Westfall Elementary first-grader Layla Kuhlwein stands in front of a wall of Valentines sent from all 50 states through the school's Love Around the USA project. Westfall also received Valentines from Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Germany, and Canada. The farthest Valentine received was from Australia, which is over 10,000 miles away!
The article was written by Miles Layton and published in the Circleville Herald on February 22, 2024.
WILLIAMSPORT, OH - Searching for good news in worrisome times – and then there it was, a beacon of hope from Westfall Elementary’s Love Around the USA project.
At the end of January, all first-grade teachers at Westfall Elementary sent home a letter with students seeking valentines from around the USA. Staff members invited students' families to connect with family and friends from other states. Then, the responses began to come in!
On Fridays, teachers opened letters with students. Together, as a class, teachers and students put a heart sticker on a USA map to represent the origin of each letter. They also discussed important facts about each state, where each state is located, and geographic landforms in the different states.
Over half of Westfall first-grade students received letters, and all students participated by hanging up the heart stickers and opening letters.
Westfall Elementary met its goal of receiving a letter from all 50 states! Delaware was the last state on the map without a heart until a valentine finally arrived on February 12th.
In addition to those from all 50 states, Westfall also received Valentines from Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Germany, and Canada. The farthest Valentine received was from Australia, which is over 10,000 miles away!
By the end of the project, the total number of valentines received was 491! Students also received packages with small gifts from other states. Governor Mike DeWine also sent a letter to Westfall students.
Top-notch Westfall Elementary teacher Courtney Wiater borrowed the idea for the project from a fellow educator in another school district.
“This was a fun, engaging, and successful project! Students enjoyed opening mail, and staff members loved checking out the letters each day,” she said. “Community members and several Wesfall alumni sent valentines. Westfall first-grade students and staff plan to continue the project every February.”
Praise goes to Westfall Elementary for connecting our nation and making the world a better place.
During the past two weeks, the pages of the Circleville Herald have featured Valentines from Westfall students and other schools across Pickaway County, to which this country editor says thanks!