From the Head of School: Readying for Another Banner Year

The Big Thank You

Philippians 1:3

September 1 - October 2, 2026

Paul wrote to his Philippian brothers and sisters in Christ to say,“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (NKJV). Think of the people who’ve sowed into your life--the ones who’ve prayed for, encouraged, comforted, counseled, taught, supported, helped, and loved you. They might be a parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, grandparent, neighbor, pastor, teacher, coach, or friend—but whoever they are, let’s celebrate their impact on your life. Maybe it is someone you met only once who made an impact on you or someone you have known your whole life. That someone would love to hear you say two simple words: Thank You. 

Studies show a direct correlation between thankfulness and happiness, and Paul’s life is a testament to this. He learned through all of his trials and suffering to be content in whatever his circumstances might be (Philippians 4:11). Having an attitude of gratitude truly impacts your experience of every aspect of your life. So, thanking someone else can make you a happier person and bring a blessing to the other person’s day.

   Banner’s Servant Leadership Teams encourage the Bearcat family to take some time to thank someone this fall. We want you to pick someone and to say a BIG thank you! You are creative…so be creative! This is bigger than a text or a simple tweet. You can do better than that! Whatever you’re thinking, go one step further. What would make that person stop and say “WOW!?” We want to see you create WOW! and capture the moment. 

We also want your story to inspire others to do the same—here’s how:

1) CREATE – remember to be creative and go above and beyond what’s normal…for you. 

2) CAPTURE – During or after you deliver your Big Thank You/Attitude of Gratitude project, 

    take a photo of what you’re doing or how you did it.

3) CELEBRATE – We will upload your Big Thank You/Attitude of Gratitude photo to our social 

        media accounts.

        Make sure to add a caption describing who inspired you, why you decided 

        to thank that person and what you did to express your gratitude.

Please send pictures and descriptions to Mrs. de Haas at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.