thedrifter
04-27-09, 08:06 AM
Marines write back to young students
Chantal Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/26/2009 05:00:08 PM PDT
Updated: 04/26/2009 11:24:07 PM PDT
REDLANDS - Students from Mentone Elementary school received a welcomed but unexpected surprise after writing letters to soldiers in Iraq.
Twenty students from Kathe Vadala's first-grade class and 20 from Lauree Simpson's third-grade class teamed-up in early March to write letters to a Marine platoon stationed in Iraq. The children are "study buddies," and meet each Friday to work on a reading or writing project.
"We were trying to make writing more meaningful," Vadala said. "We thought this would be a powerful writing assignment."
Vadala was notified of the platoon by a student teacher, whose fianc was formerly with the soldiers.
Each first- and third-grade student pair wrote a handwritten letter to a soldier. The students were given the freedom to write what they wanted in the letters, so each was original.
"We wrote to the soldiers, telling them we were grateful for their service to the country," Vadala said. "Many of the kids asked them questions about what it was like in Iraq or about what they liked."
Vadala and Simpson explained to the classes that they should not expect to get anything in response.
"We didn't build it up as if they would get letters back," Simpson said.
"We hoped to get something back, but you just never know," Vadala said.
In early April, the classes received responses to their letters.
"We were all so surprised," Simpson said. "The letters were handwritten, and there was one for each pair that had written a letter."
Vadala's first-grade class wanted to read the letters immediately but waited several days until they had a chance to meet with their "Big Buddies."
When Friday's meeting time finally arrived, each pair went before the class and read their letter aloud to the others.
"(The kids) listened really well," Simpson said. "I think they were just so surprised to get something back."
"The letters were very sensitive to the students," Vadala said. "One talked about the sand and talked about the baby camels and what they were like."
"The letters were all full of hope," Simpson said. "They talked about how they were proud to be serving America."
"Some were comical," Vadala said. "A lot told the kids to stay in school and how important getting a good education was. They were all very patriotic and positive."
"It made me feel good to get a letter from a Marine and to know the soldiers are winning freedom for the people of Iraq," said 7-year-old Isaiah.
The students and teachers are planning to display the letters in the school cafeteria, so the other students may also enjoy them. Students will decorate a bulletin board with red, white, blue, camouflage, and flags.
"We were very fortunate to get letters back, especially for each kid," Vadala said.
The teachers plan to have students in future years write letters to more soldiers and hope those classes are as fortunate.
"It felt good to get letter," said Maverick, 7. "It made me proud. In America, we can be anything we want to be!"
Ellie
Chantal Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/26/2009 05:00:08 PM PDT
Updated: 04/26/2009 11:24:07 PM PDT
REDLANDS - Students from Mentone Elementary school received a welcomed but unexpected surprise after writing letters to soldiers in Iraq.
Twenty students from Kathe Vadala's first-grade class and 20 from Lauree Simpson's third-grade class teamed-up in early March to write letters to a Marine platoon stationed in Iraq. The children are "study buddies," and meet each Friday to work on a reading or writing project.
"We were trying to make writing more meaningful," Vadala said. "We thought this would be a powerful writing assignment."
Vadala was notified of the platoon by a student teacher, whose fianc was formerly with the soldiers.
Each first- and third-grade student pair wrote a handwritten letter to a soldier. The students were given the freedom to write what they wanted in the letters, so each was original.
"We wrote to the soldiers, telling them we were grateful for their service to the country," Vadala said. "Many of the kids asked them questions about what it was like in Iraq or about what they liked."
Vadala and Simpson explained to the classes that they should not expect to get anything in response.
"We didn't build it up as if they would get letters back," Simpson said.
"We hoped to get something back, but you just never know," Vadala said.
In early April, the classes received responses to their letters.
"We were all so surprised," Simpson said. "The letters were handwritten, and there was one for each pair that had written a letter."
Vadala's first-grade class wanted to read the letters immediately but waited several days until they had a chance to meet with their "Big Buddies."
When Friday's meeting time finally arrived, each pair went before the class and read their letter aloud to the others.
"(The kids) listened really well," Simpson said. "I think they were just so surprised to get something back."
"The letters were very sensitive to the students," Vadala said. "One talked about the sand and talked about the baby camels and what they were like."
"The letters were all full of hope," Simpson said. "They talked about how they were proud to be serving America."
"Some were comical," Vadala said. "A lot told the kids to stay in school and how important getting a good education was. They were all very patriotic and positive."
"It made me feel good to get a letter from a Marine and to know the soldiers are winning freedom for the people of Iraq," said 7-year-old Isaiah.
The students and teachers are planning to display the letters in the school cafeteria, so the other students may also enjoy them. Students will decorate a bulletin board with red, white, blue, camouflage, and flags.
"We were very fortunate to get letters back, especially for each kid," Vadala said.
The teachers plan to have students in future years write letters to more soldiers and hope those classes are as fortunate.
"It felt good to get letter," said Maverick, 7. "It made me proud. In America, we can be anything we want to be!"
Ellie