Pattonville recognizes Veterans Day with events, lessons

On Nov. 11 and the days surrounding it, Pattonville students learned about and honored veterans for their service to the United States. Schools across the district recognized Veterans Day with service projects, learning opportunities and special events.

At the Pattonville Early Childhood Center, students participated in a veterans-themed parade. They carried small American flags and stopped to look at posters featuring pictures and stories about veterans with connections to students and staff in the building. Prior to the parade, students were invited to add their mark — either with a signature, handprint, sticker or other item — to a poster that was hung in the parade route and made a Veterans Day heart wall craft. Families and staff were invited to submit photos of veterans they know, which were added to slideshow and shared in classes. Students and teachers also had access to a special bin of Veteran’s Day books for classroom use.

At Bridgeway Elementary School, each class created cards and letters which were mailed to Jefferson Barracks and given to family members of students. During their schoolwide family group time on Nov. 7, students participated in activities with peers in other classes where they watched a video about bravery and veteran appreciation. After the video, they spent time discussing Veterans Day and what it means to them. 

Drummond Elementary School hosted its fourth annual Veterans Day Torch Run on Nov. 13. Students and staff invited current and veteran military members to walk through the hallways as students and staff held up signs and cheered for them. Before the walk, veterans were invited to enjoy a cup of coffee together. Students also participated in classroom lessons or activities related to Veterans Day. 

At Parkwood Elementary School, fourth grade students honored veterans during the school’s annual Veterans Day concert on Nov. 13. The show is organized by fourth graders, with the assistance of music teacher Dr. Eric Vorst, who developed speaking parts, wrote scenes, created decorations and performed patriotic songs. This year, they hosted two performances for veterans, one during the school day and one after school. At the end of the performance, veterans in attendance were individually thanked for their service as students. Any veteran in the community was invited to attend.

Rose Acres Elementary School invited military family members to share a special lunch with their students. The cafeteria was decorated with student-made banners and featured a slideshow highlighting pictures of the veterans present which played during all lunch shifts.

Students at Willow Brook Elementary School attended a Veterans Day assembly focused on gratitude. During the assembly, staff shared how and why to thank veterans. Fifth graders also read thank you cards they wrote about veterans they know. After the assembly, all students were invited to write their own thank-you cards to veterans. Classes also listened to a reading of the book “My Red Balloon,” a story about a boy waiting for his dad to come home from overseas, written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Kay Life, which was read by paraprofessional Rhonda Daniels, who is also a veteran.

At the Academy of Innovation at Remington, kindergarten through third grade students watched a video and discussed the branches of the military and what it means to be a veteran. In addition, each student constructed a card with illustrations and brought them home to be distributed to veterans that they have a connection with. Middle school students were presented with choice board activities related to Veterans Day that they self selected to do. Activities ranged from listening to podcasts to creating pixel art depicting elements of Veterans Day. All products created from choice board activities were distributed to veterans.

At Holman Middle School, veterans were honored with a special breakfast celebration, featuring a performance by students in the music department. Classes shared lessons or activities related to Veterans Day and students and staff were encouraged to wear red, white and blue or other patriotic colors. 

At Pattonville Heights Middle School, students in Digital Media II created a video that was shared with all students. During the video, eighth grader Caden McCandless interviewed Air Force veteran and building custodial supervisor Rodney Spann and read a Veterans Day poem. Students also participated in classroom activities related to Veterans Day in their social studies classes.

Pattonville High School hosted its annual Veterans Day breakfast and program on Nov. 11. Members of the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society and Triple A (African American Achievers) cheered veterans upon their arrival. Veterans in the community and as first responders received a breakfast made and served by high school culinary arts students while listening to the orchestra perform. Afterward, a program featured presentations by school administrators as well as performances by the band and choir and a special veteran appreciation video featuring students thanking veterans. Each veteran received a gift bag from students.