EAST LONGMEADOW – Though Thanksgiving has passed, students at Mapleshade Elementary School are finding new reasons to be grateful and thankful every day.

School Psychologist Carolyn McBride facilitated Mapleshade’s first “gratitude wall” through the “Look for the Good” project. The wall stands about five feet tall and roughly 15 feet long, and is covered in sticky notes.

Starting on Nov. 1, for 10 school days the students and faculty were encouraged to write a sentiment of gratitude on a sticky note to go on the board each day. Eventually, the board became so full of people, places and things that everyone was thankful for; the sticky notes started popping up on walls and doors around the school.

“The goal for us was to turn around negative thoughts and make them positive,” McBride said.

Ten student leaders, all from fifth grade, came together and worked to spread gratitude through out the school. While some gratitude notes have silly phrases, such as “I’m thankful for potatoes,” others were quite serious, offering their appreciation for freedom of speech.

“Gratitude can show a big difference in our community,” fifth grader John Parker said.

In addition to the gratitude wall, the school had three “gratitude spots” located in different areas of the school. The spot was quite literally a round spot on the floor where students were encouraged to stand on a whim and announce something they were thankful for.

The ten student leaders were each given a “you matter” card. The students would walk around the school, and if they saw another student act kindly or complete a selfless activity, they would hand off the “you matter” card. The students would then list their initials on the cards in hopes that each student at

Mapleshade would be in possession of it at least once.

The students hope to revisit the gratitude project through out the school year. Soon, children will be writing letters to veterans to thank them for their service. In addition, the gratitude wall will eventually be disassembled for transport to an area nursing home so the wall will still be appreciated, and bring joy to the elderly.