SOCSD Recognizes Gold Star Families
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SOCSD Recognizes Gold Star Families
Brave, strong, heroic and fearless.
These are just some of the character traits that Cottage Lane Elementary School students chose to represent veterans they learned about as part of their annual project with Vetiquette, a program that teaches children about the sacrifices of veterans through projects and assemblies during which Gold Star families tell their stories. In recognition of Memorial Day, fifth graders in CLE teacher Siobhán Duggan’s class led CLE’s patriotism-themed assemblies on Monday and honored Gold Star families presented by the Vetiquette program.
CLE students, staff, administrators and School Counselor Stephanie Chahales honored the families of several U.S. military members last week as part of their character education assembly. The families of veterans including Army Sgt. David Solinas Jr., Army Medic Sgt. Jonathan “Jon” Cadavero, Navy Seaman Gilbert Fontaine, Navy Electronics Technician Second Class (ET2) Christopher DeAngelis, USMC Sgt. Owen Lennon Jr., USMC Sergeant Christopher Hrbek, Army Captain Andrew “PK” Pedersen-Keel, Army Captain Philip Esposito and USMC Lance Corporal Ryan James Barnard came to CLE to meet with students and attend the assemblies throughout the morning.
To help the CLE students learn about the fallen service members, South Orangetown Middle School Social Studies teacher Sarah Kukla had her seventh grade classes write biographies about them and each bio was given to a class at CLE. From there, each class made a quilt honoring their memory that is inspired by their life story and character traits and they were gifted to the respective Gold Star families.
CLE Principal Karen Scarth, Ed.D. first began working with Vetiquette founder Maureen Kelly to coordinate these events at CLE over 10 years ago. Over the past several years, William O. Schaefer Elementary School students have also worked on projects to honor veterans. This year, WOS teacher Suzanne Luke and Art teacher Liz Piteo have been working with classes to make poppies, which will be displayed and given to veterans in recognition of Memorial Day.
Schools are closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Schools will reopen on Tuesday, May 26.