6
QUEENS WEEKLY, AUGUST 23, 2020
P.S. 209 fourth-graders in Whitestone write
letters of gratitude to local frontline heroes
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
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,
‘That’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
finding wonderful people
or children who are displaying
positive character
traits.”
After 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 officer 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 officer
saying, “Make sure
you are being safe and
healthy while working.”
Vanessa Yim wrote
a letter to Motchkavitz,
whom she called a hero.
“Thank 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 difficult
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. “They
spread some kindness
even though they had to
stay home, and I think
they learned life lessons
about compassion and
being generous and respectful.”
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
Azimbek Rabimov delivers a poster and letter to his neighborhood security guard. (718) 260–4526.
Photos curtesy of Dawn Motchkavitz
Caleb Chan gives a letter to a police officer thanking him for his service.
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