Saint Michael School in Lowell, MA, serves over 260 students from kindergarten through 8th grade, cultivating a diverse and inclusive learning environment rooted in Catholic values. ThinkGive is proud to partner with Saint Michael School to bring social and emotional learning (SEL) programming to students, helping them develop confidence, empathy, and leadership skills.
We asked educators and students to reflect on the impact of ThinkGive. Here’s what they shared.
4th Grade Student Voices: What ThinkGive Means to Them
“ThinkGive helped me appreciate more people, do more kind things, and be a better person.”
“I learned that I should care more for others.”
“ThinkGive has made me kinder, where I feel like I am a better person.”
After participating in ThinkGive, students reported significant improvements in their social and emotional skills:
91% said they were kinder to others.
91% felt more connected to family and teachers.
82% felt more confident in their ability to make a positive impact in their world.
Educator Perspectives: Seeing Growth and Connection
“Over the past three years, ThinkGive has been a very positive experience. It has helped me build stronger connections with students while helping them grow both socially and emotionally. For example, I have watched students at recess and in the classroom use their ThinkGive learnings to resolve conflicts with friends. Students are eager to continue applying what they have learned and enjoy sharing these lessons with others in the school community.” – Mikayla Sheehan, City Connects Counselor
Why This Partnership Matters
– Minna Kim, ThinkGive Program Coordinator
Over the years, Mikayla Sheehan, City Connects Counselor, has led ThinkGive programs across multiple grades—from 1st to 5th. Her deep familiarity with ThinkGive, combined with her counseling expertise, has allowed her to tailor programs to meet students’ unique needs. This year, she is implementing ThinkGive’s Planting Seeds program, designed for kindergarten and 1st grade, with a 2nd-grade group. She shared, “This program is exactly what they needed—students are more confident, empathetic, and engaged than ever.”
Our partnership exemplifies the value of long-term collaboration. Through ongoing engagement—including site visits, program adaptations, and shared learning—we have been able to enrich the SEL experience for every student. We are grateful to Mikayla and the entire Saint Michael School community for their dedication to nurturing young leaders and fostering social-emotional growth.
Saint Michael School is a recipient of the SEL for Every Child Fund, which provides full funding to implement ThinkGive’s SEL programming. If your school/organization serves a majority of under-resourced youth and lacks funding for SEL initiatives, find out if you qualify at thinkgiveproject.org/fund.
