LPOSD students, schools thank veterans

SANDPOINT — Today is all about veterans and their service at Lake Pend Oreille School District schools.

Clark Fork Jr. Sr. School Wampus Cats is honoring veterans by designing a fence sign facing Highway 200 for the whole town to see.

“We had many people in the community stop by and thank us for putting up the sign,” said Kelly Woodmansee, social studies teacher.

Woodmansee said that students were genuinely happy and excited to take part in something for the community.

At the Homeschool Academy students will be learning about each of the major branches of the United States military and each agency's missions of service and duties. They will also be holding American flags during the Sandpoint High School parade.

At Farmin Stidwell Elementary, there will be three outside performances for staff. Each student has a mini flag and has prepared two songs for each grade level.

Hope Elementary kindergarten students drew pictures of flags and first through sixth grade students are writing letters to veterans to thank them for their service. The letters and pictures were mailed to local veterans Tuesday, Nov. 9h. Addresses were provided by families and the Clark Fork Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Kootenai Elementary students are writing letters, pictures and cards to send to local veterans.

Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School is hosting a small group of vets today who will speak to the student body about the value of service. After the assembly, students will complete a reflection activity.

At Northside Elementary, music students have been learning songs as a tribute to veterans in Russell Richins' classes. They will be performing them in class today. Sixth-grade students will learn the significance of poppies to represent Veterans Day, learn to make paper poppies, teach their second grade buddies what they've learned and decorate the front door as a thank you to veterans.

Fifth grade students will watch a live stream Veterans tribute, and will write their own acrostic poems to the word "veteran.” These poems will be given to the Sandpoint VA's office to share with local veterans. Second grade students will learn about Veterans Day and write letters to local veterans. Students throughout the building will be learning about Veterans Day using Scholastic News and other informational text.

At Sagle Elementary all students have been celebrating during music class all week,learning songs like "The Star Spangled Banner," "The Brave" and "My Country Tis of Thee.” They will also watch a video about veterans.

James Koehler, transportation director and veteran, wrote a speech that all of Sagle Elementary teachers will be sharing today. Many classes will be writing thank you letters and drawing pictures of veterans that will be delivered to the local VFW.

At Southside Elementary, some grades will sing patriotic songs to invited veterans. Others are writing letters to veterans or reading Scholastic News and learning about Veterans Day.

Sandpoint Middle School will be using homeroom time to create a “Wall of Thanks.” Students will be writing notes of gratitude on a big poster in the gym. The band will be playing in the gym when students come to place their notes. The “Wall of Thanks” will be up and displayed throughout parent-teacher conferences the following week. In addition, the school’s leadership classes will be holding the “Wall of Thanks” for veterans to see as they enter the vehicle parade for SHS.

Washington Elementary is celebrating with the whole school singing three songs and saying the Pledge of Allegiance outside at morning line up. Parents are invited to join in as they drop their children off.

Students will also watch a video recording of a Veterans Day message. It will be a part of morning announcements with a video Veterans Day message. There is even an honor wall where students can hang pictures of their family members who are Veterans.

Sandpoint High School has a planned Veterans Day drive-thru. Veterans will be riding in their cars and students will be outside the building surrounding the parking lot/driving area holding posters and flags. A Veterans Day video will be shown following school announcements.

Tentative Schedule-

9:30: Veterans meet at church parking lot

9:39: Students go to second period

9:40-9:50: Stuco passes out flags to students outside

9:45: Veterans leave church parking lot

9:47: Estimated time of arrival of parade at SHS

After a couple of passes, veterans will be invited to meet with some SHS students at the VFW Hall, 1325 Pine St., for a meet-and-greet as well as coffee and pastries.