Wagshul Wonders 2026

Wagshul

W onders

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS HAZAK VE EMATZ ‫חזק ואמץ‬

2026

A Letter From

KAREN WAGSHUL As Nelson Mandela famously expressed: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” When the latest theme of Wagshul Wonders was revealed, “Brave and Courageous; Hazak ve’ematz,” the students’ responses were overwhelming. They shared some customary reasons when fear prompted them to be brave, as well as more personal/ deeper reasons.

Here is an overview from the K-8th grade students chosen for submission this year. My hope is that this collection will provide insight into the interwoven relationship between fear, bravery and courage. Highlights include: Being brave riding a bike, on scary rides, standing at the edge of a diving board, walking across a balance beam, hanging onto a boogie board, dancing on stage, having a tooth pulled, climbing a big rock structure, walking through a door into a new school, sleeping alone in your own bed in your own room, using a big voice to help yourself and others, bringing awareness to a cause, standing up for beliefs, standing up for others, and protecting those you love. And then, being brave in more atypical ways: Acting quick in the face of an emergency, answering perceived ignorant questions, standing up to hate with acceptance of love, panicking when “send” is pressed on a text, changing your life from one country to another, facing the dark to navigate something you need, and fearful of your own thoughts that spiral out of control. All of these moments had things in common, physical changes to bodies, stepping into the spotlight, taking small steps of courage towards the goal, self-talk to do it, hesitations to courage, and the notion that fear and bravery often go hand in hand.

As I went through all of our students’ submissions, it was incumbent of me to reflect on a time where I had to be brave and courageous in the face of fear. Here is my own personal narrative on this. Growing up in New York City, swimming was never a necessity. It wasn’t woven into my childhood or my formative years the way it is for people who grow up near lakes or oceans. While I’ve always loved the beauty of the water, I’ve never loved immersing myself in it. The depth, the waves, the vastness, the unknown, they’ve always stirred something in me that felt far greater than the reality. My mind had a remarkable ability to create fear where there often wasn’t any.

When my brother’s family and I vacationed in Mexico, snorkeling was on the itinerary. My immediate reaction? Absolutely not. Snorkeling wasn’t simply outside my comfort zone, it felt completely beyond it. My grown niece, sensing my hesitation, gently assured me that she would stay with me every step of the way. Her confidence in me was stronger than my confidence in myself. I reluctantly agreed. How hard could it be? Put on the mask, the snorkel, and the fins. Float. Put your face in the water. Breathe through the tube. Swim.

Besides, I was genuinely excited by the thought of seeing the vibrant underwater world I‘d only ever admired in photographs. But as soon as it was time to begin, fear took over.

For nearly thirty minutes, I wrestled with myself. Every instinct told me to stay where I felt safe. My heart raced. My body, usually calm and confident, betrayed me with tension and anxiety. My imagination filled the open water with dangers that didn’t exist. What unsettled me most was the lack of control. There were no walls, no pool edge to grab onto, no clear boundaries, just open water stretching beneath me. Throughout it all, my niece never rushed me. She patiently encouraged me, reassured me, and reminded me that I was safe. She allowed me to move at my own pace until, little by little, the fear began to loosen its grip. Then something unexpected happened. I put my face in the water, took a few steady breaths, kept afloat, and instead of seeing what I feared, I saw beauty. Brilliant fish swam effortlessly beneath me. Coral shimmered with color. The underwater world was peaceful, breathtaking, and completely unlike the frightening picture my mind had painted. Before I knew it, three hours had passed. Three hours. What had begun as one of the most intimidating experiences I’d faced became one of the most memorable.

Would I snorkel again? Maybe. I hope that if I do, I remember this experience instead of listening to the fear that tries to rewrite the story before it even begins. This experience reminded me that courage isn‘t the absence of fear. Courage is feeling every ounce of fear, acknowledging it, and choosing to move forward anyway. Sometimes the greatest barriers aren’t the waves beneath us, they are the stories our minds tell us about them. That day in Mexico, I didn‘t simply learn how to snorkel. I learned that on the other side of fear can be wonder, joy, and a deep sense of pride. I climbed over a wall I had built for myself and discovered a world I never would have seen if I had turned back. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is simply dive in.

Be brave and courageous and don’t allow the fear to define the moment, rather revel in the accomplished moment you take on, with pride.

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HANNAH F. & CAYLA P. 5th Grade

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THEIA H.

1st Grade

ourage pen-hearted sing a big voice iding a really scary ride sking for a friend etting out of a fight ating a brand new food

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ALIYAH F. 3rd Grade

I found out I had diabetes 2 years ago. At first, I thought it would be easy to handle, but it turned out to be one of the hardest things in my life. When I went to the hospital, I was so scared. I had to stay there for two weeks. When I finally got to go home, I was so excited to see my dog, and she was glad to see me too. She helped me feel better and remind me to be happy of who I am. I even gave myself the nickname of “Type1der Girl.”

People look at diabetes as a weakness but I don’t think that it is.

Everyone thinks it’s no big deal. But it is a big deal. Kids with diabetes like me need to be strong and courageous because they must work hard every day to take care of themselves. Sometimes I get nervous about taking my injections, but I try my best to stay brave and get it over with. I also use fidgets to help me stay calm when I do my injections.

There are many people in the world that have diabetes and need your help. We are trying to raise money for a cure. My family and I joined a diabetes walk to raise money so that maybe one day no more kids will have diabetes. I created my own YouTube channel to help other people who want to know more about diabetes. I want to help other kids who have diabetes and encourage them to never give up.

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SIVANNE H. & ELLY M. 7th Grade

Bravery In the shadow of a scared little mouse stands a big strong lion. The mouse may indeed look small, but his heart is as big and as fierce as a lion. He will bravely dart through a crevice in that wall behind him and face cats and traps and dangers of all sorts because he must feed his family. The mouse may indeed look afraid, because he is. His whiskers twitch and his tail shakes, but he will go anyway. Yes, this mouse may be little and scared, but he will face his fears just the same.

His shadow shows himself as what he wants to be—courageous.

What he doesn’t know is that he already is.

He is a mouse with the heart of a lion and when he squeaks, he roars.

This is bravery. It doesn’t mean not being scared. It means standing up for what you believe in, no matter how scared you are. It means protecting those you love even when you’re not sure you know how to do it.

Bravery is the lion that roars inside of each of us, even when we feel like a scared little mouse.

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JANE C.

2nd Grade It all started in the water park. I had to go on the biggest water slide. I was very very very scared. Then I got up the ladder higher and higher until I reached the top. Then I looked down and I saw the ground so far below. I thought that I am going to fall down. My tummy was bubbly and I had goose bumps all over my body but I went closer and closer to the water slide. Then I sat down and I was about to go of the water slide but I was too scared to go on it. But I looked behind myself and I saw that there was a big line and I let go of the water slide and I went down, down, down and down. When I got down, I liked it so much so I went on the water slide again, again, and again. When it was time to go home I said to my mom that I want to go here again. Then I went home very happy. So I went to this water park every summer.

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GIANNI M.

Kindergarten "I was brave when I went to dive in the pool. I was at my grandma and my grandpa's house in Foster City. They have a pool. I think I'm a good swimmer. I usually play in the low water. I splash and swim and touch the bottom in the low water.

One of my cousins was there, who was younger than me, I think she was four and I'm five. I watched her do things in the water, like go on the diving board. I said I want to try that too. I want to be brave. So I got on the diving board, but felt a little nervous. I got to the edge of the board and I'm still nervous. I'm thinking I am brave. I think I can do this.

Then I splashed in! Wow this is fun I thought, so I did it a lot more times.

Inside I felt good. I was not scared. I was brave. Grandma and grandpa moved. They still have a pool but no diving board. I know if I see another diving board I can do it again."

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VIRSAVIIA P. 8th Grade

Strong Inside When the days feel hard and the road feels long, when you feel afraid and not very strong, Remember this: you don’t have to run — real courage means you still stand up and try again.

It lives in small steps, in each time you choose to stay, in every moment you don’t give up and walk away.

Even a tiny light can shine in the night — a brave heart inside you can make everything alright.

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BAYLA C. 4th Grade

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KAMI L.

1st Grade At lunch and Gesher recess, I usually play on the spider web climbing structure. But I would see my friends climbing on the rock wall. If they can do it, let me try I thought. I was also a little bored doing the exact same play area every time. I needed a change.

So, I climbed the rock wall one day at school, and as I was about to jump off the rock wall. Climbing up was easy. Now I’m on top and I looked down and then I got that feeling because I had to jump off. My stomach was bubbly. My heart was pounding really fast. I had sweat on my arms and forehead. I am scared right now. I was up and had to get down. My mind was saying, “Oh you are going to break an arm.” But I can’t stay up here forever, so I’d better jump. I am breathing in and out.

Finally I am confident enough now, so I encouraged myself to jump off.

Oh my, I just knew that the only thing holding me back was my fear.

I did it, I jumped. Yay! My fears of this went away. I felt so much better and braver and stronger. I am going to do it again and again and again.

Fear teaches you to be brave. Make sure your fears don’t hold you back when you want to be brave.

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RAHM C. 5th Grade

The Final Game It was the final game of the soccer league. The game for the win. What if I lost? Missed a shot maybe? The night before the game my mind was swirling with “what ifs” and at some point my mind finally admitted I was scared. That’s right you heard the brain. Scared. But I went up to the field, did my best, and won. It wasn’t for glory, wasn’t for the trophy. It was to prove to myself that I was brave. At that moment I felt as strong as the universe!

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MAYA S. 8th Grade

What Burns Brighter Sirens cut through the night air, The house behind her burned too bright.

Her little brother cried somewhere inside, Smoke closing in, flames in sight.

Her hands were shaking, breath uneven, She knew the door might be the last.

Fear was real and all around her, But she ran toward him fast.

She found his hand and held on tight, Staying low through smoke and heat.

The fire roared above their heads, Ash and sparks beneath their feet.

Her heart pounded, legs unsteady, She wasn’t brave in the way it seems.

She was just a sister who chose, In that moment, love over fear and flames.

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PARKER K. 7th Grade

How To Make Them Listen public speaking is never my fear swimming in a pool doesn’t scare me, even if i can’t see the bottom but sitting at the lunch tables waiting to be approached by lingering shadows is the scariest part answering ignorant questions because the shadows think i’m the only one who can answer them makes my heart sing out of tune standing up for the minorities i’m a part of shakes me to my core not because they’re not worth fighting for but because of the world i have to live in this world that picks them off one by one until no one speaks up so i sit at the lunch tables with the same expectation that they will hate me if i say anything but i still plant myself there whether it be alone or with everyone i’ve ever met 16

one thing more powerful than hate is love water always beats fire i’d rather drown in the ocean than run into a flaming house and come out burned when you talk, people won’t listen the first time and if they do, the gears won’t roll the velcro won’t attach so you must dive in and drench yourself until they swim alongside you when they swim the lengths of the pool is when you know it’s worked but we won’t reach a peace until everyone battles the waves and swims the pools, or at least the puddles and sits at the lunch tables answering all the questions you feel fear to answer but if we continue to assume hate, we will never be faced with love and on the other side of a blazing house is a glistening pool we will never swim in it if we don't run through the burning homes so run run run for the minorities you are and the ones you aren't

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LIAM B.

2nd Grade I time I was brave was at Kabbalat HaSiddur when I was in 1st grade. I was so scared because I was going to talk to a lot of people for the first time. When it was my turn to talk, I felt terrified. But I did it and I am still proud of myself! After I was done talking I took a deep breath to stay calm but I was still a little afraid. I still had a little more sentences to go. When I was done, I was super proud of myself and my friends.

But there were still a few songs left. When we were done with that I was so proud. Then we got our siddurs. It was the best day ever!

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MAX A.

1st Grade I was scared to go on the Matterhorn at Disneyland! I heard the screams of the people on the ride. My tummy felt woozy. I said in my head “Do I have to do this?”

I took a deep breath and I did it. It was really fun and I saw Yetis poking out!!!

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DANIELLE P. 3rd Grade

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ELLA M.

Kindergarten "I was brave when I rode a bike the first time. I was scared. Mommy and daddy bought me a bike when I was in preschool. It was a little surprise. Mommy bought me to a park to practice doing my bike. She was walking next to me saying 'You can do it.' I said, 'It looks very, very, very scary.' Mommy said, 'You can still do it.' I tried one time in the park and couldn't do it.

Two weeks later mommy said let's go to the park. Okay, let's go I said. I finally did it. 'I can do it! I was scared but I was really brave.' Mommy wanted me to do a ramp. And I did it.

I felt really good about being brave and riding my bike. I still have training wheels on but I am brave riding on a path. I am brave riding down a ramp. Now I am a good bike rider. I ride every weekend, just mommy and me. Mommy, me and my brother are the bike riders in the family. Daddy- Eh! Neh! He's not into bike riding. Daddy works or goes somewhere. Me, mommy and my brother have great fun outside. We even get a popsicle after hard work bike riding."

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LIAM M. 5th Grade

This picture shows my journey moving to the United States and how I feel connected to two places. The car in the middle is half red and white like the American flag and half blue and white like the flag of Israel. It is a symbol of my two identities. On one side is the United States, where I live now, and on the other side is Israel, where I was born and lived until I was 7. The car driving across the bridge shows my life moving forward while still connecting both places. Even though I moved to America, a big part of me will always belong to Israel, so the car being half and half shows that I am proud to be from both worlds.

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EITAN BM. 5th Grade

My drawing represents my brave journey of moving from one country to another. Moving was not always easy. I faced many challenges, like trying to fit in and learning to understand a new language in each place.

Sometimes it felt difficult, but I kept going with the support of others and by believing that I should never give up on myself. Slowly, things got better. I started to make new friends and have fun in my new home.

Crossing my Bridge of Courage helped me grow stronger and more confident. Moving around the world can be challenging, but it is also exciting because you get to experience different cultures and meet wonderful people you will never forget.

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MELODY G. 8th Grade

Silent Panic Secrets I’ve never told.

Suddenly, I have to be brave; I have to be bold.

How will you react?

Will our friendship stay intact?

It’s been forever.

Maybe this brave choice wasn’t clever.

Wait.

Did I just get a text?

What comes next?

It’s been a year of hiding in fear.

What’s one more day?

No. No more delay.

You said it’s okay.

I don’t have to stay away.

Can I believe you?

Will you stay in my view?

I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

I guess that’s also bravery.

Everyone says I should tell you.

But the thought makes me so blue.

Things will change.

It will feel so strange.

This has to come to an end.

I hit send.

Why did I do that?

Can I unsend the chat?

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BLAKE W.

1st Grade

ourage is when i am n a thin balance beam sing my leg muscles eallly wobbly feeling re you ready? Get set... o! Yay! very try makes you better, to be strong and courageous

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ARIEL LK. 5th Grade

"You arrived at your location," Google Maps says. The step out of the car is one of the scariest steps of my life. I stare at the new school. The school is a big red brick building with some big windows. The gate is shiny black. My heart starts beating fast. Butterflies in my stomach. Lots of sweat. I can barely speak a word out. But this is the only way forward. But what if I can't do it? What if people don't like me? What if it will be a really bad day? Bad thoughts start spreading in my head. The fear. It feels safer not going. But I have to be brave.

I start heading toward the gates of the new school. Each step forward is harder to do. I stop right in front of the gates. Maybe I should just not go today? But then I'll still have to go tomorrow. 'This whole process is scary," I say without noticing. "I know," the gate just starts speaking to me. "But you can get through this." Am I dreaming? I pinch myself but this moment is real. "I am called the gates of bravery," it keeps talking to me. "Whenever someone is scared or nervous and they're standing next to me, I give them courage. What are you scared of?" I can't believe I am talking to a gate. I start answering: "Today is the first day of school and this is my first day at this school. I don't know anyone and don't know how to get anywhere. How will I be able to get through this day?" "I was sensing that's why you're nervous. First of all you will be able to get through this day. You can do it. In front of me is fear. Behind me is bravery. Once you go to the other side you will feel brave. Just imagine it as a new and exciting fresh start." It's kind of weird talking to a gate but it is probably right.

What's the point of turning back. I can do this. I take a deep breath and I walk through the doors of the gate. Now I am on the other side. The gate is right. Now that I'm on the other side I do feel brave. I did it. It was the power in me. It was the encouraging words of the gate.

It all started from that fear, but thanks to the gate I pushed that fear away, took a step forward, and the wonderful bravery took over. Now I know I can do anything. It all starts from fear, but turns into bravery. Something you will be proud of. From this day I will know bravery is always here for me. I skip and see what I think is my teacher. The teacher is calling names. "New girl," the teacher asks. "I'm here!!!"

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AYLA D.

2nd Grade A dash of a splash, boogie board while the waves roared. The board was as sharp as a sword and the fish made a wish. Some turtles were as bright as kernels and one jellyfish was as clean as a dish. While I just missed the starfish, I took a deep breath while my sister said it was the best. The waves were so high, I thought I might cry. I got on the board and was about to paddle back to shore but instead I saw much more and shouted “this is the best!” and I think I saw a nest! Boogie boarding is the best!

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NOAH Z. 3rd Grade

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CAITLIN D. & EMMA D. 7th Grade

The Beast It starts small, just a bouncing leg Bounce bounce bounce Then your heart starts racing Thump thump thump It's trying to escape the cage your ribs trap it in You sink into thought, splashing at the surface, clawing for air You struggle and resist, but eventually you give up hope, and you're engulfed in thoughts Your thoughts start to spiral Spiral spiral spiral Like a spinning wheel that never stops “It always comes back.”

The feeling is overpowering; you can’t get it out of your mind The questions come back “Did I do the wrong thing again?”

“Why did you do that? Don’t do it again.”

Again, again, again But then, You see a flicker of light shining in the distance It looks close, yet it's so far away You persevere anyway, and Each step feels like a hundred-pound weight Has been lifted off your shoulders Each step is warm like a mother's hug 30

You're almost there Then the ground beneath your feet crumbles You fall back under The thoughts surround you again, but this time they're stronger You claw at the walls closing in on you When you find a foothold You start climbing out when the beast grabs you, And it pulls and it tugs But you, yourself, are stronger too, and braver than you knew You break free from its grasp You inch higher and higher Until you are completely out of its reach You inch closer, and closer; the light is blinding You are one step away The ground sinks like quicksand, Trying to pull you back in But you keep going step-by-step Until you finally reach the light You breathe like it’s your first breath, Taking in the air that was not there before You escape the sea of thoughts you were once trapped in The once heavyweights feel weightless You are no longer shadowed by the beast that taunted you You were brave enough to fight back, and it shows 31

ELLA M.

1st Grade I was at my house. Eitan and I speak once a week to Safta and Saba on video chats. We sometimes fool around during this time too. This time, Eitan was his usual "fooling around self" and pushed me. It was a fooling around accident. I was pushed from my back and fell on my mouth. I got up and my tooth was wiggly. It was a little wiggly before but now it got a lot more wiggly and lose. I got scared. My mom kept trying and trying to find a dentist. My mom finally found a dentist. We drove to the dentist.

There were a lot of people inside the dental office waiting too. Then they called Ella. Me and my mom went into the room they led us to. They told me to lay down on a dental chair. I started trembling. My heart was beating really fast. I had to be brave and do what the dentist told me. Then I saw a TV screen attached to the ceiling. And when I watched it, this made me laugh, and I was a little calmer. They told me they will pull my tooth. I asked my mom to hold my hand. This made me feel braver and better. I closed my eyes. Then I finally heard 'You're all done.' When I opened them, there was a lot of blood but the tooth was out. Boy was I brave. I did it! I felt confident and relieved. I was so happy that the tooth was out. Now I knew I could do the same thing 1,000 more times.

The best part was they asked me if I wanted a prize. I said yes. I picked out a leaping frog. They also put my tooth in a small container. I was so proud of myself. I had the courage and believed in myself. Then we went home in the car and I was still so proud of myself. We finally got home. I showed my brother the prize. Everyone was so proud of me and I was happy.

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REBECCA B. 5th Grade

About a year ago...

I left Kids Connection for a new life here at Wornick, and this is my story.

It's the last day of fourth grade, and my mom just picked me up. "Becca, I have good news-," my mom starts. I think that maybe it's that my dad flipped my bed, or better, I got my own room. "What is it?" I ask. "- You got into Wornick, and we are transferring you next year." She finished. My heart sank, "Wornick." I said weakly. I couldn't believe it, if I went to Wornick, I would lose everything: my friends, my schedule, my home. All summer, I dreaded going to Wornick; what if they laughed at me, what if the teacher hated me? After a summer of worrying, the first day of school arrived. In the car, my legs felt like a rubber glove full of water and heavy. My face was flushed, and my breath quickened. The moment I got out of the car and closed the door, I was standing in front of the gate. My feet stuck to the floor like glue. I took a step closer and turned just in time to see my dad drive off, waving at me from the window. I wanted to run to catch up to the car, tell my dad I'm not ready, my dad would be mad, but I wouldn't care, I was ready to do anything but go to Wornick, but my dad's car already turned the corner. There was no going back. I stepped through the gate. I was so worried, but at lunch, something happened, everyone was nice to me. They showed me around, and little by little, I was becoming less nervous. They gave me the courage I needed to try Wornick. Hey, it might not be so bad, and guess what, it was, more than that, I actually liked it! (I still do) In summary, courage does not have to come from you alone; others can also give you courage. Thank you to all my friends who helped me break out of my shell.

You all mean so much to me.

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DANIEL C.

Kindergarten "I was brave when I went to a new school. I lived in Zurich. My mom told me I was going to a new place that's in America. I was excited.

Then I was told I was going to a new school, I felt nervous, butexcited too. I would miss my friends in Zurich, but I would make new friends at a Jewish school. The school in Zurich was not a Jewish school.

I visited Wornick before I came here. Annie brought me to my classroom to see it and stay a little. The real day I came to Wornick, I was a teeny tiny bit nervous and scared. The kids were new to me. I had to be brave and make friends with the kids, especially the boys, because on the first day of school I only played with a girl. I said to myself, 'I'm going to be brave and like this new school.'

Now I like this new school. The kids are all nice. I play on the soccer field during recess with everybody. I even like afterschool Gesher.

I have no fears anymore. I am brave and like my new school."

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ALEX T.

1st Grade I never slept in a room by myself. I was little. Little kids don't sleep alone always. In my old house, Gabby and I had one room we shared.

We slept together. In my new house, we each have our own room. My room has a bunk bed. Gabby will sometimes sleep in my room on my top bunk.

Sleeping alone has always been a lot scary for me. I have dreams that are nightmares with monsters. The monsters are going to hurt me.

When I was five, it started again. I was watching a monster video. I was trying to be brave watching this video with monsters. It was scaring me and even though I was trying to be brave, I watched it anyway. That's when my fear happened again, and it got bigger. I'm still stuck with this fear of sleeping by myself. My fear goes on and on and on and on and it is still going on. And the reason it's still going on is because I am not so brave as I think I am.

I am working on making this fear go away. My dream is that I forget this monster video, the monsters in it, and that I lose my fear and I sleep by myself. Now my mommy has to sleep with me every night or she sleeps with me until I fall asleep. I have a goal to try to sleep alone on the day of my birthday. I am working on the courage to face this fear and I hope I finally do it.

Then I can say I am brave to sleep alone in my own room.

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AVI K.

5th Grade Waterslides. Roller coasters. Rock climbing. Bungee jumping.

Shark-cage diving. Which one sounds the scariest? For different people it might be different things. But maybe you have to be scared to be brave. Maybe the scariest one could also be fun. For me, the one that really got me thinking about how brave I am was rock climbing.

When I was 7 years old, I went to my first climbing gym. I was so excited, I was jumping out of my shoes. However, I was also freaking out. I peppered my family with questions like, "What if the rope breaks?" When we were there, and I was on a rope, I felt numb, and shaky. The holds were dusty, and with my sweaty, clammy hands, they were impossible to hold on to. I looked down, down, down. I felt as if I were a million feet in the air. "You got this," I muttered to myself, over and over. I carefully made my way to the top. I felt as if I were literally on top of the world. When I was safely at the bottom, I took a few deep breaths and yelped, "THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!!"

And to this day, I still love rock climbing, even if I am a bit scared of heights. ( However, Shark-Cage Diving is a definite NO WAY!)

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LIA K.

6th Grade

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