London Elementary fourth-grade students recently explored the message of the picture book Those Shoes, the story of a boy named Jeremy who wants the same cool sneakers as everyone else. When his grandmother reminds him to focus on what they need rather than what they want, Jeremy struggles with wanting to fit in. In the end, he learns that kindness and friendship matter more than having the right shoes, and the story encourages students to appreciate what they have, including loving family and true friends.
The message shared with our fourth-grade students was simple but meaningful: everyone is unique, and you do not have to have what everyone else has to be valued. After reading the story, School Counselor Katie Miller and Art Teacher Sadie Feliz encouraged students to channel their creativity by designing their own unique shoes. Each design reflects the individuality and artistic talents of our students. Their completed shoes will create a colorful path down the hallway during the upcoming STEAM Festival, a visual reminder that our differences are what make our school community so special.
