Schools Get Involved

Camp Lejeune Dependent Schools

• Stone Street Elementary School students and staff made a “God Bless America” hand-print banner to hang on the fence outside the main gate at Camp Lejeune. The PTO’s school/community spaghetti dinner was followed by a candlelight “ceremony” which included a moment of silence and everyone singing God Bless America.

Fort Benning Schools

• Herbert J. Dexter Elementary School's K-Club sponsored a service project, “Project Hero Energy,” purchasing and packaging high energy snacks to fill 1,000 bags for rescue workers at the Pentagon.

Fort Campbell Dependent Schools

• Lincoln Elementary School students and staff made an American flag to hang in the school hallway.
  
  
• Lucas Elementary School wrote letters on “How I Felt on September 11, 2001” which they sent to Major General Richard Cody, Fort Campbell’s Commander.
  
  
• Wassom Middle School held a “Meet the Pole”—over 150 students gathered around the school flagpole to pray for the nation and their military parents.
  
  
• Fort Campbell High School's Fellowship of Christian Athletes raised nearly $1,400 to give to the Red Cross for victims of the September 11th tragedy. The Key Club sponsored a bloodmobile. The band played a short patriotic program before the September 21st football game.

Laurel Bay Schools, South Carolina

• Fort Jackson and Laurel Bay schools held a “Lunch Bunch” session where parents could meet with counselors to discuss “Helping Your Child Cope with the National Tragedy.”

DoDDS

Brussels District

• Brussels American School held a National Wreath of Remembrance Day to reflect on the tragedies of September 11th. The day included a wreath laying ceremony at the school’s flagpole.
  
  
• Bitburg Elementary School had a school-wide project to collect items for “comfort” kits to be coordinated by the American Red Cross. Second-graders potted and distributed plant to all staff members with an accompanying poem to remind everyone that, “like the tiny plants, we will all grow strong and healthy again because we are Americans and love America.” Primary students made banners to send to the people of New York City, the Pentagon, and the airlines. Third graders wrote letters of encouragement to President Bush. Fourth graders wrote letters to local security police and firemen thanking them for all of their help and work.
  
  Students brought in stuffed bears, attached notes, and sent them to children in New York City. Art classes are participating in an Art for Peace project where one grade sends “peace-related” art work to the same grade in a school in another country which then sends art work back. Students also collected money for children in Afghanistan.
  
  
• Bitburg High School 9th graders wrote in their journals about the tragedy.
  
  
• James van Dierendonck Elementary School, just prior to the introduction of the Euro, collected over $1,100 of European spare change for victims and survivors of the September 11th tragedies, sending their donations to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund and the United Way.
  
  
• Spangdahlem Elementary School students and staff donated 600 stuffed bears and wrote letters to students that had experienced a loss as a result of September 11th. Students also collected over $400 in coins which they donated to the Red Cross.
  
  

  J. (right), student coordinator of the project, and another Spangdahlem Elementary School student finish packing up a box of stuffed bears to ship to students in the New York City area affected by the September 11th tragedy.	Some of Spangdahlem Elementary School’s 600 stuffed bears awaiting shipment to their new homes in the New York City area.
  	Spangdahlem Elementary School students named each bear and attached a letter to each: Dear Friend, This bear comes from Spangdahlem, Germany. The bear’s name is _______. I hope the bear will help you through your sad times. The bear comes with a lot of love and hugs. Your friend,___________

  
  
  
• Spangdahlem Middle School collected $330 in their “Pfennings from the Heart” campaign, sending the donation to the United Way in New York City.
  

Heidelberg District

• Hanau High School students started a donation fund to help the victims of the bombings. German partnership schools delivered a large yellow mum with memorial candles and notes of sympathy which was put on display in the school’s front lobby.

Italy District

• David Glasgow Farragut Elementary School's (Rota, Spain) 4th grade held a bake sale raising $1,125.10 for the Red Cross. A 2nd grade student asked friends to bring money for the Red Cross to help with the tragedy in lieu of presents at his birthday party (according to his parents, his very own idea). In addition, students are collecting dollars for children in Afghanistan.
  
  
• George C. Marshall School's (Ankara, Turkey) 1st through 12th grade art classes painted pictures reflecting their feelings in the days following the tragedy.
  
  
• Stephen Decatur School (Sicily) students raised $1,400 for Navy families affected by the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

Kaiserslautern District

• Kaiserslautern Elementary School 5th graders prepared drinks and snacks for the guards around the school each day.
  
  
• Neubruecke Elementary School collected money to send to the fire fighters’ families who suffered in the line of duty. Sixth graders wrote letters to the soldiers guarding the school building and checking incoming cars. The school also provided coffee and treats while these soldiers were on duty.
  
  
• Ramstein Elementary School students collected money to send to the four schools in New York City that were damaged beyond use due to the attack on the World Trade Center.
  
  
• Ramstein Intermediate School 5th graders collected over $200 through student contributions to give to the Red Cross for families and victims of the September 11th tragedy.
  
  
• Ramstein American Middle School's Junior Leadership raised money via student bake sales for the Red Cross for the New York City relief effort. One seminar class wrote letters to Mayor Giuliani to show their support for New York City. Seventh grade students wrote poetry in response to the Attack on America and displayed it in the school hallways, creating “the USA Wall.”
  
  
• Baumholder High School's Crisis Management team made American flag pins backed by a black ribbon to hand out to students and staff to symbolize patriotism and grief for those who had lost their lives on September 11th.

United Kingdom District

• Feltwell Elementary School 5th graders presented a book of thank-you notes and original artwork to the military members guarding the base.
  
  
• Lajes Elementary School students made American flags and wrote poems emphasizing hopefulness, beauty, and tolerance to hang in the school hallways.
  
  
• Lakenheath Middle School students held a ceremony of remembrance in the school courtyard. Patriotic musical selections were played and sung by the students and staff.
  
  
• Menwith Hill School students, K-12, coined a motto, “Help to Honor Our Heroes,” for all activities related to the September 11th tragedy. These activities included tying large yellow ribbons outside the school and wearing smaller ones; creating two response bulletin boards in the school where students could post their reactions, thoughts, and feelings about the tragedy; conducting a collection from students, staff, parents, community members, and host nation friends to support the September 11 Charity Fund; planting yellow flowers, which were donated but a local British nursery, outside the school.

Wuerzburg District

• Garmisch Elementary School's PTA organized a relief fund for firemen and policemen.
  
  
• Hohenfels Elementary School planted a “Tree of Life” one month after the attack in honor of those who died needlessly, and to honor life overall.

Japan District

• Byrd School “adopted” two Brooklyn engine companies that lost many of their firefighters in the World Trade Center disaster. The school is sending letters, cards, and pictures.
  
  
• Cummings Elementary School's Student Council did several “Appreciation of the Military” projects, including making banners and posters.
  
  
• E.J. King Elementary and High School created a bulletin board of “American Pride” to showcase student letters, poetry, and art that expressed thoughts about the attacks. Nickels from elementary school lunch money were collected to donate to the victims of the attacks.
  
  
• Perry Elementary School sent letters, poems, and student-made flags to the base marketing division to be posted around the base to support the troops, the Red Cross, and the community. The students conducted a quarter drive to raise money for the Red Cross.
  
  
• Sollars Elementary School students and teachers planted three evergreens on the school’s playground in memory of the victims of the September 11th attacks. The students raised money themselves to purchase the trees. In addition, students collected "Nickels for New York."
  
  
• The Sullivans Elementary School students put together special packages for the four schools affected by Flight 77 which crashed into the Pentagon (dozens of students and teachers were on board the flight). Inspired by a Japanese legend of a sick little girl who believed that if she folded 1,000 paper cranes the gods might grant her a wish, the students included 1,000 handmade paper cranes that they folded themselves in the packages. The school also held a silent auction to raise money for the packages, and a rummage sale to benefit Afghan children.
  
  
• Yokota East Elementary School students sent get-well wishes to the Red Cross in New York City for distribution to various city hospitals. Students and staff constructed a mural of handprints in support of America. Trees on the school grounds were decorated with red, white, and blue ribbons.
  
  
• Yokota Middle School students wrote "Peace Notes" and linked them to form a chain which was sent to the firemen, policemen, and families of the recent tragedy.

Yokota High School students built a mural with 3,150 empty soda cans—one for each person killed at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The 20 foot across by 15 feet high mural (90 rows of 35 cans each) depicts a peace sign encapsulated by a rising sun, symbolizing Japan and hope for the future, with a folded American flag next to the sun. The mural’s colors are red (Coke cans), blue (Pepsi, Royal Crown, Canada Dry club soda, and Cool Nestea cans), silver (Diet Coke cans), and gold (students spray-painted the cans). The mural hangs outside the high school.

Yokota High School’s memorial mural

• Yokosuka Middle School held a school wide fundraiser for Pentagon victims’ families. Condolence books and artwork, cards, and letters were sent to the Pentagon.

Korea District

• Seoul American Middle School's National Junior Honor Society performed a service project related to the tragic events of September 11th.
  
  
• Seoul American High School's Renaissance Program held a walk-a-thon to raise money for two scholarship funds benefiting children of the victims of the September 11th tragedy. More than 600 students from the high school, middle school, and elementary school, along with several hundred adults including teachers, parents, and military personnel, completed the 8-mile route. The students collected more than $21,000.
  
  
• Seoul Elementary School donated all proceeds from popcorn sales for one month to the September 11th relief effort.

Okinawa District

• E.C. Killin Elementary School students are collecting dollars for children in Afghanistan.
  
  
• Kadena Elementary School students used their red, white, blue, and gold painted hands to create an 8 foot by 12 foot American flag mural representing the individual Americans who bonded together during the national crisis. Shades of white and off-white handprints dot the flag’s white stripes; pale red handprints dot the red stripes. The blue field is lined back and forth with alternating light blue and dark blue handprints, and white handprints represent the flag’s stars. A quote from a letter sent by First Lady Laura Bush to all children across America is featured as part of the permanent mural, which hangs outside the school’s main office. Kadena students also are making paper and ribbon medals for those parents who are deployed. The medals are posted on a school bulletin board until the parent returns, when he is then presented with the medal. In addition, students collected 25,480 nickels ($1,274) for children in Afghanistan.
  
  

  Kadena ES student handprints in the American flag mural symbolize unity in the wake of the September 11th attacks	Students’ handprints frame a quote from a letter send by First Lady Laura Bush to children across America.
  Kadena ES’s student-created flag mural

  
  
• Kadena Middle School students, during Red Ribbon Week, pledged extra change for America's Fund for Afghan Children.
  
  
• Kadena High School's ROTC and Model United Nations sponsored a collection for America’s Fund for Afghan Children.