NEWS
The VA Hospital Donations Contest is back!!
Currently in the lead are the following classes:
Kindergarten: Loker
1st: Smith
2nd: Bare
3rd: Janiszewski
4th: Steele
5th: Susnock
** The O.B. Gates Military Appreciation Committee is collecting donations for the veterans at the Hunter Homes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond.
** One class per grade level will win an ICE CREAM PARTY for collecting the most items between now and Friday May 3, 2013!!
Kindergarten ~ Shaving cream or razors (for men or women)
1st Grade ~ Fingernail clippers, fingernail files, or chapstick
2nd Grade ~ Alcohol-free mouthwash
3rd Grade ~ Hand or body lotion
4th Grade ~ Deodorant (for men or women)
5th Grade~ Denture adhesive, denture cleaner, or denture brushes
Special Ed & Preschool ~ Facial tissues (like Kleenex)
**All items must be full-sized (no travel sizes, please)!
Contact Briley Laurent at obgatesmilitary@yahoo.com for more information.
The Veterans Day Essay Contest was a success! We had 75 students turn in essays, all which were on display in the cafeteria for the entire week.
Drum roll please....
The winners of a $50 Toys-R-Us gift card for the Veterans Day Essay Contest are:
K - Whitney Shelton, 1st - Courtney Dewell, 2nd - Julia Sink, 3rd - Britney Persinger, 4th - Anna Rehm, 5th - Kat Slattery
Teacher winners for a $50 Bonefish gift card are: Mrs. Cundy & Mrs. Koehne!!
Congrats, everyone!
We are looking for ideas on how O.B. Gates students can support our current and former military members during the 2012-13 school year. Please send any suggestions to obgatesmilitary@yahoo.com!!
A few 'Gates Supports Our Troops' shirts are available for sale (see contact info below):
YOUTH: Red short sleeve, size S
Blue short sleeve, size M
ADULT: Red short sleeve, size M
Blue short sleeve, size XL
Red ladies tee, size M
Spread the word about the Military Appreciation Committee and our upcoming events! We want to make sure our Committee can support and assist our military families and Veterans in any possible way!
If you know of another military family that has a child at Gates, please let us know!
Contact Briley Laurent at obgatesmilitary@yahoo.com for more information, or if you are interested in helping!!
You can do as little or as much as you'd like!
Committee Objective
To create awareness and appreciation for the military members and their families serving the United States of America. The committee seeks to foster a sense of patriotism not only within the school, but also show support for local military personnel and veterans.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE
In May 2012, O.B. Gates students collected more than 1,200 items for the Richmond VA Hospital!
Thanks to all of the students, parents, and teachers for participating!
Great job!!
What We Can DO
* Invite local service members, distinguished military alumni, and veteran teachers to speak at our school and/or participate in school events.
* Send notes and cards to hospitalized veterans or those living in veteran homes.
* Create a large poster signed by all students – send to Richmond Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital and/or Richmond Fisher House (where families of wounded troops can stay while the service member is recovering).
* Participate in after-school, PTA-sponsored field trips to military points of interest, memorials, & museums.
* School principal or other school official can invite audience to stand and join in Pledge of Allegiance and/or National Anthem during May (to recognize Memorial Day) and during November (to recognize Veterans Day).
* Offer to help O.B. Gates families with a deployed service member (transportation, babysitting, & making meals) on an as needed and voluntary basis.
* Send cards and letters of appreciation to deployed troops.
* Volunteer or visit your local VA Hospital to honor veterans from past conflicts.
How Educators Can Offer Support
* Become aware of students with a parent serving in the military.
* Let kids know they can speak individually with a teacher, school counselor, or nurse about their questions and concerns.
* Allow for expression of feelings and emotions.
* If student is distressed about the family homecoming, find appropriate time for them to share feelings, needs, excitements, fears, hopes, and wishes (or direct them to someone who can help).
* Regardless of your own political beliefs, refrain from expressing personal opinions.
* Maintain routines and structure but allow for flexibility.
* Let student know you care and are thinking about them.
* Assign students a buddy who can support him/her.
* Listen to kids. Pay attention to their fears; respect their wish to not talk until ready.
* Expect and respond to any significant changes in behavior.
* Coordinate and communicate effectively between school and home.
For more information, please fill out the following form and return it to your child's teacher.
Click here
Helpful Resources
Department of Defense Military Student:
http://www.militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/
Virginia Department of Education:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/student_family/military/index.shtml
Military Child Education Coalition:
http://www.militarychild.org
Military Child Initiative Johns Hopkins University:
http://www.jhsph.edu/mci
Military Family Research Institute:
http://ww.mfri.purdue.edu
Military One Source:
http://ww.militaryonesource.com
National Military Family Association:
http://ww.nmfa.org
Operation: Military Kids:
http://www.operationmiltiarykids.org
Recommended Reading for Children
*Daddy, You’re My Hero! and Mommy, You’re My Hero! by M. Ferguson-Cohen. 2002. Brooklyn, NY: Little Redhaired Girl Publishing.
*I Miss You Every Day, by S. Taback. 2007. New York: Viking Juvenile.
*The Kissing Hand, by A. Penn. Illus. by R.E. Harper & N.M. Leak. 2006. Terre Haute, IN: Tanglewood Press.
*Love, Lizzie: Letters to a Military Mom, by L.T. McElroy. Illus. by D. Paterson. 2005. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman.
*The Magic Box: When Parents Can’t Be There To Tuck You In, by M.Sederman & S. Epstein. Illus. by K. Stormer Brooks. 2002. Washington, DC: Magination Press.
*My Big Brother, by M. Cohen. Illus. by R. Himler. 2005. New York: StarBright Books.
*My Daddy Is a Soldier, by K. Hilbrecht & S. Hilbrecht. 2000. New Canaan, CT: New Canaan Publishing.
*My Red Balloon, by E. Bunting. Illus. by K. Life. 2005. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mill Press.
*Night Catch, by B. Ehrmantraut. Illus. by V. Wehr-man. 2005. Lansing, MI: Bubble Gum Press.
*Red, White, and Blue Goodbye, by S.W. Tomp. Illus. by A. Barrow. 2005. New York: Walker Books for Young Readers.
*Uncle Sam’s Kids: When Duty Calls, by A. Sportelli-Rehak. Illus. by G. Hinlicky.2004. Island Heights, NJ: Abidenme Books.
*We Serve Too! A Child’s Deployment Book, by Kathleen Edlick. Wee the People Publishing, Eaton, CO. www.weservetoo.us
*When Dad’s at Sea, by M. Pelton. Illus. by R.G. Steele. 2004. Morton Grove,IL: Albert Whitman.
*While You Are Away, by E. Spinelli. Illus. by R. Graef. 2004. New York:Hyperion.
*A Year without Dad, by J. Brunson. Illus. by Cramer. 2003. Dryden, NY: Ithaca Press.
*A Yellow Ribbon for Daddy, by A. Mersiowsky. Illus. R. Contreras. 2005. Phoenix, AZ: Veritas Media.
*You Go Away, by D. Corey. Illus. by D. Paterson. 1999. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman.
Recommended Reading for Adults and Educators
*Educators Guide to the Military Child During Deployment. U. S. Department of Education. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/homefront/homefront.pdf