Sandpoint Waldorf students count blessings

SANDPOINT — Family, friends, and good food.

Loved ones round a table, snuggled on a couch, talking, eating and laughing — some coming from just around the corner, others from half the world away. Enjoying a feast of turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, a smörgåsbord of savory and sweet treats lining the countertop waiting for their turn on the table.

Laughter, stories of days gone by and special moments fill the air. After dinner, football games and holiday classics make their way onto the TV screens as families gather close.

And, while the specifics may vary from family to family, from home to home, the spirit of Thanksgiving — the gratitude and thankfulness for all our blessings and all they entail — carries from one area to the next, from one family to another, filling the country.

For students at Sandpoint Waldorf, the list of what they are grateful for is as varied as the students themselves. Some find the spirit of the holiday in their families and friends, others through the love of the family pet.

Favorite foods? Again, they make a frequent appearance on the students’ list of things for which they are grateful.

For some, the list reflects their love of a particular sport or team, some a favorite memory. Others aren’t as specific in their Thanksgiving hopes, offering an all-encompassing wish such for kindness and all the good the world has to offer.

So, below, the students of Sandpoint Waldorf School share what the many things for which they are thankful. We are happy to share them, once again, with you.

Grade 1

Kachemak — “I am thankful for the $100 power train my dad bought me.”

Libby — “I am thankful for the world, trees and water.”

Lars — “I am thankful for our food and our life.”

Ella — “I am thankful for the people, the Earth and spiders because they eat bugs.”

Georgia — “I am thankful for my family, the trees and my house.”

Lily — “I am thankful for my family and the turkeys that I have.”

Autumn — “I am thankful for our family and the food we have.”

Lyra — “I am thankful for turkeys.”

Kai — “I am thankful for water dragon jumping out of water.”

Bella — “I am thankful for kittens.”

Erin — “I am thankful for the rainbows.”

Xina Pearl — “I am thankful for my family and a rainbow.”

Grade 2

Winslow — “I am thankful for karate, food, my friends and family and the holidays.”

Rosie — “I am thankful for life and this school. And my dad that is the mayor. And that I have stuff to play with and stuff to do. And my parents for taking care of me.”

Rowan — “I am thankful for my friends and the holidays.”

Elsa — “I am thankful for my family, my house and my friends.”

Paxton — “I am thankful for skiing and my family and food and my friends.”

Marin — “I am thankful for my friends, my family, food, karate, school, the holidays and life.”

Makayla — “I am thankful for my family, my school, karate, skiing and Christmas.”

Daniel — “I am thankful for life, friends, food, school, family and holidays.”

Evelyn — “I am thankful for my family’s love, friends that love me, and this thankful world that I have. And the holidays, skiing and snowboarding.”

Kaylie — “I am thankful for my family and my dogs and my friends.”

Grade 3

Cora — “I am grateful for my family because they take care of me and they help me when I need it.”

Madelina — “I am grateful for my dog. I am grateful for all the food I get. I am grateful for all of the friends I have. I am so grateful that we are going to get a horse.”

Jude — “I am grateful for my life because I like living. I am grateful for my home because it keeps me warm. I am grateful for my family because I wouldn’t know what to do without them.”

Baden — “I’m grateful for my family because they take care of me. I’m grateful for my mom and dad because they drive me to soccer.”

Lila — “I’m grateful for my family because they take care of me. I’m grateful for friendship. I’m grateful for my sister when I am lonely we talk and I read to her. I am grateful for shelter because if I didn’t have it, I would be freezing.”

Ellie — “I am thankful for my wonderful family because they make my lunch and they are loving. I am also thankful for my friends and my teacher because they take care of me. I am thankful for animals because they can make food for us and protect us. I am thankful for the trees because they can have food and they make air for us to breathe.”

Elaina — “I am grateful for my dad and mom for taking me to sports like gymnastics and skiing. I am grateful for my house because it keeps me dry and warm. I am grateful for my family because they take care of me.”

Bryson — “I am grateful for friends.” Phoebe — “I am grateful for my parents because they take care of me. I am grateful for school because it teaches me things that I did not know before.”

Cadyn — “I am grateful for my parents because they take care of me.”

Sage— “I am grateful for change of weather because I would get bored of the same weather. I am grateful for my parents because they take care of me. I’m grateful for school because I get to learn great things.”

Athena — “I am grateful for the animals because they are cute and adorable.”

Eden — “I am thankful for all of my nice friends. I am thankful for all of the helpful animals. I am thankful for my kind family. I am thankful for all of the nice places we can swim and all the food we get. It is very yummy. And all of the drinks we get.”

Tracen — “I am thankful for my family because they feed me. I am thankful for my friends.”

Emery — “I am grateful for my family because they give me happiness. I am grateful for the animals because they are sweet and bring love. I am grateful for the world because it is what keeps us happy.”

Emi — “I am grateful for my family because they are kind. I am grateful for life.”

Grade 4

Everett — “I am grateful for the sun, moon, shelter, fire, teacher, strength, friends, family, summer, fall, winter, nature smells and beauty.”

Brookelyn — “I am grateful for food and running water, books and music.”

Opal — “I am grateful for running brooks and storytelling books, trees the forest and bees in the hive, animals, family and friends.”

Hanna — “I am grateful for family, water and animals. I am grateful for shelter and friends. I am grateful for light and darkness.”

Sage — “I am grateful for our animal friends, our parents that work so hard, and our friends and family that will always be there to support us.”

Zoe — “I am grateful for: the sunshine on my face, for beauty and for grace, for friendship and love, and for the exuberance of the dove.”

Jameson — “I am grateful for the rain and the snow.”

Cairn — “I am grateful for: Greta Thunberg, the Earth, fear and so many other things I can’t explain.”

Cody — “I am grateful for my family, my friends, and my teacher and life.”

Nathan — “I am grateful for the sun because it is bright. I am grateful for the moon, the stars,food, air, water, strength, shelter, warmth and fire.”

Jacob P. — “I am grateful for friends and dogs and Ms. McGowarn.”

Jacob H. — “I’m grateful for living. I’m grateful for all of life. I’m grateful for air. Imagine if you had no objects.”

Alex — “I’m grateful to be at this school for six years. I’m grateful for my stuffed dog, Stanley to still be in one piece.”

Rowan — “I am grateful for life, games, books and friends. There are so many more things that I do not want to share so I am just going to say I am grateful for everything in the world, from little bugs to big beasts.”

Liam — “I am grateful for my dog, getting to ski and my bike.”

Sierra — “I am grateful for water. I am grateful for sunshine. I am very grateful for the Earth, which gives life and beauty.”

Osten — “I am grateful for: bulldogs, dogs, mommy, trees, daddy, Rowan, Jake, Everett, Liam, Zoe, Hanna, Sierra, Sage, Jameson, Mason, Brookelyn, Opal, Jacob and me!:

Grade 5

Hudson — “I am grateful for all my friends, my teachers and my family. I am grateful for all the fun activities I am able to do, including: skiing, mountain biking, soccer, baseball and snowboarding.”

Izzy — “I am thankful for my family, friends, pets and the horse that I am leasing. I am thankful for food and water and the little things that make us happy and for my life.”

Avery — “I am grateful for: life because it is worth living for either bad or good, it is amazing to experience. Simple things in life are important, family and friends, food and water, animals and nature. Love, hope, joy and peace.”

Baylee — “I am grateful for my food and my family and snow and my trampoline and Jesus and my life.”

Hanna Mae — “I am grateful for snow and skis and epic hills.”

Jerusalem — “I am grateful for: my family, green card, school, that I get to be adopted, a great family, my dogs, Josie, my amazing mom and great dad, that I got chosen to go to the USA, my sister and brother, my grandmas and grandpas, my teacher, Bible study, iPad that helps me read, Miss Howard for having me at Bible study, my glasses, Izzy, Creekside, for everything that my mom and dad have done, I’m loved, shelter and food, clothing, God, everything.”

Josie — “I am grateful for: my family, Jerusalem, my teacher, my home, my sisters, my dog, my cat, my fish, mu chicken, my toys, my mom and dad, my school, Ms. Smith and the other teachers, SWS, horseback riding teacher.”

Jonas — “I am grateful to be able to Nordic ski with my team.”

Kahlina — “I am grateful for my family and my pets. And the holidays that come and go. And my birthday and my birthday presents. I am also grateful for my school and faculty teachers and I am grateful for the snow.”

Oscar — “I am grateful for my family, skateboarding, snowboarding, my dogs, boats and surfing.”

Owen — “I am grateful for having a dog and a plate of food every night and seeing my great grandparents every Thanksgiving. And clean water and my friends.”

Polina — “I am grateful for my family, my dog, nature and my school.”

Trace — “I am thankful for life, for food, for water. I am grateful for humongous family, the Earth, the universe and animals. I am thankful for pizza, science, math, the sun, the snow and trees. I am grateful for plants, the morning, the night and skiing.”

Vaughn — “I am grateful for having a dog, and a plate of food every night and having clean water and such cool parents.”

Grade 6

Hope — “I am thankful for friends and food.”

Brent — “I am thankful for life.”

Jasper — “I am thankful for my friends and family.”

Madisen — “I am thankful for good experiences.”

Hazel — “I am thankful for literature and my family and cats.”

Taylor — “I am thankful for my family and this school.”

Brady — “I am thankful for food and my family and my friends.”

Camille “I am thankful for a good education.”

Clarity — “I am thankful for friends and animals.”

Hana — “I am thankful for animals and friends and food and education.”

Hannah — “I am thankful for my family and my food and my friends.”

Charlie — “I am thankful for the geese!”

Avery — “I am thankful for my family.”

Grade 7

Ava — “I am thankful for clean air.”

Ivy — “I am thankful for animals, and family.”

Aiden “I am thankful for the community we have.”

Max — “I am thankful for skiing and my family.”

Vivian — “I am thankful for the Hunger Games. And Mr. Lunde.”

Isabelle — “I am thankful for family and friends.”

Isadora — “I am thankful for horses.”

Beverly — “I am thankful for our clean city and the good people who live here.”

Mark — “I am thankful for mountain biking.”

Grade 8

Kaiya — “I am thankful for my amazing family who are always there for me. And I am thankful for my friends who always make me laugh.”

Ada — “I am thankful for my family, my education and randomness.”

Ani — “I am thankful for my parents who work so hard for me; my amazing teacher who has taught me more than just academics; and the time I have been able to spend with my class and amazing teacher.”

Terra — “I am thankful for my family, my friends, all my teachers, coaches and my animals. I am so thankful that I get to live in such a beautiful place.”

Ethan — “I am thankful for my family, my class, my teacher, Syringa Cyclery, snow and Schweitzer opening soon.”

Katelyn — “I am thankful for: my family, my friends, sports, food, my school, my home, my animals.”

Katya — “I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for having the best teacher ever. I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for the food I eat and the clean water I drink. I am thankful for the clean air I breathe. I am so thankful I get to go to the Waldorf School.”

Mya — “I am thankful for my beautiful small town, Schweitzer, Lake Pend Orielle, a warm home to live in, everyone who supports me, and this life I was given.”

Briar — “I am thankful for my loving family, my supportive friends and my amazing teacher. I am thankful for our beautiful lake and mountains that surround our town.”

Luke — “I am thankful for the hard work of the Waldorf teachers to organize the entire school that has given me some of my best memories.”

Klein — “I am thankful for food and school. I am thankful for a great class that accepts me. I am thankful for where I live. I am thankful that we have a great ski mountain and that we live on a big lake. I am thankful that I have a great family.”

Berkeley — “I am thankful for my family, my teacher, my pets.”

Kasten — “I am thankful for my family, friends, great coaches, my pets and an awesome place to live.”

Grace — “I am thankful for my family, my friends, my teachers, my dog, the Earth, warmth and love and good food.”

Neva — “I am thankful for: my family and all that they do for me; the beautiful mountain that is in my hometown; all my friends and teachers; the clean water and air that I get to drink and breathe.”

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.