Child's kindness, love for sister inspires schoolmates, teachers
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POLSON — A small act of kindness rippled through Cherry Valley Elementary School and caused teachers and students to reflect on how good it feels to care about others.
It all started in February when seven-year-old Kolter Cook learned about a prize being offered at his school for reading books. “The more books you read, the more tickets you would get and a better chance at winning a brand new bike,” said contest officials.
Kolter went to work and read as many books as he could to get bike raffle tickets. His mom, Shawnalee Cook, said she didn’t know about his plan to win a bike. He later told her that he didn’t want to share the details of the project just in case he didn’t win.
With the slips of paper in hand, Kolter stood in line to put his tickets in a drawing box, but Kolter’s mission was interrupted. The issue came about because the school divided the prizes into two divisions with a prize for boys and a prize for girls in an effort to be equal with the bounty. Kolter was signing up for the girl’s prize and a teacher, according to his mother, attempted to “kindly redirect” him to the other line, but he knew exactly where he needed to be. Kolter said, “If I win, I want it for my little sister.”
The teachers smiled as they realized what Kolter was doing and let him finish up his mission by dropping his tickets into the box for the girl’s bike. His teacher later asked him why it was important for him to win his sister a bike. He explained that he had recently moved to Polson and some of the family’s things didn’t make the move, which included the bikes.
Kolter had received a new bike for his birthday, but his sister, Carolee, 4, still didn’t have a bike, and she loved to ride as much as he did. If he could win the bike for his sister, Kolter knew she would be happy. With his plan in mind, he kept reading and waited for the drawing that took place on Thursday, March 4.
On the big day, the students gathered for the drawing. There were two bikes for each grade. After the kindergarten drawing was finished, it was time for the first graders, and when the last ticket was drawn for a girl’s bike, Kolter’s name was called out. His teacher said he stood grinning.
“He didn’t scream like the others,” teacher Pam McCrumb said. “He just beamed from ear to ear. He couldn’t wait to pick up his little sister and tell her.”
The kids at school noticed what Kolter was up to and decided to give him a badge of honor by “warmly referring to him as Kindness Kolter,” his teacher said. The kids weren’t the only ones impacted by the project. His teacher reflected on the community and school environment.
“We know children learn from example, so what a wonderful community we have,” she said. “From teachers to janitor technicians and crossing guards. Together let’s all keep encouraging kindness.”
Kolter’s mother said her son has taught his sister how to ride her bike without training wheels and the two are having a great time riding on the bike path in Polson.
