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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, February 13, 2009 8:50 PM CST
Students send Valentine's packages to overseas troops

By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com

CHARLESTON — Soldiers deployed overseas may get plenty of packages and mail at Christmas and on their birthdays, but some Jefferson Elementary School students wanted to make sure they weren’t forgotten on Valentine’s Day.

On Friday, the school mailed 36 packages to troops who are friends or relatives of Jefferson students. The boxes included Valentine’s cards the students made along with some other written messages, snacks, toiletries and more.

“I think the troops will be proud to know they’re thought of,” sixth-grader Carley Smith said, while classmate Olivia Roberts said she felt good that the students “did something nice” for the soldiers.

Carley, Olivia and the other students who organized the effort are members of the school’s Character Council that does various projects throughout the school year.

“The kids wanted to have a group that embodied that,” said counselor Roxanne Cornebise, who also teaches character education at the school. “It’s about being better citizens.”

The students came up with the idea of sending Valentine’s packages because they thought the holiday would be a time the soldiers might be thinking about home, Cornebise said. Students throughout the school were encouraged to make colorful cards that the troops could display after they receive them, she said.

“This gives you a homey feeling,” Cornebise said as she showed one of the cards, which showed a house with a rainbow in the sky above. “They really took it to heart.”

Fourth-grader Nick Marselli said he already knows the soldiers will appreciate the packages.

His sister Jessica is stationed in Iraq and heard about the project from her family, and then sent the school her address along with a message about how much the effort will mean to the troops.

“I feel happy that she decided to send in something,” Nick said.

A total of 48 students participated in the project, spending their recess time working on the packages. They had to apply to take part and their teachers then chose who got to help, Cornebise said.

Jefferson teachers also used the cards and writings the students made for the project in classroom lessons, she also said.

Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.

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jd50 wrote on Feb 15, 2009 8:19 AM:

" KUDOOS to the teachers and students its nice to see such positve energy and thoughtfullness coming from portions of our community. "