Thankful Mail

On this Thanksgiving Day I am lucky enough to be with my family. We are all healthy and happy. There are many service members who are far from their family, whether they are deployed protecting our freedom, or recovering from an injury in one of the many hospitals and rehab facilities.

Children at Janesville Elementry are always excited to know their work has ended up in the hands of a service member, as they are closely related to super heroes (according to one little girl). This year several teachers coordinated letters and artwork for Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. I have asked a wonderful and strong wife of a wounded Marine to take the student's appreciation to the San Diego hospital and deliver them on my behalf. 

Seeing the hard work and the great pictures these students made for services members brings happiness to my heart. Every time I see one of the children, they want to know all about who got their artwork and letters, and if they like them. I hope I'll have some pictures to share with them soon. I hope to share the smiles they have brought to our Wounded Warriors. 

Remember... Their Sacrifice. Our Freedom.

 

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Artwork  by a 4th Grader at Janesville School

I would just like to say THANK YOU to all of the Military Spouses. It takes a special person to be a military spouse. I have many friends who are spouses, and they are all amazing, compassionate, strong people who have my utter respect. The Military Spouses don't get enough acknowledgment for their hard work. The spouses are the rocks at home who support our Military. They need our support and thanks too. If you know a Military Spouse, be sure to tell them, Thank You.

Meet A Veteran Day Student Artwork

Students at Janesville School created some amazing artwork for the Meet A Veteran Day Assembly. Some teachers had their entire class participate, others offered extra credit, and some students had so much pride they created several pieces. The theme was "Patriotism." Below is a few examples of the patriotic artwork the students made.

This flag is approximately 6 feet wide and 8 feet long. It is made from the APE after school program participants hand prints.

Semper Paratus!

Semper Fi!

This We'll Defend!

Fly-Fight-Win!

Honor, Courage, Commitment

A students message to his Uncle.

This hand print flag and the artwork below was courtesy of the kindergarden class.

Art work donned the walls of the gym as well as the front of the stage.

 Below is a few of my favorite pieces of student art. 

Meet A Veteran Day School Assembly

The goal of Meet A Veteran Day at Janesville School was to say Thank You For Your Service to our local Veterans and encourage direct communication between the students and the Veterans. I'm proud to announce the event was a success and here's what success looks like...

Students and faculty preparing for the flag salute.

The Veterans and I salute the flag.

Katie, a student at Janesville ROCKED the Star Spangled Banner.

A Janesville Student Body Officer read a Never Forget message explaining the symbolism of the POW/MIA table.

Janesville Students listened to their questions being read by Student Officers then waited patiently for the Veterans answers. 

Thanks to the Veterans who answered the students questions. Some were family members of Janesville Students. 

Corporal Barron, fresh from Afghanistan brought some of his gear for the students to see and try on.

From the students I have had a chance to talk to, they loved hearing the answers the Veterans gave to their questions. One student's question directed to the Navy asked if they'd ever been swimming in the water and what kind of fish they saw.  The answer was quite fascinating as the Navy man was in charge of retrieving a torpedo and just before he and his men got into the water the ship signaled there were SHARKS! Luckily, they retrieved the torpedo and no one was hurt. 

I hope to make Meet A Veteran Day an annual event at Janesville School. I would like to thank Subway and Janesville Parent Teacher Organization for helping to sponsor the event. I would also like to say thank you to my friends, Sheri D., Tawyna M., Donna K., Shannon M., Delia B. Kanani, Amanda M., Janesville Student Body, and the Janesville Faculty. Meet A Veteran Day was a success because of all of you. 

Lastly, I would like to say to ALL Active Duty and Veterans THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Letters From Students

Ever wonder what kinds of questions seven and eight year olds have for our deployed service members? A teacher at the local school and one of my biggest supporters had her 2nd/3rd grade combo class write letters this week. I enjoyed reading them so much I thought I would share my three favorite letters before I mail them off.

Dear Soldier,

     Do you have a riot shield? And maybe a pistol? Have you used a rocket launcher? Where are you stationed? Do you drive a tank?

     Sincerely,

       Bryson

Dear Soldier,

     I think you are awesome! Do they actually make oozies? Are you in the Navy? Are you married?

      Sincerely,

         Kaiden

Dear Troop,

      Thank you for serving our country. Dude (ette), you are AWESOME!!! Where are you stationed? What weapon do you operate?

      Sincerely,

         Nick

Patriotic Fish

When Mrs. Wheeler, a First Grade teacher at Janesville Union told me she was having her kids make "Patriotic Fish" for the soldiers, I was pleased. Due to the chaos at the end of the school year I picked up the box of Patriotic Fish just last week. I wanted to send something special for Fourth Of July and hoped this project would be it. I pulled a fish from the box, I was completely astonished. The love and care each fish is constructed with is evident. Each one is uniquely different, with a message of caring and gratitude from the student who made the fish on the back. Messages include, "You are a special person. Thank you for being brave." "I love you" and "Thank you so much for being a soldier." Mrs. Wheeler even took the time to attach fishing line so the fish can be hung from a celling, or anything you could tie a Patriotic Fish to.

Knowing I get soldier's address from Anysoldier.com, Mrs. Wheeler asked if I knew where the fish would be sent. I told her I had just adopted a new soldier in Bagram from Soldier's Angel's and I thought this would be a great way for him and his fellow soldiers to celebrate Fourth Of July. Mrs. Wheeler agreed, and now we are just hoping that "milmail" will get the twenty Patriotic Fish to Bagram in time for Fourth Of July celebrations. 

I will admit, as a "grown up" it never occurred to me to make Patriotic Fish, but after seeing these fish it occurs to me, anything can be patriotic. All you need is a little imagination and love, something these students have in epic proportions. 

Stars

Right before school was out, I became aware of a friend, who knew a female soldier, who survived an IED in Afghanistan and was recovering at Walter Reed. That same day a teacher asked me how "the soldiers are doing?" I mentioned the female soldier, and how I wished I could do something to send her some support. That's how it got started. I spoke to the students in the classes I taught that day, all kindergardeners through third graders. I asked the students to raise their hands and tell me what made them feel better when they got hurt or sick. I got a variety of answers ranging from rainbows to video games. Then I explained there was a hurt soldier and perhaps if we drew some of the things that made us feel better, it might make her feel better too. Soon I had approximately 100 drawings and a few letters. Mrs. Bricker and Mrs. Ovitz, both Third grade teachers had their students go a little farther by decorating stars to send.

My thoughts have mostly been with the female soldier and her family. It hadn't occurred to me what the students would learn from making these cards, until the very last day of school. I had a kindergardener walk up to me and say, "I remember you. You taught me how to make people feel better by drawing pictures for them." That priceless moment is one of the BEST moments of my teaching experience so far.
I tell people, if you really want to change something, then start with the children. In the battle of apathy in America today, there are several students at Janesville Union who I believe will turn the tide for the better.

Mrs. Ethridge's Class

Mrs. Ethridge teaches the 4th and 5th grade combo class at Janesville Union School.  I had the privilege of being her substitute in the month of January.   I say it was a privilege because that's exactly what it was. Anyone who has a child in her class can be very proud on several levels.  First, it is an extraordinarily well behaved class.  I don't even think I had to ask them to quiet down once, which is completely unheard of for a substitute.  Secondly, I saw these children express more caring, empathy, and understanding for each other and the soldiers than I have ever seen in a classroom.
When I first explained that whenever they finished with an assignment early they could read a book quietly at their desk, or draw pictures, and write to the soldiers they were immediately excited.  In the instant to follow I heard students talking to other students about what not to say, because they didn't want to draw or write anything that would make the soldiers sad.  The students goal was clearly to make every soldier who was lucky enough to receive their letters, smile.  After looking at the pictures and reading the notes I think it is a safe bet they will illicit several smiles.  Especially the two boys who chose to write jokes.
I can't hardly wait for the letters to reach the USO in Al Basra Iraq where they can be properly enjoyed.    

Valentines Day

Valentines Day is seen by many as the consumer holiday to force you to buy a five dollar card to show that special someone how much you love them.  I hope this will change the minds of many of you.  Mrs. Ovitz's Third grade class at Janesville Union School made Valentines for our Warriors.  I have attached three pictures but must say each card is not only individual but also a pop-up card.  I applaud the time, effort, and thought that each student put into their card.  They are truly amazing.  I am excited  and honored to mail these Valentines out and can hardly wait for our Warriors to see what I see.

A Giant Thank You To Mrs. Ovitz's and her Third Graders

A Veteran's Day Thank You

This is a display made from letters I sent to the USO in Qatar.  The USO is a place where soldiers go for R&R (rest and recovery.) The letters are from Mrs. Bricker's Third Grade class.  The pictures are of my children in front of our "Warrior Wall" which consist of pictures sent by soldiers we have supported, and the Veteran's Day Parade in Susanville, California.  


The Third Grade letters were sent to the USO in Qatar, and to soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.  So far we have received responses from three different soldiers.  Two soldiers were Army, and one was Air Force.  They were happy to answer the children's questions.