DISTRICT 200 SCHOOLS HONOR VETERANS DAY

District 200 students will join the national observance of Veterans Day on Friday, November 11 by being in school and participating in a variety of activities that recognize, honor and thank veterans and those currently serving in the Armed Forces.

“Our goal is for every student to have the opportunity to learn about Veterans Day and the important role our service men and women have in protecting democracy,” Superintendent Gary T. Catalani said. “We also want to honor and thank all of our community veterans and military personnel for volunteering their time with the students on this great day of education.” 

Members of local VFW Posts, American Legion Posts and other veterans groups will visit schools throughout the district on Friday.  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 is a list of school activities set for Friday, November 11

Jefferson Preschool:   At 10:50 a.m. students will hold individual American flags and line up outdoors. Wheaton College’s ROTC color guard will post the colors and the pledge will be recited.  A Veterans Day message will be read by the principal followed by the school song and presentation of thank you cards.  A reception for veteran guests will immediately follow. The afternoon ceremony begins at 2:35 p.m. and will be the same as the morning program, but no ROTC.  Contact:  Stephanie Farrelly, principal, 682-2474.  Jefferson Preschool is located at 130 N. Hazelton, Wheaton.

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:  Kelly Wieczorek, principal at 393-9413.  Bower Elementary School is located at 4 S 241 River Road, Warrenville.

Emerson Elementary:  At 11:00 a.m. an all school assembly will be held in the school’s multipurpose room.  A combined color guard from the Wheaton Police and Fire Departments will post the colors. Veterans in attendance will be honored, a video explaining Veterans Day will be viewed, poems and patriotic songs will be shared and a veteran will share comments.  A school-wide veteran wall will be on display.  Classes will be writing thank you notes to veterans and military personnel.  A cupcake flag will be on display in the cafeteria (11:30 a.m.). A parent volunteer painted a world map on the wall of the cafeteria/multi-purpose room and staff placed stars on the countries where our military is serving.  Contact:  Dan Bostrom, principal at 682-2055.  Emerson Elementary School is located at 119 S. Woodlawn Street, Wheaton.

Hawthorne Elementary: Students and staff are encouraged to wear red, white and blue. At 9:15 a.m. a color guard escorts students outside for the pledge and patriotic songs.  The fifth grade classes will sing God Bless the USA.  In the morning, veterans will come in to classrooms and share their experiences with students.  Patriotic learning CDs are available to classes.  The library will showcase a Cantigny Museum of the First Infantry Division history trunk and Hawthorne students and staff also brought in military memorabilia for viewing.  Library time will also include listening to books about Veterans Day and related topics.  A Veterans Day Wall of Honor highlighting student and staff family veterans will also be showcased. The school has a large sign in the front of the building thanking veterans for their service. Hawthorne is also doing a fundraiser for Sgt.Joel Gomez during the entire Veterans Day week.  Students are selling patriotic wristbands with all of the proceeds going directly to Sgt. Gomez. Contact John Patterson, principal at 682-2065.  Hawthorne Elementary School is located at 334 E. Wakeman, Wheaton.

Johnson Elementary:  An all school assembly will begin in the school’s gym at 1:30 p.m.  Community veterans have been invited and will take seats of honor on the stage and will be individually introduced. The chorus will lead the school in the anthems
of all four military branches.  Contact Tim Callahan, principal at 393-1787.  Johnson Elementary School is located at 2 S 700 Continental Drive, Warrenville.      

Lincoln Elementary:  Students and staff are encouraged to wear red, white and blue. Veterans will visit classrooms throughout the morning.  Cantigny First Division Museum trunks will be viewed and students will take part in a variety of learning activities related to 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 10:30 a.m. in the school’s library.  At 10:45 a.m. an all school assembly begins in the gym.  Patriotic songs and the pledge begin the activities.  Principal Paul McKinney will talk about the importance of Veterans Day and veteran guests that were invited to attend by students and staff will be introduced. Fifth graders will perform a reader’s theatre related to the holiday and the event will close with another patriotic song.  Contact Paul McKinney at 682-2080.  Longfellow Elementary School is located at 311 W. Seminary, Wheaton.

Lowell Elementary:  Students and staff have been encouraged by the school’s student council to wear red, white and blue.  There is a Wall of Honor in the school honoring student and staff family members who are veterans or currently serving in the military.  Contact Denise DeSalvo, principal at 682-2085.  Lowell Elementary School is located at 312 S. President Street, Wheaton.

Madison Elementary:  Individual classroom activities will take place throughout the building. There will be a veteran visiting and sharing experiences with 4th and 5th grades. Contact:  Gene Sikorski, principal at 682-2095.  Madison Elementary School is located at 1620 Mayo Avenue, Wheaton. 

Pleasant Hill Elementary:  Classes are writing letters to veterans and each grade level was photographed holding a large American flag.  The notes and photos will be sent to local VFWs.  A large bulletin board at the school’s front entrance will thank and honor veterans.  Contact:  Mark Kohlmann, 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 9:10-9:45 a.m. After the pledge, the 5th grade will lead the National Anthem.  Veterans in attendance will be introduced and honored.  Veterans will visit individual classrooms throughout the day.   Contact Aaron Bacon, principal at 682-2105.  Sandburg Elementary School is located at 1325 Jewell Road, Wheaton. 

Washington Elementary:  The school’s student council has organized an all school assembly that will begin in the gym at 11:00 a.m. The students will present the colors, lead the pledge and read a paragraph about Veterans Day before a moment of silence.  Orchestra students will play two patriotic songs.  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 a patriotic song and Whittier’s cub scout troops will raise the flag while a fifth grade student sings the National Anthem.  To conclude the day, from 3:15-3:30 p.m., Whittier students will gather at the flag pole to hear “Taps” played by a former Whittier student.  The flag will be lowered by scouts and school dismissed for the day.  Contact Joanne Hall, principal at 682-2185.  Whittier Elementary School is located at 218 W. Park Avenue, Wheaton.

Wiesbrook Elementary:  The entire school is encouraged to wear red, white and blue.  At 9:25 a.m. all of the school will go outdoors and join the Warrenville VFW as they raise the flag.  After reciting the pledge and singing the National Anthem, students will hold up thank you signs made for veterans and military guests. There will be veterans visiting several classrooms and classes will be reading stories, poems and doing many other activities related to the holiday.  Wiesbrook also has its own Wall of Honor displayed in the front hallway.  Students and staff filled out stars for family member veterans and current military on duty.  Contact:  Diane Thornburg, principal at 682-2190.  Wiesbrook Elementary School is located at 2160 Durfee Road, Wheaton.

Edison Middle School:  At 11:15 a.m. 8th graders will have an assembly in the auditorium.  They will hear civil war music being played by school musicians.  There will be an introductory statement about Veterans Day followed by a photo montage of pictures from all the wars.  Two veterans will then speak to the students about their military experiences.       At 2:15 p.m. in the auditorium, 6th graders will listen to a veteran relate his experiences.  Contact David Kanne, principal at 682-2050.  Edison Middle School is located at 1125 S. Wheaton Avenue, Wheaton.

Franklin Middle School:  Sixth, 7th and 8th grade history classes will begin with a brief history of Veterans Day and a statement describing the sacrifice of those who served and are currently serving our country.  Veterans will be speaking and sharing experiences with students.  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 veteran and current military family and friends is on display in the library. A “make a poppy” workshop to learn about the significance of the flower and its connection to Veterans Day was offered and students are encouraged to take part in Operation Support Our Troops, a letter writing campaign thanking troops for their service. 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 will view a DVD with student and staff relatives in the military past and present.  An all school assembly begins at 1:20 p.m. in the auditorium.  Wheaton’s VFW will post the colors and WWII veterans and the family of a former student killed in military action will be honored.  Contact Wayne Spychala, principal at 682-2285.  Monroe Middle School is located at 1855 Manchester Road, Wheaton.

Wheaton North High School:  At 1:15 p.m. an all school assembly begins in the gymnasium.  Illinois State Senator Peter Roskam will speak and 13 veterans will be honored with a power point presentation.  All Wheaton North alumni currently on active duty will also be recognized.  The school’s band, orchestra and choir will perform a series of patriotic music. Contact Jill Bullo, principal at 784-7300. Wheaton North High School is located at 701 W. Thomas Road, Wheaton.

Wheaton Warrenville South High School:  U.S. history classes will meet in the gymnasium at 8:00 a.m. for an assembly honoring WWII veterans.  Two veterans will share their war experiences with students.  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:  A District 200 Wall of Honor, remembering and thanking 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 called Operation Support Our Troops—Illinois.  Supplies, monetary donations and letters to the troops are being collected.  Contact Denie Young, Director of Communications at 682-2015.  District 200’s School Service Center is located at 130 West Park Avenue, Wheaton.