The team here at Smithtown Today, makes it a part of our daily mission to seek out and highlight those individuals who stand out as positive and giving role models throughout our Community. While we love publishing stories about organizations and adults who give back and make Smithtown a better place, nothing warms our hearts and minds more than when our Children serve as our teachers. Thanks to the third graders at Branch Brook Elementary and their new kindergarten friends, our day is much brighter.
Smithtown Central School District prides itself on teaching our young the importance of social emotional learning initiatives. As a part of its initiative, the kindergartners in Sharon Weissman’s class partnered up with Annamarie Polito’s third-grade students at Branch Brook Elementary School to share the book Only One You by Linda Kranz.
After reading and discussing the affirmational story, each group chose their favorite saying that inspired them the most. The students then painted a rock, they brought from home with colorful fish, like the books illustrations. On the back of each rock, the students painted the selected inspirational quote from the book.
Linda Kranz’s Only One You is beautifully illustrated, using handwritten typography to deliver inspirational messages pertaining to how we should all look at each day in our lives. The story is about a little fish, named Adri who learns all about life, its obstacles and how to overcome them. Adri’s mama and papa share their wisdom, including to be on the lookout for new friends, to stop and enjoy art, to know when to blend in and to stand out whenever the chance presents itself. Each page is filled with bright, beautiful colors to highlight each affirmational message. It’s one of those books you can stop to smile at, no matter your age.