WEST LANE FIFTH-GRADERS DEMONSTRATE THEIR APPRECIATION

JACKSON -- When fifth-grader Katie Matthews handed out thank-you cards she had made for the special teachers she had at West Lane Elementary School, she was rewarded.

" It put big smiles on the teachers' faces to know they were appreciated," said Katie, a student in Joanna Sievers' class. "It also made me feel good inside because I knew I did something good."

Sievers and Deana Myracle signed up their fifth-grade classes to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Week. Making thank-you notes was the first in a week full of activities in which students will show their appreciation for faculty and staff at West Lane.

"The activities are a way to remember people who do things for us every day that we may not always think about," said Sievers.

So today students will pick up trash for the custodian and make bookmarks for the librarian; give flowers to the teachers' aides on Wednesday; serve cookies to the cooks on Thursday; and give decorated soda cans to office personnel and special teachers on Friday.

The students are enjoying their good deeds during this Random Acts of Kindness Week.

"We want to let people know that we feel they are doing a good job," said Paige Thomas.

"It feels good to be nice to others, and it makes them feel appreciated," said Jordan Bourland.

Acts of kindness make others feel good and "make me feel good too," said Cassie Atchison.

"It made me feel helpful and kind," said Scotty Fornkohl.

Nick Wright is looking forward to serving cookies to the cooks since the cooks usually serve the students food.

Brandon Rush directed one of his thank-you notes to the school's food-service staff. "It said, Thanks for a good year filled with good food,'" he said.

Emily Liles is looking forward to thanking the librarian. "I like to read, and she's always helping us," she said.

"When we pick up the trash, it will be really helpful to the custodian," said Barbara Gillard.

Some students are also participating individually in Random Acts of Kindness.

Whitney Jones said she is talking to people she doesn't usually talk to. "Some people don't have many friends, and it might make them feel good that someone will talk to them," she said.

Tracey House plans to send cards to people in the hospital.

Amelia Sherinski is helping her mother with housecleaning.

Kory Kamp has been helping his brother with homework.

Erin Curtis and her family put together sacks of Hershey's kisses and are handing them out to people who need a chocolate kiss. Erin gave hers to West Lane principal Stan Siler.

Marcus Gross said Random Acts of Kindness is a great idea because kind acts have a way of multiplying.

"When people see one person helping, then they start helping too, and the people who see them start helping too, and it just goes on and on," Gross said.

Students in Sievers' class are Ryan Bates, Bobby Beauchamp, Carmen Bollinger, Jordan Bourland, Amanda Craven, Clayton Davis, Robert Ford, Scotty Fornkohl, Alex Friedrich, Phillip Gramlisch, Dustin Hengst, Brittany Hensley, Cody Hinkebein, Tracey House, Lauren Jones, Whitney Jones, Courtney Kosulandich, Katie Matthews, A.J. McDonald, Joshua McIntyre, Edward Minkin, Amelia Sherinski, Paige Thomas, Jared Wages, Derick Whitledge and Leigha Wilkerson.

Students in Myracle's class are Cassie Atchison, Courtney Aufdenberg, Rachel Binion, Josh Conklin, Erin Curtis, Barbara Gillard, Matt Golden, Marcus Gross, Brianna Johnson, Nathan Jones, Kory Kamp, Ira King, Kimberly Lang, Gavin Ledbetter, Carrie Leoni, Emily Liles, Michael Morie, Charles Patrick, Scott Quade, Brandon Rush, Jordan Thurman, Cameron Tomsu, Kara Vangilder, Stacy Wilferth, Nick Wright and Tommy Young.