4 THE QUEENS COURIER • AUGUST 20, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
P.S. 209 fourth-graders in Whitestone write
letters of gratitude to local frontline heroes
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A fourth-grade class at
P.S. 209 in Whitestone is
spreading kindness by
delivering letters and
postcards to everyday
local heroes in the
community during
the COVID-19
pandemic.
During remote
learning lessons,
the students’
teacher, Dawn
Motchkavitz, received
guidance from Steve
Hartman of CBS
Evening News, who
presented a series of videos
entitled “Kindness 101 with
Steve Hartman.”
“I saw his special on the
Sunday evening news ‘On the
Road With Steve Hartman’ and
I said, ‘Th at’s fabulous. I love
it,’” Motchkavitz said. “I got
the idea from him and every
day I showed a video of Steve
Hartman going on the road
and fi nding wonderful people
or children who are displaying positive
character traits.”
Aft er viewing the videos and online discussions,
the students responded by writing
a letter, poster or card to someone they
consider being a community hero — such
as a mail carrier, police offi cer and security
guard.
“It was during the
second week of home
instruction for the children,
and I felt that it
was so difficult for
them to be separated
from the school, teachers
and their friends,”
Motchkavitz said.
“I wanted the children
to do something
that children can do
to spread some kindness
… it was scary
hearing about all of
the deaths. As little
as children are, they
can still make a difference.”
One of Motchkavitz’s students delivered
a letter to a security guard thanking
him for his hard work and keeping his
family safe.
“I know you are going through a hard
time but keep on trying your best to be
good,” Azimbek Rabimov said in his letter.
“I know you can help other people to
do good like you and you never gave up
on your dream. Keep on doing good in
your life.”
Another student, Caleb Chan, thanked
a police offi cer saying, “Make sure you are
being safe and healthy while working.”
Vanessa Yim wrote a letter to
Motchkavitz, whom she called a hero.
“Th ank you for all that you’ve done for
me,” Yim said. “During these hard times
you still keep me educated. You are funny,
nice and a great teacher. I am very grateful
for your service of teaching me in
fourth grade.”
Although remote learning has been
quite diffi cult for Motchkavitz and her
students, she said the class went beyond
to help their everyday heroes.
“One of their kindness character traits
was altruism, thinking about someone
else and not themselves,” Motchkavitz
said. “Th ey spread some kindness even
though they had to stay home, and I think
they learned life lessons about compassion
and being generous and respectful.”
Courtesy of Dawn
Motchkavitz
Azimbek Rabimov
delivers a poster and letter to his
neighborhood security guard.
Caleb Chan gives a letter to a police offi cer thanking him for his service.
Azimbek Rabimov’s letter and artwork thanking the neighborhood security guard for keeping their
family safe.
Vanessa Yim’s letter to Dawn Motchkavitz.
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