School Desk

St. Margaret’s students fight bullying

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“Dear Lilly, 

Do you like Halloween? What’s your favorite holiday? So I hear you like Minecraft. Me too! I love it,” wrote 8-year-old Molly Ernau, a third grade student at St. Margaret’s School. 

Last week, Molly and her third grade classmates at St. Margaret’s of Cortona wrote a batch of cards to Lilly, a 10-year-old girl in Illinois struggling to make friends at her school. 

The activity was part of an online project called Holiday Hands, which pairs a classroom of students with one or two people feeling down. 

“When I saw it, it made me tear up,” said third-grade teacher Maria Guttman. 

Before they started writing, the class learned that Lilly was unhappy due in part to bullying she has experienced. There were many things that did make her happy, though, including arts and crafts, the game Minecraft, My Little Pony, sewing, reading, her dog and the color green. 

Ms. Guttman and her students worked together to brainstorm ideas for the cards. 

“I’m sure where we live in the Bronx is totally different from where she lives in Illinois,” said Ms. Guttman, suggesting they ask her about her school and home life. 

Jack Homola, 8, said he was excited to write his letter to Lilly, though he was unsure how to approach the project at first. 

“I didn’t really know who she was, so I was a little nervous, because it was a stranger,” he said. “But I also thought if I wrote to her, it would make her feel better.” 

Once he started brainstorming, his hesitation seemed to dissolve. He suggested the class send Lilly a package of art supplies. He also advised Lilly to tell her teacher about being bullied.

Sitting across from Jack was 8-year-old Gigi Garcia, who was moved by Lilly’s plight, too.

“I hope they treat you nicely,” Gigi wrote in her card. She shared some advice with Lilly. 

“It’s important to know that even though they treat you badly, you shouldn’t treat them badly,” she wrote. 

Eryca Wilder, 9, wished Lilly a happy Thanksgiving in her card. 

St. Margaret's of Cortona, Maria Guttman, Holidays, Cardmaking, Maya Rajamani
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