Valentines for Veterans

Recently, the grade 7 & 8 students put into words their thoughts about the role our veterans have played in making our country what it is today.  The students discussed how their lives would be much different today if it were not for the sacrifices made by the many men and women who served our country in times of war.  In addition to a variety of writing assignments, the students also undertook to make, and then to deliver Valentine cards to the  residents of Deer Lodge Centre.   As a follow up assignment, the students are writing about what they learned as a result of their visit with the veterans.

Excerpt from the Winnipeg Free Press (Friday, February 12, 1999)

Valentines for veterans straight from the heart

William Fleming's first valentine in the better part of 80 years came straight from a child's heart:  "You are the most bravest person I know."

The 90 year-old from Shoal Lake sat quietly and treasured a handful of valentine cards brought to him yesterday at Deer Lodge Centre by the kids from Earl Grey School.

"It's very good, as far as I'm concerned," the Second World War infantryman said as he read his cards.  Fleming didn't think he'd had a valentine since he was a small child, "but I got them today."

Kids in the predominately male class - Earl Grey offers all-girls classes in grades 7 and 8 - wrote the cards themselves as a language arts project on school computers.  Younger grades contributed hand-made cards.

"They've learned an incredible amount," principal Gail Singer said.  "The idea is to raise awareness about the veterans.   What you want to do with kids is teach them about life.  Sometimes it takes going beyond the curriculum."

"It's a good tribute," said student Stefan Rumak.  "We were pretty much into it, right from the start.  My grandfather was here (Deer Lodge) for a bit.  He passed away."

"It was kind of different," said Grade 7 classmate Jordan Davis.  "I think it's a nice thing to do for people who've done something for us."

The vets were thrilled.

"It's a very nice thing," said Howard Smith.

"I think it's wonderful," said former air force navigator and bombardier Charlie Wild.

"These people are the people who made Canada the free country we're in now," student Jessica Redekop said.  "Some people only think about them, you know, on Remembrance Day."

Kids throughout Manitoba will be marking Valentine's Day today, some in traditional ways, some innovatively like the Earl Grey children.    .........................

Fun Fact

If you stretch an elastic band repeatedly, it will get WARM. WHY? Energy cannot be created nor destroyed but it can be converted from one form to another. When you stretch the elastic its coiled molecules are straightened. When you let the elastic go the molecules return to their original shape. Work energy was required to stretch the molecules and when you released the elastic some energy was converted to kinetic energy, to get the molecules back to original shape and some energy was converted into HEAT.

Click "Back" on your browser to return to the Student Projects Page or go to [Earl Grey's Homepage]