CONNECT GROUPS

Our Connect Groups are led by Kevin Vaughn, M.A.MFT, M.Ed., & Madison Grissom, M.A. They meet with all of the Pals through pop-in visits to classrooms. Each month, Pals can expect to connect with God, self, and others through a variety of activities.

This November, our Connect time has been filled with meaningful conversations about gratitude. We've explored the many things we're grateful for and discovered how to express our thankfulness to God through prayer and Scripture. Together, we've brainstormed practical ways to show gratitude to others—using our words, body language, and eye contact to let people know we appreciate their help. This has been a beautiful journey of pals connecting with their internal sense of gratitude and learning to express it outwardly, deepening their relationships with both others and God.

Alongside our gratitude work, we've continued developing healthy coping skills for when big emotions arise. Gratitude is particularly powerful when we're feeling worried or anxious—it helps redirect our minds away from negativity and toward the positive. Throughout the remainder of the year, we'll keep building on these foundations, adding more "tools" to each pal's emotional toolkit.