NPA Veterans Day

11 minutes ago

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A Day of Gratitude...NPA Honors Our Veterans

NPA continued its tradition of honoring those who have served our country with two special Veterans Day assemblies on November 11th. Students, staff, and veterans gathered for a celebration of patriotic music, art, and giving thanks to those who have served our nation.

The first assembly brought together students in 4th through 8th grades. Mrs. Michelle Petrulsky, NPA’s executive director, opened the celebration with a welcome to the veterans and their escorts. One of our student ambassadors then led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the fourth graders’ performance of the "Armed Forces Medley." This song has been a longstanding NPA tradition since the school first opened its doors and is a fun way to introduce the different branches of the military.

The fifth graders continued with "God Bless America," followed by the sixth graders’ moving performance of "Song for the Unsung Hero." Student ambassadors then had a chance to ask the visiting veterans questions, giving students a closer look at their military experiences and the stories behind their service. Below are some of the highlights to enjoy.

The second assembly brought together our kindergarten through 3rd grade students. After the welcome from Mrs. Petrulsky and Pledge of Allegiance, 2nd graders performed the "Star-Spangled Banner," followed by kindergarten students singing the "Armed Forces Song." Third graders shared "We Honor You," and 1st graders closed the musical performances with an "America Medley." Just like the older students, our younger learners had the opportunity to hear from the veterans about their experiences serving our country.

Throughout both assemblies, our veterans were recognized through patriotic songs, student artwork, and the sincere appreciation of our school community. As a special gesture of gratitude, each veteran also received an honorary NPA pin thanking them for their service.

A special thank you to Mrs. Farrington, Mrs. Cunningham, and our student ambassadors for helping organize and lead the assemblies. We also appreciate Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Rowley, Mrs. Hardy, and all the teachers and students who helped with the patriotic art displayed throughout the school. We would also like to thank NPA alumna Amanda Scott for capturing these special moments through her photography.

At NPA, honoring our veterans is more than a yearly assembly. It is an opportunity to teach our students about service, sacrifice, patriotism, and gratitude. To all of our visiting veterans and the families who support them, thank you for being part of our NPA community.

A Flag for Every Student...A Tribute to Every Veteran

The day before Veterans Day, NPA students took part in a special school tradition, our annual outdoor flag display. Each student places a flag in front of the school, creating rows of red, white, and blue around the flagpole

This activity gives students an opportunity to recognize the men and women who have served our country and to show respect for the American flag they proudly served under. As the flags fill the area around the flagpole, they serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by our veterans and the freedoms they have helped protect.

A special thank you to Mr. Hayes and several of our 8th grade students who helped guide students as they planted their flags.

A Veteran's Story…Inspiring Our Youngest Students

What does it mean to be a U.S. Veteran? Our kindergarten students had a special opportunity to learn firsthand when Mr. Hayes visited their classrooms on Veterans Day to share his

experiences serving in the U.S. Army.

Through an engaging slideshow, Mr. Hayes gave students a glimpse into his time in the military, including photographs of himself jumping out of an airplane and driving a tank! He talked about what it means to serve our country and the sacrifices military men and women make every day to protect the freedoms and safety we enjoy here at home.

He also helped students understand that military service affects the entire family. He spoke about how much he missed his mom while he was deployed and that behind every service member are family members who make sacrifices of their own. They are doing their part to support their military loved ones here at home while they are away serving our country.

Our kindergarteners had plenty of questions for Mr. Hayes and were excited to hear his answers and learn more about his military experiences. His presentation made such an impression that one student shared at the end, "I want to join the Army like Mr. Hayes when I grow up!"

A Moment of Silence To Honor Our Veterans

At exactly 11:00 a.m. on Veterans Day, our Kindergarten through 2nd grade students paused during their lunch to observe a moment of silence in honor of the men and women who have served our country. Led by Mrs. Thomas, one of our first grade teachers, the students took a moment show their appreciation for our Veterans.

Mr. Hayes shared how much the moment meant to him, saying, "I am proud of those kids being reverent at that request. Even the kindergarteners were silent."

We are proud of our youngest students for showing such respect. Thank you to Mrs. Thomas and everyone who participated in this meaningful tribute to our Veterans!

Ask Away!!

In this Veterans Day Edition, we asked NPA students, “What does being a U.S. Veteran mean to you?” Their answers offer a glimpse into how our students understand the courage, service, and sacrifices of the men and women who have served our country. "Someone who is brave." - Kindergartener "They stop bad people from hurting America." - Kindergartener "It is when they leave home to keep us safe on a big boat." - 1st Grader "Veterans protect us from bad people." - 1st Grader "They get to use planes and tanks to keep us free." - 2nd Grader "Being a veteran makes me want to be one too." - 2nd Grader "Most important job ever!" - 3rd Grader "Someone with a ton of courage." - 3rd Grader "A real superhero even when scared." - 4th Grader "They fight for us so we can live like we want to." - 4th Grader "Veterans are amazing people who fight to keep us free." - 5th Grader "Being a veteran means they have helped America be a safe place to live." - 5th Grader "It means protecting the rights and freedoms that we have every day." - 6th Grader "Being courageous and willing to fight for us even when it is hard." - 6th Grader "Risking their life to protect ours." - 7th Grader "Someone who put their life on hold to go fight for peace." - 8th Grader