Jan. 24, 2022 -- There are plenty of good deeds that our community’s children do outside of school that often go unnoticed. But Canterbury Elementary School is remedying that with its new Take Action initiative.

Families are encouraged to submit stories about the actions their children take, both large and small, in their homes or neighborhoods. So far, nearly 90 parents have participated, sharing tales of raking leaves for an elderly neighbor or donating books to a Little Free Library. The children are recognized on a school bulletin board that celebrates their actions.

“This is about living the IB Learner Profile at home,” said International Baccalaureate Coordinator Melissa Garcar. She explains that a main tenet of an IB education is Choose, Act, Reflect promoting agency among children – the idea that they have the power to create positive change in the world.

One child helped his little brother stop crying while another brought donuts to a sick uncle and another volunteered with his family to package and deliver lunch bags to the hungry. “This strengthens the connection between home and school,” said Garcar, “while giving parents an opportunity to brag about their kids.”