A teacher asked parents to write an encouraging note to their children. Here’s what they said

Earlier this month, at an open house for Waddell Language Academy in Charlotte, seventh grade teacher Justin Parmenter had an assignment for his students’ parents. On notecards he provided, he asked them to write “a note of encouragement that I can give them when they are having a hard day” and place them in a tub at the front of the class.

The idea, he says, was to build a small bridge between those parents and his classroom, to remind them in a small way that everyone is working toward the same thing with their children.

The notes have already accomplished that — and more.

The notes are in cursive and in print, from “Mom and Dad” and “XOXO Mommy” and “Mami.” They are sweet and funny and, because we parents can’t resist, instructive. 

They are, most of all, personal. “You are caring,” one said. “You are inquisitive and so creative,” said another. And: “You are an amazing, smart and loving boy.” And: “You are a magical special crazy girl.”

And: “Just be you.”

Two things: First, Parmenter noticed the diversity of the notes. A few were in Spanish. One was in French. It was a reminder of all the different things students bring to our city’s classrooms