Fifth graders at Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School in Mr. Rettino and Mrs. Washington’s, and Mrs. Turrini and Mr. Kanler’s integrated classes kicked off the New Year with the “One Word Challenge.”
The program, created by authors Jon Gordon, Dan Britton and Jimmy Page, was created in 1999 as a New Year’s resolution replacement. Instead, the authors of “One Word That Will Change Your Life,” found it to be more successful to choose just one word to live by and aspire to.
Inspired to do the same, the two classes read the book "One Word for Kids," and each student chose one word to serve as a guiding vision for 2021. To help students select their one word, the teachers conducted several lessons on how to pick one word, live one word and love one word, before selecting a word themselves.
Each student then designed and painted a canvas and shared their aspirations, as well as desk stickers, with their classmates to help each other “live” their one words.
“Our words will give us meaning and mission, passion and purpose for the year,” Mrs. Turrini said. “This one word will help us focus on what matters the most. The one word will help us be our best and create a focus for us to have a great year.”