The school was recently recognized by Character.org for Take a Veteran to School Day event
Stephen Finn
The Sun
Cinnaminson Middle School was recently recognized by Character.org as part of its Schools of Character program. This was due in large part to the annual Take a Veteran to School Day, where local veterans are invited to the school, served a meal and honored by students. The annual event is always held around Veterans Day and took place Tuesday, Nov. 13, this year.
According to its website, Character.org is “an organization of passionate people advocating for integrity, honesty, respect, and other core ethical values to be fused into education for the betterment of our nation.”
Each year it honors schools it feels exemplify these values through the Schools of Character program. Part of this program is National Promising Practices in Character, which recognizes schools that have implemented unique and effective character education strategies. The organization felt Cinnaminson Middle School’s Take a Veteran to School Day fit the bill perfectly.
This October, District Character Education Facilitator Melissa DeClementi and the school’s guidance counselor, Lynda Colella, attended Character.org’s annual national forum in Washington, D.C.
At the forum, there is a poster session where schools can present a display of their character programs. DeClementi and Colella showed off their event for veterans, met with representatives from other schools, networked and shared ideas.
“We learned so much when we went, learning how to enhance our program but I think that so many people were really interested in ours,” said DeClementi.
Due to the high number of military-related events the organization considers, it is rare one is actually recognized, but they saw something unique in Cinnaminson Middle School’s program.
“Because ours is so student-involved, they really liked our idea,” said DeClementi.
The school has been involved with VFW Post 3020 for a number of years. Even before Take a Veteran to School Day, the post would send representatives to the school to meet with students, answer questions and educate them about veterans and what they have done for our country.
Thomas Farrell is commander of the post and has played a big part in its involvement with the school.
“It’s been absolutely wonderful working with the kids and the appreciation they show when we show up there,” said Farrell. “They (veterans) feel a big sense of pride when students approach them and thank them for their service.”
Take a Veteran to School Day begins with a breakfast served at the school to all the veterans in attendance. Students can bring a relative or anyone they know who has served to the meal. The breakfast is followed by an assembly run almost entirely by the students.
At the assembly, the winner of the Patriot’s Pen Contest, run by the VFW, will read their winning essay. This year’s winner is eighth grader Arezo Memet. The VFW will be submitting her essay to be considered at the state level. There also are performances by the school band, poetry readings, a story about Veterans Day and the history of the Pledge of Allegiance.
“What’s so important about character in middle school is showing (students) how they can make a difference,” said DeClementi. “To see them get to interact with veterans, they don’t get to do that during a normal school day, these are new experiences for a lot of them.”
