Middle Schoolers Create an Apple Orchard of Goals and Commitments

Fifth and eighth graders buddied up for a beautiful activity for the new year: in pairs or groups of three, they collaborated to create an "apple orchard" in honor of Rosh HaShanah. However, it wasn't just any apple orchard. Instead, they used sheets of paper in the shape of apples, on which they each wrote a goal that they would commit to for personal improvement in 5786. The commitments could be between the student and another student, such as "I will reach out to a peer if I see they've been absent from school"; between a student and school, such as "I will practice active listening in class"; between a student and themself, such as "I will increase my gratitude by thanking others throughout the day"; or even between a student and Hashem, such as "I will pray in a minyan outside of school". The only rule was that the goal had to be specific and actionable. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to reflect on their lives, as well as to become closer to their peers across the grade divide. Now that they have created their goal sheets, the apples will be hung in school to create an "orchard" collage, inspiring everyone who sees it to meditate on their own goals!