Students Reach Out
Students Reach Out
To the Editor:
Four years ago, two wonderful people in Newtown had a great idea. Carol MacInnes, a teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School, had a truly unique concept for a lesson plan. As part of a letter writing exercise in January, she would have her students write letters to the troops overseas for St Valentineâs Day.
This simple concept expanded and spearheading this effort was Donna Monteleone Randle, whose tireless efforts each year has made this program grow.
This year, that idea grew to include not only the entire student body at Sandy Hook, but also to Reed Intermediate, Newtown Middle School (a big thank you to Linda Dale Mulholland and Nadia Papalia, Student Council advisors, and Bruce Moulthrop, advisor for the InterAct Club at NMS and their students) and many Boy and Girl Scout troops! I read 170 letters from the students at NMS, which truly touched my heart. What a wonderful way to teach our students about being good citizens and reaching out to those helping keep us safe to let them know we are thinking of them. I am so proud of all of our students.
In the next couple of weeks, there will be a reception at Reed Intermediate where Newtown will receive a certificate of recognition for our studentsâ efforts. State Representative DebraLee Hovey, State Representative Christopher Lyddy, and State Senator John McKinney are sponsoring this certificate. We look forward to seeing them at this presentation. Residents are also welcome to join in this celebration. We will keep The Newtown Bee posted as to the date and time.
Lastly, if you would like to participate in next yearâs effort, which will begin in September, please contact Donna Monteleone Randle at ndrandle@charter.net or at 203-364-9772.
Anna Wiedemann
13 Clearview Drive, Sandy Hook                            January 28, 2009