PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Gratitude.

 

Ethan Packard stood in front of his middle school class Tuesday and spoke about gratitude, reminding the 34 other students and honored guests to remember the things they are grateful for this week. And then he welcomed everybody to feast on a Thanksgiving meal his class helped make.

 

The meal was Reid Middle School's self-contained special education class's 10th annual celebration. The students helped make applesauce, butter, and cranberry sauce to complement the meal cooked by school staff. They made name cards and decorations. And each student wrote a letter inviting an adult to the feast. 

 

"We tried to have the kids write something unique," said teacher Kathleen Ebbert, explaining that the project helps teach English language arts skills as well as social skills.

 

She also said, "we also talked about gratitude and how we all have things to complain about, but we can try to 'flip our attitude and show some gratitude.'"

 

Joe Schnopp chose to invite Mayor Daniel Bianchi and was "surprised that he's here." The mayor was one of the 25 or so adults who joined in the celebration.

 

"I wanted to have honor and to be proud," Joe said of why he chose the mayor to invite. "I'm glad he's here."

 

Joe made butter out of buttermilk and he had a hand in the cranberry sauce even though he doesn't like the taste. 

 

"I like it without the sweet. I have a sour tooth," he said.

 

He does like pumpkin and chocolate pies and even though he hasn't tried key lime or pecan, he says he'll likely enjoy those too.

 

In an exchange of letters between Packard and Superintendent Jason McCandless, pecan pie was a topic. McCandless arrived on Tuesday with a freshly baked pecan pie to contribute to the dessert table.

 

The students have various disabilities but came together to put on the afternoon meal, sitting next to and talking with the adults they invited. The adults talked with the students and helped them with homework.

 

"It's definitely a social skills bonanza," Ebbert said.

 

The annual meal was started 10 years ago as "an opportunity to share something with the kids," Ebbert said. The event has continued every year since.

 

"It's important for them to have something positive. This is a wonderful thing," Ebbert said. "I'm so proud of them."

 

After the meal, the students will be asked to write thank-you notes to the adults who attended, further teaching writing skills. Teacher Pam Garwood says she still gets students who have since graduated asking to come back for the feast.

 

"It's one thing the kids will always remember," Garwood said.

 

While the students put in the effort to host the event, they did get some help from the business community. Big Y, Market 32, Stop & Shop, Hannaford and Wohrle's Foods all made donations.