Puppets in Education

The Numbers Are In!
In the 2025-2026 School Year, Puppets in Education visited 34 sites and performed 111 shows for 5,100 kids and 739 adults reaching a total of 5, 839 people!!!
While we are looking forward to taking time this summer to reset, refocus, and work on a new program- we cannot wait to start our performances back up in the fall!
We are so grateful for all of the support from our funders, donors, and community!

On Thursday, 5/21, Jillian, Karlie, and Kristen traveled to Kensington Road Elementary in Glens Falls, NY for a five-show day of "Resilience," sponsored by Romeo Chevrolet of Glens Falls!

Performing for PK–4th grade students gave us an exciting opportunity to see how the show connects with different age groups as we continue developing both younger and older versions of the program.

Staff shared wonderful feedback, including:
✨ “It was a very engaging show with a powerful message students could relate to.”
✨ “I loved the Bounce Back song.”
✨ “Absolutely loved the presentation…especially teaching the word ‘yet.’”

As always, students shared what makes them special:
💛 “I’m honest and kind.”
💛 “I’m the only boy that does dance.”
💛 “I like how I’m always trying new things.”
💛 “I always try, but I ask for help when I really need it.”

One 4th grader shared something especially powerful after the show about moving to Virginia and facing big changes with both fear and excitement. Moments like these remind us why conversations about resilience, growth, and change matter so much.

Thank you to Romeo Chevrolet and Kensington Road Elementary for welcoming us for such a meaningful day!

On Wednesday, 5/20 Puppets in Education brought four performances to Greenwich Elementary School, sponsored by McGee Chevrolet of Greenwich!

For 1st & 2nd graders, we performed Resilience to help students build confidence and navigate change. Students shared what makes them special, including:
✨ “I’m kind.”
✨ “I’m helpful.”
✨ “I can snowboard.”
✨ “I’m strong.”

For PreK & Kindergarten, we shared our Friendship show, where students learned ways to connect with new friends:
💬 “I like your shirt!”
💬 “Tell them your name!”
💬 “I like your shoes!”
🎵 And one preschooler suggested… “Sing them a song!”

Thank you to McGhee Chevrolet, the amazing staff, and students for such an engaging and joyful day!

On Thursday 5/7 Puppets in Education traveled to Amsterdam, NY thanks to MANGINO CHEVROLET INC! We performed our Resilience and Friendship shows and our Anxiety Workshop at William Barkley Elementary School.
When we asked the 3rd and 4th graders what they can’t do yet but hope to be able to do in the future, they shared:
“Be a basketball player.
Be a football player.
Be an astronaut.
Be an oceanologist.
Be a cheerleader.
Learn how to do a cartwheel.
Be a paleontologist.”

SUCH COOL ANSWERS!

During the Anxiety Workshop, when we asked the 5th graders “What helps you reset and refocus?” they shared,
“Playing with toys or fidgets.
Laying down.
Taking 5-10 deep breaths.
Going outside.
Listening to calm music.”

After the Friendship show, a first grade teacher shared
“The students listened to the puppets more than adults talking about the same info.”

This is feedback we often receive, and we love to see magical power of puppets prevail throughout schools. Thanks to Mangino Chevrolet we were able to gift William Barkley 5 puppets that they can use to make stories and role play challenging situations. We are so grateful to have been able to make this trip!

On Thursday April 30, Puppets in Education performed at Fort Ann Central School thanks to the generous support from Ross Chevrolet!
Our shows for the 2nd-5th graders focused on Anxiety. When we asked students what they think kids their age have anxiety about they shared:
"When you get into 3rd grade you have to take the State Tests.
The dark.
The first day of school.
A sibling having a hard time.
Some kids worry about popularity.
Being in a play.
My pets, taking care of them and what if something bad happens to them?
Having to make a speech.
Having to do a bunch of stuff when you’re already stressed.
A dance recital.
Talking in a big group."

For the youngest students we performed our show about Friendship. When we asked students why they think people make friends, one student enthusiastically volunteered,
"It's pretty good!!!"

We are so grateful to Ross Chevrolet for supporting our visit to Fort Ann, it was a joy!

Thank you .com for a great article on Vermont Family Network 's Puppets in Education's Resilience puppet program and the important partnership with Bedard Brothers Chevrolet.

The children’s quotes in the article are priceless:

The fourth-grade students were the first class to engage with the puppets and a lot of them really connected with the show.

"I learned to never give-up and if you have to move houses, be nervous, but it still helps," said William Larios.
"I learned to always add the word 'yet' at the end," said Sierra Kellogg, because even if she can't do something now, she will be able to at some point.

Samuel Casucci was struck by what one of the puppets talked about. "He said some people make fun of him if he dresses different, come from different place, brings home lunch, it doesn't matter," Samuel continued. "We're all kind of the same. We're all kind of different, like we have different hairstyles, different clothes. We're all the same because we're all human."

"I learned how to be more positive about myself and like, say, I can't do this yet, it's positive and helpful," said Liam Flaherty.

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/82482/Puppets-Teach-Resilience-at-Lanesborough-Elementary-School.html

Puppets Teach Resilience at Lanesborough Elementary School The kids learned from puppets Ollie and a hermit crab. LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Vermont Family Network's Puppets in Education visited the elementary school recently to teach...

On April 16th, Puppets in Education traveled to Lanesborough Elementary School in Massachusetts for a day of Resilience shows! This visit was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Bedard Bros. Auto Sales, and we were met with so much enthusiasm from the get-go!

It was such a joy to kick off the morning with the 4th graders, who jumped head-first into the program. They shared their hopes for the future, sang along, and told us some of the wonderful things they love about themselves:
"I can speak Spanish"
"I can knit"
"I can play lacrosse"
"I can bake my mom’s favorite Swedish cake"

With the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students, we talked about how much they have already grown. When we asked what they couldn’t do when they were little that they can do now, they shared:
"I couldn’t walk"
"I couldn’t say ‘mom’ and ‘dad’"
"I couldn’t pour my milk"
"I couldn’t write my name properly"

It is so rewarding to watch the idea of “YET” click for these young students. There will always be new things to learn, and we love reminding them that they can keep growing and changing their whole lives!

Thank you so much to Bedard Brothers Chevrolet for making this day at Lanesborough Elementary possible!

We loved returning to Molly Stark Elementary School! Thank you Fina Auto Mall!