Karen Wadena with her letter in the newspaper

Courtesy of Naytahwaush Community Charter School (Karen); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

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Happy Third Graders Day!

February 16, 2026
By Alicia Green

What if there were a holiday to celebrate third-graders? That’s what Karen Wadena wondered.

It all started on January 13, 2025. That was National Fourth Graders Day last year. The fourth-graders at Karen’s school in Naytahwaush, Minnesota, were celebrating. That made Karen think that third-graders should have a special day too!

Karen explained her idea to Desiree Reine, who worked at her school. Reine helped Karen write a letter to the editor of the Minnesota Star Tribune, a major newspaper. They hoped Minnesota Governor Tim Walz would read it. In her letter, Karen asked Walz to make March 3 Third Graders Day. What better time than the third day of the third month?

Time to Celebrate

In February 2025, Karen’s letter appeared in the newspaper. People loved her idea. Many of them reached out to the governor to share Karen’s letter.

A few weeks later, Karen and Reine got an email from Walz’s office. He had decided to issue a proclamation making March 3 Third Graders Day in Minnesota!

“I was very happy,” says Karen, now 10.

Karen and her classmates had a party to celebrate the new holiday. She hopes other kids work hard to make their dreams come true.

1. How did Karen Wadena get the idea for a day celebrating third-graders?

2. Who did Karen hope would read the letter she sent to the newspaper? Why?

3. According to the article, why was the date March 3 chosen for Third Graders Day?

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