By The G-R High School Newspaper Staff It is customary around the Thanksgiving holiday to reflect on what we are thankful for, so the newspaper staff at Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School decided to ask students and staff what they were thankful for this year at our school. G-R has a great amount of people who are close and all care about each other. Spanish teacher Sally Lennard says how thankful she is for us to have a chance to learn second language. “I am thankful that the students at GR have the opportunity to learn a second language and recognize other cultures. We are a country made up of many cultures and values and this knowledge will help prepare them for life beyond GR,” Lennard said. A couple teachers noted how great the students are. English teacher Heather Lindenmeyer said, “I am thankful for my students who enjoy learning and ask amazing questions every day.” Special education teacher Connie Doughan continued with that idea, saying, “We have such wonderful students at G-R. I love the kindness that they show to each other.” Freshmen students had varying answers as well. Haleigh Morgan said, “I am thankful for my friends who help me work through stuff at school, study Hall to finish my homework, and gym to take out my anger in the things going on around me, and her classmate Jada Schlampp said, “I am grateful for the teachers that take time out of there weekend and summer even sometimes to make sure that when we come back we learn as much as possible, as well as the wonderful classes offered.” The G-R sophomores are also getting into a thankful mood. Sophomore Cael Wyatt said, “I’m thankful for the support that the community gives to all of our athletes, band members, and thespians. The amount of support we get doesn’t happen everywhere, and it’s awesome.” Wyatt couldn’t be more right, with the wonderful turnout at the fall musical, Back to The 80’s, and the recent state championship title, we have a surplus of things to be thankful for. Sophomore Maddie Frischmeyer said, “I am thankful for the amount of after school activities offered to students. I am also thankful for the family feel that this school provides.” With the past success in sports, drama, academics and other extra activities, our school offers a lot for the kids to do. We at G-R have a lot to be thankful for, but some students are thankful for the unsung heroes of the high school. Sophomore adie Brockett said, ‘I’m thankful for Diane. She always has a smile on her face and says ‘hi’ to me in the hallways, and she keeps the school clean.” Junior Jaden McGhee is thankful for the opportunities our school presents to its students and said, “The thing I am most thankful for at G-R is all of the extra opportunities that we get compared to most schools, which includes the outreach center, great athletic teams, and a good lifestyle for the kids.” Junior Jacob Walters says he is thankful for “small community,” and Dmitriy Strohbehn is thankful for “the fact that we are awesome.” I think we can all agree with Kathryn Wild when she said, “I am thankful for our amazing team making it to State Championship and winning!” All of these things are amazing and worthy of your thanks this Thanksgiving. You should always appreciate the things you do have, just like the Junior class at GR. Finally, we asked the G-R seniors what they were thankful for at our school, and they had some great things to say, from being thankful for open campus, thanks for Principal Andrew McQuillen, to being thankful for “the comfy chairs in Mrs. Kiburis’s room, because they’re pretty nice,” as senior Kelly Brockett mentioned. Fellow senior Hayley Weber is thankful for “the opportunities provided by G-R. The teachers and students provide me with great memories.”