DISTRICT 200 SCHOOLS HONOR ALL WHO SERVED

Students in District 200 schools will be learning about Veterans Day through a wide variety of activities including hearing first-hand war experiences from area veterans on Friday, November 10.  The national day of observance for Veterans Day is Saturday, November 11. 

With community-wide support including that of local VFW's and American Legions, schools will be enriched with patriotic color guards, speakers, photos and memorabilia that illustrate the historical significance of Veterans Day.  All schools will be reciting the pledge of allegiance, having a moment of silence honoring veterans who have served and those currently in the military and reading an intercom message explaining the purpose and reason for Veterans Day. 
In addition, schools are planning their own learning events as the following list details:

Jefferson Preschool:  At 10:45 AM the color guard from Marmion Academy and at 2:30 PM the DuPage County Marines, along with Jefferson’s principal, will lead students in the pledge of allegiance around the flagpole in front of the school.  Students will wear red white and blue along with their own dog tags.  They will march, wave small flags, sing a song and present veterans in attendance with hand-made cards.   Each class will explore a soldier’s footlocker and uniform.  The school has organized a drive for Operation Support Our Troops.  Students have been sorting the items and making cards to send with care packages.  Jefferson also has a large photo display of family members serving in the military.  The school’s yard has many trees tied with yellow ribbons and the doors of the building are hung with patriotic door wreaths. Jefferson Preschool is located at 130 N. Hazelton, Wheaton.  Contact:  Stephanie Farrelly, principal, 682-2474.

Bower Elementary: The school will host a 10:15 AM coffee reception for veterans, followed by a 10:45 AM all school assembly. The event will include a flag ceremony and pledge, patriotic music, a fifth grade skit and an introduction of veterans in attendance.  The assembly will conclude with remarks from a veteran guest speaker and a moment of silence.  Students also had the opportunity to view a World War I trunk, compliments of Cantigny First Division Museum, and metals loaned from a local family. Bower Elementary School is located at 4 S 241 River Road, Warrenville.  Contact:  Kelly Monson, principal at 393-9413. 

Emerson Elementary:  The school will begin the day with a message defining the meaning of Veterans Day.  All classes will then go into the hallways for a moment of
silence and the playing of Taps.  Emerson Elementary School is located at 119 S. Woodlawn Street, Wheaton.  Contact Dan Bostrom, principal at 682-2055. 

Hawthorne Elementary:  At 9:15 AM, the school will gather outdoors for the pledge of allegiance followed by patriotic songs.  Each class learned about a branch of the military.  A history box from Vietnam will be on display in the library.  Several veterans will be coming in throughout the day to speak to classes.  Students have been writing letters to veterans and the school is collecting items for Hines VA Hospital. At the end of the day, students will gather outdoors for Taps and watch second grade students properly take down the flag and fold it.  Hawthorne Elementary School is located at 334 E. Wakeman, Wheaton.  Contact:  John Patterson, principal at 682-2065.

Johnson Elementary:  At 10 AM, there is an all school assembly featuring veteran speakers and guests.  The school will sing America the Beautiful and a fifth grade soloist will sing the Star Spangled Banner.  Johnson Elementary School is located at 2S700 Continental Drive, Warrenville.  Contact Tim Callahan, principal at 393-1787.

Lincoln Elementary:  Students and staff are encouraged to wear red, white and blue.  All of the school will say the pledge of allegiance and listen to a reading about Veterans Day.  At 11:11 AM there will be a moment of silence.  Individual classroom activities will take place throughout the building.  Lincoln Elementary School is located at 630 Dawes Street, Wheaton.  Contact Kathy DeMarzo, principal at 682-2075.

Longfellow Elementary:  At 11 AM, there will be an all school assembly with the pledge, a moment of silence, patriotic songs, drama and words of reflection from the principal. A coin drive is underway at the school.  The collection will be used to provide calling cards to Longfellow alumni currently serving. Longfellow Elementary School is located at 311 W. Seminary, Wheaton.  Contact Paul McKinney at 682-2080. 

Lowell Elementary:  Students are encouraged to wear red, white and blue.  Posters on branches of the military are on display throughout the school.  Classes have been reading books and watching videos about Veterans Day.  Veterans will be coming in to classes and sharing experiences.  Lowell Elementary School is located at 312 S. President Street, Wheaton.  Contact Denise DeSalvo, principal at 682-2085. 

Madison Elementary:  All students will begin the day with the pledge of allegiance.  Individual classroom learning events have happened throughout the week and several veterans will be sharing their experiences with students. Madison Elementary School is located at 1620 Mayo Avenue, Wheaton. Contact:  Gene Sikorski, principal at 682-2095.

Pleasant Hill Elementary:  There is an all school assembly planned at 2:15 PM that will feature a veteran speaking guest.  Students encouraged to wear red, white and blue.  Individual learning activities are taking place in classrooms throughout the building.  Pleasant Hill Elementary School is located at 1N220 Pleasant Hill Road, Winfield.  Contact:  Mark Kohlmann, principal at 682-2100.

Sandburg Elementary:  The day begins at 8:45 AM with a coffee reception for veterans.  There will be a 9 AM outdoor flag raising ceremony followed by the pledge of allegiance and remarks by the principal. The fifth grade will also be leading patriot music. Many classrooms will hear from veteran guests and do individual learning projects.  The school’s Leadership Club has encouraged students to wear red, white and blue and has led a VA Hospital drive. Sandburg Elementary School is located at 1325 Jewell Road, Wheaton.  Contact Aaron Bacon, principal at 682-2105.

Washington Elementary:  At 9:15 AM, the Boy Scouts will be leading the flag ceremony and pledge in front of the school. A history trunk on loan from Cantigny’s First Division Museum, will be on display for students to explore.  The library will showcase a wall that is posted with Washington family military pictures.  Students are encouraged to wear red, white and blue and write thank you letters to veterans.  Taps will be played over the sounds system as the flag is retired at the end of the day.  Washington Elementary School is located at 911 Bridle Lane, Wheaton.  Contact:  Sandra Niemiera, principal at 682-2222. 

Whittier Elementary:  The day starts with a 9:15-9:30 AM flag ceremony led by Boy Scouts at the front of the school.  Whittier’s chorus will sing patriot songs followed by everyone singing the National Anthem.  All veterans in attendance will be introduced and honored at a reception immediately following in the school’s gym.  From 3:15-3:30 PM, the school will again gather outdoors around the flagpole as Taps is played by a
former student.  The flag will be lowered by Boy Scouts and students will be dismissed
for the day. Whittier Elementary School is located at 218 W. Park Avenue, Wheaton.  Contact Joanne Hall, principal at 682-2185.

Wiesbrook Elementary:  An all school outdoor flag ceremony led by Warrenville’s VFW and fifth grade patrol students, will take place at 9:15 AM.  The pledge of allegiance, the National Anthem and a poem saying “thank you” will all be a part of the ceremony.  The VFW members will then visit individual classrooms and share their stories.  There is also a school Wall of Honor recognizing veterans and military within the Wiesbrook family.  Students have also been writing letters to soldiers in Afghanistan.  There are yellow ribbons tied around all school trees to show the school’s support of those currently serving in the military. Wiesbrook Elementary School is located at 2160 Durfee Road, Wheaton.  Contact:  Dianne Thornburg, principal at 682-2190.

Edison Middle School:  An assembly featuring several veteran guest speakers including a WII Marine pilot will be held from 10:30 AM-12 PM.  Earlier in the week, a former Edison parent and WWI memorabilia collector, talked to eighth grade social studies classes about his artifacts.  Edison Middle School is located at 1125 S. Wheaton Avenue, Wheaton.  Contact:  David Kanne, principal at 682-2050.

Franklin Middle School:  Assemblies will run from 8:06-8:51 AM, 8:54-9:39 AM and 9:42-10:27 AM for sixth, seventh and eighth grades respectively. Veteran
speakers are also Franklin staff members-- Carl Francik, a sixth grade science teacher, who served in Iraq in the Army Reserve in 2003 and Jack Erwin, a special education teacher, who served with the Army Reserve in Germany and helped in Hurricane Katrina efforts.  Franklin has adopted Illinois’ Army National Guard Alpha Company and will be collecting care package items and letters as an ongoing project.  Franklin Middle School is located at 211 E. Franklin Street, Wheaton.  Contact:  Susan Wolfe, principal at 682-2060. 

Hubble Middle School:  Assemblies for each grade level are scheduled from 8AM-10:30AM. Three veteran speakers, including a WWII Pearl Harbor survivor, will be the honored guests.  There will be a moment of silence at 11:11 AM.  Ongoing workshops in the library will encourage students to make book marks for troops in Iraq.  Hubble is joining Operation Support Our Troops in a book drive for soldiers to have much needed reading materials. Hubble Middle School is located at 603 S. Main Street, Wheaton.  Contact Beth Sullivan, principal at 682-2160.

Monroe Middle School:  There will be individual classroom learning activities going on throughout the day.  Students will hear about the origins of Veterans Day and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  In addition, there will be letters written to soldiers who are currently serving.  Monroe Middle School is located at 1855 Manchester Road, Wheaton.  Contact:  Wayne Spychala, principal at 682-2285.

Wheaton North High School:  Many veteran friends, relatives, staff and retired staff from the Wheaton North community will come in and share their military
experiences with students from 7:20 AM-10:02AM and from 10:38 AM-2:15 PM.
 Seven of the veterans will be from WWII, including a Pearl Harbor survivor and a POW.  Wheaton North is also conducting a supply drive for Hines VA Hospital. Wheaton North High School is located at 701 W. Thomas Road, Wheaton. Contact Jill Bullo, principal at 784-7300.

Wheaton Warrenville South High School: Three veterans from Iraq will share their experiences with students from 8 AM-10 AM. Vietnam vets along with a WWII POW and pilot, will talk with students in the afternoon from 12:30 PM-2:15 PM. The FLIP freshman student council organization is leading a supply drive for Hines VA Hospital. Wheaton Warrenville South High School is located at 1920 S. Wiesbrook Road, Wheaton. Contact Dawn Snyder, principal at 784-7200.

District 200 School Service Center:  Employees are encouraged to join Whittier Elementary School’s outdoor flag raising ceremony and remember to thank a veteran for their service. A District 200 Wall of Honor, honoring all District 200 employee family members who are currently serving in the military, is on display in the front reception area.  Building employees are also participating in a service project to support Hines VA Hospital that includes collecting needed items for veterans and letter writing. 
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