DISTRICT 200 SCHOOLS HONOR ALL WHO SERVED

District 200 students will honor Veterans Day on Monday, November 12 (with the exception of Jefferson Preschool who will be honoring the day on Friday, November 9) by participating in a variety of activities that recognize, honor, and thank veterans and those currently serving in the Armed Forces.

“Veterans have played a critical role in establishing and maintaining the democracy we enjoy today.  It is vital that we never forget the sacrifices that were suffered for the freedoms we experience.  Veterans Day is an opportunity to recognize and honor those who have served and extend our appreciation to the men and women of the armed services in our community who are currently contributing to the quality of life we value.  We also would like to thank those veterans and current military personnel for volunteering their time with our students on this wonderful day of education,” said Dr. Richard W. Drury, Superintendent of District 200 schools.

Members of local VFW Posts, American Legion Posts and other veteran groups will visit schools throughout the District.  In addition to these visits, schools are planning service projects and other recognition activities, including patriotic color guards, speakers, and photographs and memorabilia that illustrate the historical significance of Veterans Day.
All schools will be reciting the pledge of allegiance, having a moment of silence to honor veterans who have served and who are currently serving our country, and hearing a message explaining the reason for observing Veterans Day.

The following list captures the activities around District 200

            On Friday, November 9--Jefferson Preschool:   At 10:45 a.m. students will hold individual American flags and parade into the school’s gym. A color guard team from Marmion Academy will post the colors and the pledge will be recited.  A Veterans Day message will be read and the students will sing a Veterans Day song.  They will then present thank you cards to veteran guests.  Two staff members will sing the “Star Spangled Banner” while a patriotic power point presentation is viewed.  Guests will be invited into the classrooms for refreshments.   The afternoon ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. with a similar program.  The school will also have large bulletin boards with photos of school family who have served or are currently serving in the military.  Jefferson is also collecting for Operation Support Our Troops Illinois; each class is decorating a card to be sent with the care packages. Students are making their own red, white and blue necklaces, exploring a soldier’s footlocker, singing a variety of patriotic songs and reading about the flag.  Contact:  Stephanie Farrelly, principal, 682-2474.  Jefferson Preschool is located at 130 N. Hazelton, Wheaton.

All of the following activities take place on Monday, November 12

            Bower Elementary:  Students and staff are encouraged to wear red, white and blue for the day.  Following the pledge, a patriotic song will be sung throughout the building.  All classes are making thank you cards for veterans and military personnel that will be sent to local VFW halls and overseas.  Contact:  Mark Kohlmann, principal at 393-9413.  Bower Elementary School is located at 4 S 241 River Road, Warrenville.

            Emerson Elementary:  At 11:11 a.m. the school will gather at the outdoor flagpole, sing the National Anthem and listen to a poem and reflections on Veterans Day.  Students and staff will be encouraged to wear red, white and blue.  They will also be doing a “Coins for Cookies” drive.  A spare change collection will pay for a bakery to send homemade sugar cookies to Emerson families with relatives currently serving overseas. Several classes are also corresponding with currently deployed Emerson graduates. Contact:  Dan Bostrom, principal at 682-2055.  Emerson Elementary School is located at 119 S. Woodlawn Street, Wheaton.

            Hawthorne Elementary: At 9:15 a.m. students, staff and neighborhood veterans will gather outside for the pledge. A coffee and donut reception will follow for guests. Each grade level has been learning about a branch of the military.  During library time, students will have the opportunity to view a Cantigny history box filled with Civil War artifacts.  Students have been writing letters to currently serving military and items are being collected for those overseas.  At 3:15 p.m. the school will meet outdoors to retire the colors and hear “Taps”. Contact: John Patterson, principal at 682-2065.  Hawthorne Elementary School is located at 334 E. Wakeman, Wheaton.

            Johnson Elementary:  At 9:30 a.m. the flag will be raised while the staff sings the National Anthem.  Students will recite the pledge.  At 10:00 a.m. State Senator Randall Hultgren will visit classrooms and be Johnson’s ‘acting principal’ for the day (part of the Illinois Principal Association’s Principal for a Day program).  Clifford Johnson (school’s namesake) and other veteran guests will visit the intermediate grade classrooms and talk about the significance of the day. The Veterans Day poster winner will be announced at 10:30 a.m. followed by a 1:30 p.m. all school assembly in the gym. The guest speakers are two veterans from the Iraq and Desert Storm conflicts. At 3:15 p.m., the day is concluded with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Contact: Tim Callahan, principal at 393-1787.  Johnson Elementary School is located at 2 S 700 Continental Drive, Warrenville.

            Lincoln Elementary:  A veteran will visit classrooms throughout the morning.  Each grade level is learning about a branch of the military.  A variety of learning videos, worksheets and music is being used throughout the day to teach students about Veterans Day. Contact: Kathy DeMarzo, principal at 682-2075.  Lincoln Elementary School is located at 630 Dawes Street, Wheaton.

            Longfellow Elementary: A PTA sponsored reception for veteran guests and their families will be at 10:15 a.m. in the school’s library.  At 10:45 a.m. an all school assembly begins in the gym. Fifth grade students will perform a play and patriotic music will be sung by all.  Veterans in attendance will be recognized for their service.  Pictures and artifacts of Longfellow veterans will be on display in the front of the school. Contact: Dianne Thornburg, principal at 682-2080. Longfellow Elementary School is located at 311 W. Seminary, Wheaton.

            Lowell Elementary:  The day kicks off with an all school pledge.  Students are writing and decorating cards for Wheaton’s American Legion and VFW.   Contact: Denise DeSalvo, principal at 682-2085.  Lowell Elementary School is located at 312 S. President Street, Wheaton.

            Madison Elementary:  On Friday, November 9 at 1 p.m., a Vietnam veteran will be speaking to 5th graders. Other grade levels are writing letters to veterans and there are individual classroom learning activities taking place throughout the building on November 12. Contact: Gene Sikorski, principal at 682-2095.  Madison Elementary School is located at 1620 Mayo Avenue, Wheaton.

            Pleasant Hill Elementary:  Students created a “Star Spangled Salute to Our Heroes” tribute.  Large red stars were decorated with a photo and biography of a relative or friend serving in the military.  The stars are hanging from ceilings in hallways throughout the school.  Contact:  Ken Bonomo, principal at 682-2100.  Pleasant Hill Elementary School is located at 1 N 220 Pleasant Hill Road, Winfield. 

            Sandburg Elementary:  An all school assembly around the flagpole will be from 9:10-9:25 a.m. Veteran guests will be introduced by the principal. After the pledge, the 5th grade will lead the National Anthem and the orchestra will perform “My Country Tis of Thee”.  At 11:11 a.m. there will be a moment of silence to honor veterans and a message will be read about the purpose of Veterans Day.  Veterans will visit individual classrooms throughout the day. There will also be Veterans Day fitness activities in all PE classes.  Contact: Aaron Bacon, principal at 682-2105.  Sandburg Elementary School is located at 1325 Jewell Road, Wheaton. 

            Washington Elementary: At 9:15 a.m. the entire school will attend the flag raising ceremony and recite the Pledge of Allegiance together.  Veterans and currently serving military family members of the Washington Elementary School community are displayed on a “Wall of Fame”.  “Taps” will be played at the end of the day. Contact: Sandra Niemiera, principal at 682-2222.  Washington Elementary School is located at 911 Bridle Lane, Wheaton.

            Whittier Elementary:  The school day will begin with a ceremony held outdoors at the flag pole from 9:15-9:30 a.m. Whittier’s student chorus will sing patriotic songs while the school’s Cub Scouts raise the flag.  Local veterans and guests are invited to a reception in the school’s gymnasium immediately afterwards.  Last year, 40 veterans were in attendance. Contact: Joanne Hall, principal at 682-2185.  Whittier Elementary School is located at 218 W. Park Avenue, Wheaton.

            Wiesbrook Elementary:  At 9:15 a.m. all of the students and staff will go outdoors and join the Warrenville VFW as they raise the flag.  After everyone recites the pledge and sings the National Anthem, the VFW guests will speak to classes at 9:40 a.m. Wiesbrook also has its own Wall of Honor highlighting family member veterans and those currently serving. Students are writing letters to soldiers in Iraq and creating Haiku using vocabulary and symbols of the American soldier. Contact:  Brian Turyna, principal at 682-2190.  Wiesbrook Elementary School is located at 2160 Durfee Road, Wheaton.

            Edison Middle School:  Students were encouraged to participate in the Veterans Day poster contest that was judged by Wheaton’s American Legion.  Posters will be displayed around the school.  Stars are also hung throughout the school highlighting family veterans and those currently serving.  All grades will learn about the significance of Veterans Day and several veterans, including a former Edison student who is also an Iraq veteran, will speak to 8th graders from 10:30 AM-12 noon about their experiences.   Contact: David Kanne, principal at 682-2050.  Edison Middle School is located at 1125 S. Wheaton Avenue, Wheaton.

            Franklin Middle School:  Staff veterans will be leading the school in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Everyone is encouraged to wear red, white and blue for the day.  A supply drive for Hines VA Hospital is underway.  A representative from Alpha Company, who the school supported with a supply drive last year, will be talking to students about the importance of Veterans Day. Contact: Susan Wolfe, principal at 682-2060.  Franklin Middle School is located at 211 E. Franklin Street, Wheaton.

            Hubble Middle School:  A Hubble “Wall of Honor” saluting student and staff veterans and current military family will be displayed in the school. At 11:11 a.m. the school will have a moment of silence. Veterans will be speaking in the auditorium from 8:00-8:48 a.m. to 6th graders; 8:52-9:37 a.m. to 7th graders and from 9:41-10:26 a.m. to 8th graders.  Contact: Beth Sullivan, principal at 682-2160.  Hubble Middle School is located at 603 S. Main Street, Wheaton.

            Monroe Middle School:  Students are taking part in a humanitarian supply drive to support schools in Afghanistan and Iraq called, “My ABC’s”.  The supplies will be sent to soldiers who will then distribute them.  Students are also writing notes to soldiers that will be included with the supplies.  Contact: Wayne Spychala, principal at 682-2285.  Monroe Middle School is located at 1855 Manchester Road, Wheaton.

            Wheaton North High School:  Students will have the opportunity to hear from 19 local veterans throughout the day in various locations around the school.  The schedule is as follows:  7:20-8:10 a.m. and 8:16-9:06 a.m. there will be veterans speaking about service in Korea, Panama, Granada, Cold War-Cantigny, Vietnam and Black Hawk Down; 9:12-10:02 a.m. a WWII husband and wife couple is added to the above speakers;  10:08-10:58 a.m. veterans from Korea, WWII (occupation Germany), , Vietnam and WWII (Japanese POW) will share their experiences;   11:33-12:23 p.m. Vietnam and WWII (occupation Germany), Korea, Vietnam and WWII (German POW) veterans will speak; 12:29-1:19 p.m. veterans from Vietnam, WWII (USS Indianapolis), Cold War, Persian Gulf and WWII (Battle of the Bulge) present; and 1:25-2:15 p.m. veterans share their memories from WWII (Marine Intelligence); Korea, WWII (Pearl Harbor) and WWII (Pacific). 
Contact: Jill Bullo, principal at 784-7300. Wheaton North High School is located at 701 W. Thomas Road, Wheaton.

            Wheaton Warrenville South High School:  A “Tigers Salute the Vets” assembly is scheduled from 9:10-9:59 a.m. in the school’s gymnasium. Veterans from the WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War/Iraq conflicts will share their experiences. Veterans will be invited to stay through the lunch periods and talk further with students.  Students and staff will also be honoring family veterans and well as those currently serving in a slide show during the assembly and on a prominent wall in the school.  Contact: Dawn Snyder, principal at 784-7200.  Wheaton Warrenville South High School is located at 1920 S. Wiesbrook Road, Wheaton.

            District 200 School Service Center:  Employees will be honoring building veterans, family member veterans, and active duty military with a time of sharing and a reception.  The staff is also collecting items for Hines VA Hospital.