Third Graders Making a Difference (TGMD), a service-learning initiative organized by 3rd grade teachers Ms. Michelle Sussmann and Ms. Rachel Brainin P’23, ’25, encouraged students to start the year by thinking of a word that would inspire them to have a great year. Then they put these thoughts into action by creating beaded word bracelets to serve as a constant reminder of the sentiment. “We talked about the power of not just choosing a word, but living it,” said Ms. Sussmann. After gifting their fellow classmates with bracelets, students opened the opportunity to the wider D-E community and delivered personalized bracelets to faculty/staff members with affirmations including “mindful,” “service,” “capable,” “grace,” “joy,” “kind,” “confident,” and “smile.” Thank you to our 3rd graders for proving that making a difference can begin with even the smallest gestures!