Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks. It all began in November 1621, when the pilgrims got together with the Wampanoag Indians for an autumn feast, which is now regarded as America’s first Thanksgiving.

It has been an annual holiday in the U.S since 1863. Many people celebrate Thanksgiving by going to a nice restaurant or going to someone’s house to celebrate with the whole family. Some people even have a checklist that tells who is bringing what dish to share.

At the age of 86, former Astronaut Buzz Aldrin is going on a trip to the South Pole from Nov. 22 through Dec. 12, 2016. He’s already been on adventures down to the Titanic, to deserts, the North Pole and almost every other location on Earth. He also went to the moon!

The middle school he once attended in New Jersey has been renamed after him. So instead of Montclair, the name of the school was changed to The Buzz Aldrin Middle School/The Moon.

Do you think bullying is a big deal? It is a big deal and is one of the major issues at schools today. It is a very hurtful thing that can happen.

Angela Cravener, a psychologist at Arizona Desert Elementary, knows about this huge issue. Cravener, a mother of two daughters, has a counseling master’s degree and has helped children for 10 years. She gives speeches against bullying and bullying prevention lessons.

I recently interviewed Nancy Pina-Gray, a retired teacher from our school district who is running for the Roosevelt School Board to learn more about her candidacy.

Pina-Gray says she wants to join the school board to help make things better for the students. She explains that the school board makes the decisions on how money is spent and what programs are available to students.

Tolleson Mayor Adolfo Gámez and Legislative Representative Mark Cardenas recently visited with fifth and sixth-grade student council members at Arizona Desert Elementary School.

Imagine making a difference someday by casting your vote today. Kids Voting started in 1988 as a way to create voting habits. Susan Nusall, director of volunteers and state coordinator for Kids Voting, says the program teaches kids how to vote, ballot issues and why it is important to vote. Nusall says the goal is to teach the process and increase voter turnout.

Joannie Collins, chief administrative officer for Kids Voting, says it’s important for kids to vote because they need to know they have a voice and use it.

In April, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) held a celebration to raise awareness—Help a Horse Day. Rescues and sanctuaries across the nation hosted events to showcase the work they do and show the community how they can help.

Help a Horse Day exceeded expectations with 187 participating organizations, 107 applications, and over 40 states holding events between April 22–26. Over $1 million was donated by over 33,000 generous people.

We all know about Ben Franklin, although we could never meet him because he lived in the 1700s. That’s why we were surprised to have his wife, Deborah Read Franklin, come to our school.

Karen Hall, an experienced actor and educator, brought Mrs. Franklin to life, English accent and all. She told us all about Benjamin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

At Sunrise, the teachers are offering Chinese immersion. I think it is fun to learn a new language!

The teachers do an excellent job teaching. Sunrise is one of the many schools that have Chinese in the Tucson area. Sunrise also offers Spanish.

Last year the second grade immersion took a field trip to the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center. Every year, starting in first grade, the immersion classes take a field trip to the cultural center to perform a Chinese song.

Do you remember your first day of kindergarten? Was it exciting, or were you nervous or anxious? Did you or your mother cry? Hopefully it was a great experience for you!

Friedrich Froebel started the first kindergarten in 1837 in Germany. It was very popular, beginning with a half day and soon becoming a full day, teaching children academics, and social interaction in a fun and educational manner.

Heather Morgan teaches kindergarten at Arizona Desert Elementary in Tolleson. Morgan likes working with kids and loves it when they begin to learn and understand.