In honor of National Gratitude Month, Math Teacher and Senior Class Advisor Nicole Pomerleau has launched a “Gratitude Tree” in the main entrance of the high school for students and staff to express their thanks for many of the positive things in their lives. She explained that many Mustangs have already added a leaf on the tree expressing gratitude for such things as recycling bins, protein powder, positivity, kind parents, Spotify Premium, having a roof over their heads, siblings, sports and many others.

Pomerleau gave a shout-out to faculty members Valerie Riley and Alex Miramontes for helping start the tree with their own gratitude leaves and Marty Ambrey for assistance with the project. She also thanked student Mike Parduhn for recruiting students to participate and to staff member John Harjung for his assistance in designing/constructing the tree.

According to the National Day Calendar, “gratitude’s amazing powers have the ability to shift us from focusing on the negative to appreciating what is positive in our lives.” In addition, the organization says that research has shown gratitude to enhance moods, decrease stress and improve overall health and wellbeing.