"We had a group of high school students reach out to us and ask if they could handwrite letters to every single student from pre-K to third grade," said Erin Beaulac, principal of Hoosac Valley Elementary. "They wanted to wish them well for the holidays and to send some happy notes to all of our students here at the school." 

 

The high school students delivered the letters Wednesday morning, the last school day before the holiday break. Kaylea Nocher, a teacher at the high school, said writing the letters allowed the students to bring the elementary school kids kindness during the holiday season.

 

"I think a small act of kindness can go a really long way," she said. "I think all of these high schoolers, not just the seniors but everyone involved, they were able to see how kindness is spread without an incentive." 

 

Nocher said there were no awards for writing letters or delivering them. The reward, she said, was bringing happiness and holiday greetings to the children at the elementary school. 

 

"They're not doing this for a pizza party or a free class period," she said. "They really just did it from the kindness of their hearts."

 

It took about a month for the high school students to write the 360 letters. Natalie Pompi, one of the 20 students who delivered letters on Wednesday, said they would write letters whenever they had a chance to. 

 

"Whenever we had free time, Kaylea would be walking around, all the teachers had copies of the paper," she said. "And it said for 'This year for the holidays, I wish for you,' and then we drew them a little picture and a note. And then whenever we had free time or a free period, we'd grab one, make one and then it just piled up like that." 

 

Another high school student, Lucas Waterman, said all of the kids, none of whom knew they were getting letters that day, were overjoyed.

 

"They loved it," he said. "some of their faces, you could see this just made their whole Christmas. It was pretty nice to see." 

 

The event, Pompi said, brought holiday cheer to the high school students just as much as it did to the elementary school students. 

 

"Walking in and giving them a letter and then having them be so comfortable to just come up to you be like, 'This is my name, this is what I have,'" she said. "That's just really special, especially in the holiday times." 

 

After the high school students reached out to her about the letters, Beaulac said they worked with Colleen Byrd, principal of Hoosac Valley High School to help organize the delivery. All three of the district's schools, Beaulac explained, have been trying to work more closely with one another, which helped to make this event possible. 

 

"We're really trying to unify all the schools," she said. "And an activity like this, while it seems small, is really powerful."

 

Beaulac said everyone at the elementary school, students and faculty alike, were grateful for the letters.  

 

"The teachers were coming up to me saying how appreciative they were for all of you for making these cards individually and how the students were reacting to them," she said. "They were really feeling loved and it’s just that extra something this holiday season. So you all made a difference."