 Kindergarten classes at Riverside Elementary and Brainerd celebrated Thanksgiving today in a new and unique way. Instead of spending their normal lunch in the cafeteria, they came together and ate as a whole kindergarten unit. Tables and chairs were set up down the hall of the kindergarten wing at the elementary school. All the kindergarten classes came together and shared a Thanksgiving meal side by side. It's the first year that elementary school has done this and they hope to make it a tradition for their kindergarten classes to come. It was a dream of one of our kindergarten teachers to have all of kindergarten together on the same day eating a turkey dinner. In the past we kind of had our own thing in our own classroom and so it was a dream of hers so we decided to to set it up and it became a great experience. It really feels like we're together as a family, a kindergarten family. The idea came from kindergarten teacher Trista Wenz who when she wanted to wait for all the classes to demonstrate the values and lessons that they've been focusing on around Thanksgiving. The students talked about giving, being kind, table manners and of course what they are thankful for. I'm thankful for sharing my candy and feeding my pets. I'm thankful for hockey. I'm thankful for my mom buying me stuff. I'm thankful for my family. Schools throughout the Brainer district will be holding Thanksgiving lunches and programs leading up to the holiday next week. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.