(Correction: The students will read their letters during the tribute ceremony at Veterans Park on Nov. 10 and the ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m.)
By Lisa Carolin
Learning about Veterans Day directly from veterans proved to be an effective lesson for some Beach Middle School sixth-graders.
Beach teachers Amy Doma, Ryann Skrypec, Alyssa Knupp, and Mike Lott worked with Jennifer Smith, assistant director of the Chelsea Senior Center, to plan the project.
“Lessons were taught beforehand about the history of Veterans Day and also active empathetic listening, eye contact and proper question asking,” said Doma. “The students responded with genuine empathy and interest as they listened to each panelist’s story.”
The panel consisted of veterans Jim Alford, Tim Lang, Sarah So, Matt Kellogg, and Caleb Coon.
Doma says that the veterans spoke about passion and hard work, embracing tough challenges, and being your authentic self.
“We spent an hour together and it was clear by the number of hands up that the students would have preferred more time,” said Doma. “The room was full of true interest and open conversation. The students couldn’t have been more engaged and their comments of appreciation afterwards were heartwarming”
Afterward, students were asked to write a letter of thanks to the panelist they most connected with or a general letter of thanks to all the veterans.
Three students will be selected by the senior center to read their letters at the Veterans Ceremony on Nov. 10 at Veterans Park. The tribute will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the students are expected to read their letters about 1:50 p.m.
