Projects Honoring Veterans

Eighth-grade students at Washington Academy & High School in Somerset County completed service-learning activities to honor and celebrate local Veterans. Students learned about Veterans and Veterans Day in social studies classes and completed independent research on local Veterans to create a slide presentation. Students and teachers planned a thank you celebration breakfast for all local Veterans. During the ceremony, the school resource officer, a Veteran, made a speech about the importance of Veterans Day and the armed services. Additionally, a JRTOC student performed a routine, and the slide presentation with information about local Veterans was presented. The audience included students, staff, school system members, and community members. Afterward, students reflected on the event, the participants, and the importance of thanking those who serve.

Best Practice 1: Meet a Recognized Need in the Community

Past service members were connected with students during this community breakfast appreciation event for local Veterans, which benefited the community, the Veterans, and the students. The Veterans enjoyed attending the program and catered breakfast that recognized the importance of our armed forces and honored them for their service. The community was able to meaningfully thank their own Veterans in a place of pride. Many employees, past and present, as well as students’ family members attended the celebration, bringing community solidarity, support, and understanding to a common cause that we, as Americans, are proud to be part of.

Best Practice 2: Achieve Curricular Objectives through Service-Learning

Students learned the research process, including: interviewing, recording research notes, sourcing, citation, and creating a slide presentation.

Best Practice 3: Reflect throughout the Service-Learning Experience

Students reflected in a variety of ways and at a variety of times throughout the project. As students interviewed family and friends about their experiences in the armed services, they were able to reflect on each individual’s role in larger national and world events. During the event, students were able to reflect on which Veterans came, their experiences, and how those experiences impacted their lives as well as the lives of others. Finally, the formal reflection at the end of the project gave students a chance to reflect on what the celebration meant to the Veterans, and also to the community in which those Veterans live and served. The role of honoring members of the community is vital to bringing people together for our common American goals.

Best Practice 4: Develop Student Responsibility

Students took the lead on this project in researching local veterans as well as helping to make decisions regarding what the ceremony should include and how it should run.

Best Practice 5: Establish Community Partnerships

This project included a lot of collaboration and coordination. At the school level, the leadership team was involved in assisting with logistics within the building, finding a speaker, publicizing the event, and paying for a caterer. Instructionally, the teacher enlisted assistance from the school librarian to help with the research process and the band and chorus teachers coordinated student performances for the ceremony. In terms of outside people and organizations involved in organizing the event, the Student Resource Officer from the Somerset County Sheriff’s department served as the keynote speaker. Additionally, local VFW and American Legions helped advertise for the event.

Best Practice 6: Plan Ahead for Service-Learning

Advanced planning took many people. The building leadership team had organized the timing and logistics for the event, securing a speaker and a caterer. The specific lessons for the research were planned out, fit into the curriculum, and coordinated with the media specialist. Students identified local Veterans through brainstorming and research and planned and implemented their interviews. Students worked collaboratively to plan the ceremony’s sequence and to create and share the slide show presentation.

Best Practice 7: Equip students with Knowledge & Skills needed for Service

The social studies teachers and the library/media specialist provided instruction to students on how to best conduct research and interviews. Teachers provided instruction related to how to present sensitive information and formally greet and interact with Veterans of all ages and backgrounds.