One November day, Sloane Skanchy decided to hold a hot chocolate stand. She invited four friends to help.

For two hours, they sold the cocoa, doughnuts and homemade s’more cookies in a Daybreak neighborhood and made $115 for a shopping spree.

“Some people gave us $5 and $10 bills for $1 cocoa or cookie,” Sloane said. “It was so generous.”

Those people didn’t know that the five third-graders were raising money on their own so they could buy holiday gifts for their 12 Golden Fields Elementary second- and third-grade peers in the special education support class.

“We made them gift bags with stretchy wiggly noodles, Slinkies, stress balls, little cars, Rice Krispy treats and other toys they can play with before rotations,” Sloane said, adding there were personal notes on each of the classmate’s cards. “I wanted to do something nice for them and included my friends who also are friends with them.”

Before the winter break, the girls shared those gifts with their classmates, who they usually help during their art, music, theatre, library, P.E. and recess rotations. At lunch, they often sit with their buddies, who are at a functional academic level.

There were smiles of joy on their buddies’ faces as they tried out their new fidgets.

It was an act of kindness and inclusivity which wasn’t lost on teachers, who hugged the girls, and their principal, Nick Hansen.

“Our school theme this year is ‘Kindness Blooms Here’ and these girls took it to the next level,” he said. “They, and others, involve their buddies in small ways all the time by playing together on the playground and sitting together at lunch. This, though, is touching. I’m proud of these girls. It makes my heart happy.”

Hansen also credits their parents with raising the girls to show empathy. Many families in the community have provided Halloween costumes and Sub-for-Santa items for classmates.

“They infuse kindness in the kids and the kids internalize it,” he said about the studentbody of more than 800. “We say, ‘Gladiator Strong’ to be respectful, responsible, safe and kind. We want them to be that both in and out of school, but it’s the kindness when no-one is watching, like with these girls, that is so special. They did it without an award, without recognition, without fanfare. They did it to be kind. They did it for their buddies. They’re true buddies.”

Sloane had wanted to do something for her classmates.

“They’re so sweet. I love them so much. We were excited to do something for them,” she said, adding she, and some of the other girls, also collect blankets with their families for those in need outside of the school. “We think of others and want them to be happy.”

Classmate Nora Williams said “it makes us happy” when they swing with them or give them high-five after going down the slide.

“Our buddies are like us, wanting to have fun and be included in everything,” she said.

Their friend, Molly McFerran, said she’ll dance with her buddies, volunteer to help them and partner with them during field trips.

“At PE, I raised my hand to be a buddy, and she went under the parachute, so I did too,” she said. “It’s fun to team up with them.”

The girls said their friends, Stella Isabell and Olive Tesch, who helped with the hot chocolate stand and gift-giving, are the same way.

“It’s what life is about, wanting to have friends — not wanting to be sad and alone,” Sloane said.

It isn’t a one-time gift of friendship, the girls said. 

“We want to do something at the end of the year and every year we’re together,” Sloane said. “They’re our friends and we want them to be happy.”  λ