Fourth grade teacher Susan Laufersweiler was inspired by the book “Wishtree” by Katherine Applegate, a book she’s been reading to her fourth grade students for several years.

“In the book, every May 1, people come around and they put their wishes on trees,” Laufersweiler said.

The project started on Thursday morning as St. Edmond elementary school students came by the school parking lot to pick up their personal items that were left in their desks and lockers. Laufersweiler was there with a basket of green and gold and white ribbons for the students to tie onto the branches of a few trees that grow in front of the school.

“They come out and tell their wish to the tree and though the tree does not grant wishes, God does and God hears them and helps us with a brighter tomorrow,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
St. Edmond Catholic School fourth grade teacher Susan Laufersweiler was inspired by the book “Wishtree” by Katherine Applegate to create wishtrees in front of the school. On Thursday and today, students, family members and community members are invited to tie a ribbon with their wish onto the trees.

The trees covered in ribbons and bows are meant to be a visual sign of hope in a time that can be scary for many people.

“You can give in to your fears or you can keep believing in that hope and I think that’s the important thing to do, always have that hope to conquer that fear,” Laufersweiler said. “There’s so much fear in the world right now that hope is that shining light at the end that we see.”

Students will continue to add ribbons to the trees when they pick up their belongings today, but this project of hope isn’t just limited to the students at St. Edmond.

“The whole community is invited to put their ribbons on,” Laufersweiler said. “The more ribbons, the more hope.”

Scripture says that hope anchors the soul and that message is important to hear in times like this, Laufersweiler added.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Evan Knox, a fourth grader at St. Edmond Catholic School, ties a wish ribbon onto the “wishtree” in front of the school on Thursday morning.

“God says over and over again in the Bible, ‘Do not be afraid’ and that’s kind of the biggest message that I keep feeling for myself,” she said. “Don’t be afraid, have hope that we can get through this. As a community, we can come together, we can help each other to grow in hope and to have faith that we will get through this and things will be OK.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Inspired by the book “Wishtree” by Katherine Applegate, St. Edmond Catholic School fourth grade teacher Susan Laufersweiler invited students and families to tie a ribbon with their wish onto “wishtrees” in front of the school on Thursday morning.