One of my favorite things about MJDS is the flexibility of our spaces and the ability to offer interdisciplinary opportunities to our students.

Next week the entire upper school will take a field trip to the movie theater to see the film Wonder. Wonder is absolutely my favorite book to share with students. In fact, I have used it as a read aloud in my classroom for the past five years. It is a beautiful story about a young boy, Auggie, who was born with facial deformities. The book is told from multiple perspectives and shares the struggles Auggie and his friends face as they enter middle school, each with their own unique challenges. I  have yet to make it through the book without shedding tears!

The overall theme or takeaway from the book is to always choose kindness. This theme connects directly to our core value of empathy and is something we address daily at MJDS. In fact, you will often hear our upper school students reminding each other to choose kind.

We wanted to find a way to connect this theme of kindness or empathy to another core value- Tikkun Olam. Today 5th and 6th graders started the first step of a kindness project in the maker space. Along side our skilled 8th grade makers, the kids started putting together pieces of reclaimed wood that will be turned into beautiful kindness reminders. Each student will cut, drill and stain their wood to create a canvas for a precept, or quote, that encourages and reminds others to choose kind. These kindness plaques will be donated to inner city schools in Milwaukee as a reminder to always choose kind.

Stay tuned for photos of finished products!