Wall newspapers - a moment of silence in the season of gratitude.

(Dong Nai) - This morning, while tidying up an old drawer, I accidentally found a file that had faded with time. Inside were a few loose sheets of paper, their edges curled up. When I opened it, I involuntarily laughed. It was the draft of an article I had submitted a long time ago for a school wall newspaper.

Every stroke of the pen, every clumsy expression of school-age emotions, reappears vividly. Just a small piece of paper, yet it's enough to stir up a corner of memories I thought had been dormant, reminding me of those laughter-filled wall newspaper-making seasons of my school days.

Back in school, the wall newspaper wasn't just an activity for November 20th (Vietnamese Teachers' Day), but more like a small festival that the whole class looked forward to. As Vietnamese Teachers' Day approached, we students would get as excited as we were during Tet (Vietnamese New Year). The teacher might just mention it briefly, but each of us would already be secretly preparing. Those who were good at writing would promise to write a really good piece; those who liked drawing would boast about creating the most unique frame; and even the quietest students, who seemed uninterested, would surprisingly focus intently on making the wall newspaper, never refusing to cut paper, glue flowers, or border the pages.

We didn't have many fancy materials, but everything was done with genuine enthusiasm. Cutouts from old newspapers, lightly smudged crayons, sometimes shaky handwriting from nervousness… all combined to create a simple yet heartfelt wall newspaper. What I remember most is the whole class sitting around the large sheet of paper spread on the teacher's desk. One student wrote the title, another hunched over, using a ruler to draw lines, and a few others stood behind, constantly offering suggestions, sometimes arguing fiercely over font choices for the title. Yet, a single joke was enough to make everyone burst into laughter, then continue working diligently as if nothing had happened.

For us back then, the wall newspaper was both sacred and innocent. Sacred because it was where each of us expressed our gratitude to our teachers with our own clumsy abilities. Innocent because no one thought much about grades or awards; as long as the newspaper was praised by the teachers as "beautiful and heartfelt," the whole class was overjoyed. Every time the wall newspaper was finished and hung up, we would stand in front of it for a long time, rereading each article, feeling proud that "my contribution was in this corner."

Now, returning to the schools, I see that the school bulletin boards have changed a lot. The paper is nicer, the colors are more vibrant, and the presentation is more sophisticated and modern. Many classes use computers to design and print the more complex parts, then combine them with handmade items to create highlights. Some classes even make foldable bulletin boards, 3D models, and even incorporate videos or audio for illustration. Today's students are creative in their own unique and innovative ways, leaving even adults in awe.

However, what touched me most wasn't the investment or the outward effort, but the spirit within the wall newspaper that remained as pure as it was when we were children. The students still sat together writing, still debated enthusiastically about small ideas, still anxiously awaited the teacher's feedback, and still felt immense pride when they saw their names appear on the class's wall newspaper. Times may change, but the students' feelings when making a wall newspaper are almost unchanged: still innocent, still enthusiastic, still wanting to send a beautiful message of gratitude.

Perhaps the greatest value of a school wall newspaper lies not in the technique, not in creating a beautiful product for display, but in the journey the whole class takes together to create it. It is this process that brings the students closer, helps them understand each other better, appreciate their friends' efforts, and learn to express sincere gratitude. A school wall newspaper is not just a large sheet of paper hanging on the classroom wall. It is a part of the memories of an entire school life, a place to preserve the endearing clumsiness of each generation, and a simple but heartwarming gift to the teachers who have imparted knowledge to so many children.

Holding the old manuscript in my hand, I suddenly realized that many things may fade with time, but the wall newspapers of yesteryear remain vividly colorful in my memory. Wall newspapers – like a moment of quiet reflection during a season of gratitude – are where students pause amidst the hustle and bustle of life to express their appreciation to their teachers. And surely, in classrooms today, new wall newspaper seasons are still being written, with youthful hearts full of love and sincere gratitude.

Ha Trang

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202511/bao-tuong-dau-lang-cua-mua-tri-an-3f51322/