Close Ad

This Little Boy's Kindergarten Class Planned a Surprise For His Adoption Day
Kindergarten Class At Boy Adoption
Uplifting News

This Little Boy's Kindergarten Class Planned a Surprise For His Adoption Day

A 5-year-old boy's adoption story takes a heartwarming turn as his classmates and their parents decide to attend his courthouse ceremony.

Michael Clark Jr. is a 5-year-old boy whose life has just completely changed. After years of loneliness, he now has tons of friends and a new family. To mark that very special event, his new adoptive parents and kindergarten decided to surprise him by having his classmates attend the official ceremony.

"He was really excited they were there," David Eaton, Michael's new father, told BuzzFeed News. "He views his classmates as his extended family so it was a highlight for him. He was definitely having fun there."


From foster care to a new home

Michael is only five years old, but he’s led a rough life so far, having been in and out of the foster care system. It hasn’t stopped him from being friendly, loving sports and having tons of energy. When his new parents enrolled him at Wealthy Elementary School in East Grand Rapids, Eaton said "the school embraced him as one of their own."

Hot Stories

"It was pretty clear right off the bat that he was a really special kid."

Once the family had decided to formally adopt Michael, his teacher had an idea: what if his whole class could get involved?

"We have a theme at our school, 'Put a Little Love in Your Heart,' you know that song by Annie Lennox?" said Michael's teacher, Kerry McKee. "I always tell my students that you rise when you lift others, and that's what we did with Michael."

The courthouse was filled

"That's when I came up

with the idea that what if we, the whole class, went to the court with

them," the teacher said. "So I asked the principal and she said, 'I

can't think of a reason why not.'"

And then the kids’ parents got involved too! "We couldn't afford a bus so I emailed the parents asking if six or seven could take off work to drive the kids to the court house," she said. "The next morning 14 out of 23 offered to skip work and come."

The parents ended up chipping in to rent a bus, and along with the classmates, 14 adults, including teachers, secretaries, administrators, and parents, were dropped off right in front of the court house.

"We had them pick what color heart they wanted to bring and put them on rulers because, 'love rules,'" she laughed. "I'm corny like that. But I am riding this love wave with such passion..."

They made history together

"It's the first time in county history that a whole squad of kindergartners showed up to an adoption hearing", Holly Hernandez, an adoption caseworker with the 17th circuit court, told BuzzFeed News.

It’s amazing how beautiful and supportive a community can be when they all join together! By regrouping to celebrate Michael's special moment, the school and parents made sure that it will remain an unforgettable memory. His story is evidence that taking the time and making a conscious effort to honor the good in our lives, and the lives of others, can generate even more positivity.

More inspiring stories:

Why Jennifer Hudson Forgave Her Mother's Killer -- Life Stories By Goalcast

At the peak of her career, Jennifer Hudson faced a horrific family tragedy. Hudson's mother and brother were brutally attacked in their family home, and her seven-year-old nephew was kidnapped. What followed was a heart-wrenching manhunt to rescue her nephew and seek justice against the man who took her family. Hudson speaks from the heart in this video on what happened to her family and how she was able to move forward.

Celebrities
People smiling in unison united
Racism Quotes

Racism is considered the marginalization and/or oppression of people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges another race. The term is applied in many areas of a society that perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race or strengthen racial inequalities in education, health care, income, and civil rights.

Ever since the 20th century, the concept of biological race is considered a cultural invention that has no scientific basis. The progress over the past half-century has been impressive, but the nation still has a long way to go to reach true racial equality.

Keep ReadingShow less
Everyday Heroes
hands are put together as part of community volunteer efforts
Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

A community is so much more than people sharing a space. It's a living, breathing network of connections and shared experiences. While it's usually defined as “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common,” true community runs much deeper than that.

Diversity

Keep ReadingShow less
Quotes