Amelia Earhart Elementary School

Friendsgiving at Amelia Earhart Elementary: A Celebration of Gratitude, Community, and One Extraordinary Letter

Friendsgiving at Amelia Earhart Elementary: A Celebration of Gratitude, Community, and One Extraordinary Letter
The 3rd grade students at Amelia Earhart Elementary School celebrated their annual Friendsgiving Day with food, family, and an attitude of gratitude that filled the entire building. Families were invited into classrooms to share home-cooked dishes, ‘secret’ family recipes, and long-cherished traditions. Students tried Thanksgiving favorites, many for the very first time, and sat together as one class family, celebrating the joy of being part of a caring school community.

In the lead-up to Friendsgiving, one 3rd grade teacher, Kristin Ohnmeis, launched a heartfelt class project: writing personal letters to local businesses expressing gratitude for the work they do in the community. Students learned how to structure a letter, use proper punctuation, address an envelope, and mail it themselves—real-world skills paired with a lesson in empathy and appreciation. The teacher shared, “They got to choose their favorite business. They learned how to address the letter, how to send it in the mail, and most importantly, how communication helps people feel heard and valued. Writing personalized letters builds empathy and the skills we hope they carry with them the rest of their lives.”

One of those letters, hand-written by student Quincy Ulmen, made its way to the newly opened Raising Cane’s on Ridge Road. Quincy wrote about how much he loved their chicken and fries, even taking photos and describing his favorite meal in vivid detail. That simple act of kindness made a profound impact. Jerry Navarro, the general manager, shared, “We got a letter from Quincy, and we were so moved because so few people take time to hand write a letter. He took time to write, to take a picture, and to describe the meal with so much detail. It meant the world to our team and how welcome it made us feel in our community.”

In a gesture of gratitude, Jerry coordinated a catered Raising Cane’s lunch for the entire 3rd grade class as part of their Friendsgiving celebration. He personally delivered the food, only to be surprised by a giant student-made poster, covered in signatures and messages of thanks. The moment moved him deeply. “I shared the poster with all my staff. It inspired our whole team seeing the impact we’re making in our community,” he said.

Parents felt that same sense of pride and gratitude. Quincy’s mother, Tegan Perkins, reflected, “I’m just so proud of my son. Watching him progress to write in such a way that he generated this kind of response is inspiring. I’m thankful for his teacher and the community at Amelia Earhart for giving students this real-world experience. It’s beyond my expectations.” Quincy himself summed up the experience with pure joy: “Raising Cane’s is the best restaurant. It made me so happy to learn that my letter made a difference. It was fun to meet the general manager, and he helped us understand why writing to people is important. I’m so grateful my class got to enjoy this wonderful meal together.”


GIVE. GRATITUDE. GODDARD. A Thanksgiving Appeal

Stories like this—where gratitude sparks connection, courage, and unforgettable real-world learning—are why the Goddard Education Foundation exists. When students are empowered to explore, to communicate, to lead, and to dream, extraordinary things happen. A single handwritten letter from a third grader brought joy to an entire business, inspired an entire staff, and created a memory those students will carry for the rest of their lives.

This Thanksgiving season, we invite you to join us in nurturing more moments just like this.

Your gift to the Give. Gratitude. Goddard. campaign helps fund classroom initiatives, creative projects, teacher grants, and innovative learning opportunities that allow students across all of Goddard Public Schools to discover their potential and impact their community.

Every contribution—big or small—supports the next Quincy, the next inspiring teacher-led project, and the next student’s dream waiting to take flight.

In the spirit of gratitude and community, we invite you to make a gift today and help us continue inspiring minds and expanding possibilities throughout Goddard Public Schools at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/goddardpublicschools

🎀 Red Ribbon Week is almost here! 🎀
The week of October 27th - October 31st we’re celebrating being drug-free and giving back to our Goddard community with a fun Spirit Week + Food Drive!

Each day has a dress-up theme and a suggested donation item to support our local food pantry — but donations are NOT required to join in on the fun! 🙌

Here’s the lineup:
Mon, Oct 27th: We “Mustache” you to say NO to drugs! Bring canned veggies/fruit.
Tues, Oct 28th: Hats off to being drug-free! Bring starches (pasta, mac & cheese).
Wed, Oct 29th: Team up to be drug-free! Bring baby wipes, socks, or kids’ undies.
Thurs, Oct 30th: Our futures are BRIGHT without drugs! Wear neon, bring cereal & TP.
Fri, Oct 31st: Drugs are spooky! Wear Halloween attire (no costumes until parade) + bring condiments/peanut butter/spaghetti sauce.

Let’s show our Earhart spirit and make a difference — one fun outfit (and one can!) at a time