I'm always grateful when the holiday season approaches each year. It helps me put things in perspective. Although all of us have challenges and stresses in our lives, it is good to think about things we are grateful for. As a staff at Bel Aire this past month, we have been trying to practice starting the day with something we appreciate. It can be something as simple as the sunshine or water. Then, each time we notice the thing we appreciate, it gives us an opportunity to pause and experience for a moment the feeling of gratitude and appreciation. I have been reflecting on and appreciating all those helpers that come forward when there's a crisis or tragedy. We see it often in our own community and have seen it with the recent wildfires again in California. We also had helpers in our own school community, inspired by their IB unit about how taking action is part of what it means to be human. All the 3rd and 4th grade classes, chose and researched an area of need and