The Mighty Kindergarten Bears at Johnston Elementary have some new fuzzy friends in their den.
At the school’s annual Teddy Bear Breakfast, students joined by their families got to adopt a new cuddly teddy bear for a morning full of activities that included naming their new friends, measuring the bears, and reading a book to their new stuffed buddies. The bears, complete with T-shirts the students got to design, were a gift from Alan and Tonia Sheppard of Alan’s Jewelry and Pawn.
“I grew up in West Asheville, and we love giving back to people who have always been good to us,” Mr. Sheppard shared. “We’ve been in business for nearly 38 years, and to give back to the community where I was raised is something that’s just really special.”
A student named Kendra in Ms. Buckner’s class was excited to select a story to read to her mom and her bear.
“I’m most excited to read a book, because I’m learning more words and it will be fun to have someone to read to,” she said.
The new bears will stay at school through the year and accompany students for several special lessons. They will then get to go home and live with their students in June. Parents got to leave with tiny stuffed bears, so they can work with their children at home on similar learning activities.
