceeds were donated to Delaware County Humane Society. (December 2019)