Thread by @bri_sacks

It's been a while since I teared up interviewing someone because the story was so heartfelt and genuine

I'm sure you've seen the viral photo of the 5-year-old who got adopted and his whole class came to support him. Well, the backstory is even more feels
buzzfeednews.com/article/briann…

Michael goes to Wealthy Elementary School in East Grand Rapids. The school's theme is "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

"You know that song by Annie Lennox?" his teacher, Kerry McKee said.

She teaches her kindergarteners to always embrace others, no matter the circumstance

McKee came up with the idea to bring the class to Michael's adoption. She first started thinking about it when she learned that his foster parents were thinking of adopting him and watched the other parents come together to support them.

On Halloween, she learned the court date

She pitched it to the principal, who said💯 But there was a major hurdle: transportation. The school's a walking district-they don't have school buses and couldn't afford to hire one

She emailed parents asking if any would help drive: "14 out of 23 offered to skip work and come"

McKee called the bus garage, but the driver said she hadn't gotten her request in on time

"Then [she] asked what it was for and I told her and she said you can have the bus and I'll drive for free"

On Thurs, the driver dropped the ecstatic group off in front of the courthouse

The judge, who cried during Michael's ceremony, and court officials blocked off a section for them

The family of one student, Michael's best friend, even delayed their long-planned trip to Florida to ensure "their son could be in the courtroom for his best friend," McKee said

OH i forgot to explain that they were able to get the bus because a parent emailed McKee asking how much it would cost to rent a school bus and decided to cover it.

So, in total, 18 kindergarteners and 14 adults(including school administrators, secretaries, parents) were there

"We had them pick what color heart they wanted to bring and put them on rulers because, 'love rules’...I'm corny like that,” McKee said

And then they sang the damn song 😭

The judge said that in her entire 22 years, she’d never had a class come to witness an adoption.

Here’s Michael banging the gavel to signify his family was officially official and his classmates cheered and waved their heart sticks

Afterward, they all hugged on Michael as his dad laughed

McKee called the whole thing a “domino effect” of kindness and exemplifies what she always her students: “you rise when you lift others”

So there you go happy Friday not everything is awful people are good etc