In a fun mix of kindness, education, and outreach, Park City students participated in the "Plushie Project," organized by sixth-grade English language arts teachers Mandy Pomeroy and Kelly Crandall. Each student donated a 12-inch plush toy to preschool-aged children facing challenges such as poverty or displacement.

“We know that they are going to children who are in need,” said Pomeroy, highlighting the project’s purpose.

Beyond the donation, the project involved each student in creating a detailed "passport" for a country they chose to research. One student created a passport created for Ivana the plush cow, from Croatia. This passport not only introduced the younger students to the plushie, but provided a research opportunity on Croatia's landscapes and customs but also included phrases in Croatian, key historical events, and insights into the nation’s political and economic context.

Pomeroy emphasized the educational depth of the project: "This project allowed students voice and choice. They became very invested in understanding where their plushie was going and how valuable that will be to that child."

The initiative, which aligns with the district's 'We All Belong' campaign, was praised by many parents in emails to the teachers. “The emails from parents have been incredibly heartwarming," noted Pomeroy, high