Monday, Nov. 15, 2021
Honouring and remembering veterans has been and will always be an important part of education for students, staff and communities. Each year, students and schools across Near North District School Board (NNDSB) mark the day in various ways.
At Sundridge Centennial Public School, Grade 7 and 8 students in teacher Jamey Sollman’s class led Remembrance Day events at the school to honour and show respect and admiration for those who sacrificed so much to protect our country.
“My great-grandpa fought in the war and made it back,” said student Corbin Stenning. “Learning in class about some of the things he would have gone through gave me a new perspective of what he went through and what the war was like,” he said.
Classmate Declan Mullins shared that he learned the true meaning of being a hero.
“I was able to reflect and remember my great-grandpa and how heroic he was as a soldier and police officer,” said Mullins.
Multiple projects and tasks to understand and teach the importance of honouring veterans took place last week, and on Remembrance Day, in a community-wide display of respect and admiration for veterans, students placed large poppies as memorial markers within the front gardens of the school.
Sollman’s students prepared a virtual ceremony for staff and students inside the school, and outside, veterans and members of the Sundridge Branch 467 Legion attended to speak to students on the touching display and work they did to show respect.
“Isn’t this amazing? Sundridge Centennial Public School students did an incredible job,” said Rena Lang, co-chair for the local poppy committee and Legion member. Eleven years ago, Lang was a barber for troops in Afghanistan. “Seeing this display makes us feel great because the students took the time to do this, when they didn’t have to.”
“As a staff, we put a strong emphasis on encouraging students to investigate and learn the significance and importance of Veteran’s Week and specifically Remembrance Day,” said Sollman, “We feel there is a great significance in developing and maintaining our close community connection with the local Legion Branch 467 with regards to education and participation in shared community events like our Remembrance Day Ceremony.”
Lest we forget.