A Heartwarming Gesture: Twinfield Second Graders Bring Joy with Paperwhites
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, Sarah Graves, the owner of The Magic Bean Farm in Marshfield, found a creative way to spread joy this winter. With an abundance of paperwhite bulbs in hand, she devised a plan to bring a touch of spring to the residents of Westview Meadows in Montpelier while involving the young students from Twinfield Elementary School.
Graves, a firm believer that everyone deserves to enjoy flowers, reached out to the second grade teachers at Twinfield Elementary to pitch her idea. Being familiar with the school through her own children, she collaborated with Heather and Matthew Flinn, the dedicated husband-and-wife team who lead the second grade class.
The project kicked off with Graves delivering yogurt containers with drainage holes to the students for decoration. The Flinns then took charge, ensuring everything was ready for the planting of paperwhite bulbs. Graves, however, wanted to incorporate a scientific element into the project, so she gave the students a brief lesson on different types of plants before they each potted their bulb and personalized it with their name on a popsicle stick.
Heather Flinn was delighted with the idea, stating that her second grade class, known for their empathy and compassion, fully embraced the project. One student expressed their excitement, mentioning how good it felt to give flowers away and how enjoyable it was to design the pots.
On January 27, Graves delivered the hand-painted pots to Westview Meadows, along with printed address labels for the residents to write back to the second graders. Lauren Pasniewski, the Activities Director at Westview, even pondered the possibility of initiating a pen pal project as a result of this heartwarming gesture.
The paperwhite plants brought smiles to everyone involved, from the children and their families to the residents of Westview Meadows. Retired art teacher Dawn Schabner described it as a wonderful project for a second grader, while Marie Thompson shared her joy in selecting her own planter in the dining hall.
The plants are thriving in the windows of Westview, with the delicate paper-like blossoms starting to bloom. Parents of Twinfield students expressed their happiness in seeing their children learn the importance of caring for their community through this project.
Alban Richey, a resident of Westview Meadows, couldn’t help but smile as he admired his plant, expressing his gratitude by saying, “You brought a lot of joy to my life” to the children involved.
While this article highlights the heartwarming event at Westview Meadows, it’s worth noting that paperwhites were also brought to the Gary Residence in downtown Montpelier, further spreading the joy and beauty of these thoughtful gestures.
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