Port Washington Union Free School District’s students are sending lots of love to local veterans this month.
Like years past, Port’s students are collaborating throughout the district to craft heartfelt greetings and messages of appreciation in support of Valentines for Vets, an annual 16th Assembly districtwide initiative in celebration of local veterans.
“The incredible dedication our students have shown for Valentines for Vets is a testament not only to the outstanding character in the district, but also to the inclusive community we are proud to foster,” said Kathleen Mooney, superintendent of Port Washington Union Free School District. “The joy our students receive while brightening the lives of our brave veterans and demonstrating their appreciation for those who have served is palpable.”
Members of Weber’s Peer Leadership club and several 6th-grade health classes worked with one another to craft cards with kind words and positive affirmations for veterans. Under the direction of Traci Drexler and Christine Herrmann, Peer Leadership is a club that promotes healthy behaviors, positive thinking, and good decision making throughout the building.
At Manorhaven Elementary School, Stacey Drucker’s 5th-grade students recently met with Shari Salazar’s kindergarten class—an initiative of the district’s Kindergarten Buddies program—to join in on the Valentines spirit.
In pairs, the kindergarteners and 5th-grade students honed their creativity and made an abundance of cards with positive affirmations and messages for veterans.
The Valentines for Vets initiative enables Port’s students to reach out to the community through acts of kindness—a lesson that cannot be taught through a textbook.
The Valentines for Vets initiative is organized by Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso to show hospitalized veterans that they are appreciated and have not been forgotten.
Cards and new items that Vets could use, such as non-slip socks, gloves, scarfs, sweatpants, gift cards and toiletries, are also part of the annual drive.
This year, the Valentines for Vets will be distributed to the New York State Veteran’s Home in Stony Brook and the Northport Veterans Administration Medical Center.
