Character education program honors American hero
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November 24, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 17
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Left: Principal Meyers, Specialist James Martinez and Character Education Committee Chairman Katherine Mueller. Right: Specialist Martinez with students K. Masarwa and N. Collucci.
On Veterans Day, Waldwick Middle School honored an American hero as part of the district’s ongoing character education program. The guest of honor was Specialist James Martinez, a New York firefighter, member of the National Guard, and recipient of the Purple Heart, one of the highest honors this country can bestow upon a soldier. After spending helping at Ground Zero following 9/11, Specialist Martinez joined the National Guard and was
deployed to Iraq as a medic. On Dec. 21, 2004, as he was eating in the mess hall with many of his friends, a suicide bomber attacked. The explosion killed several of his friends and injured 100 other soldiers, most of whom were sent home with serious injuries. Specialist Martinez sustained hearing loss, shrapnel in his leg, and a broken back. At the recent program, students from grades six through eight prepared questions, which they posed to Martinez.
Both the questions and the answers were thought provoking. Several times, Martinez became visibly emotional. The students were captivated by his commitment and love for his country. One of the most poignant moments during the assembly was when Principal Meyers thanked Martinez for coming, and the entire student body rose to their feet and applauded enthusiastically. The assembly gave the students an opportunity to appreciate what American soldiers do to try to keep the country free and strong. It was quite evident they respected Martinez, and most of the student body stopped to shake his hand and say thank you as they left the multipurpose room. The character education program focuses on a different core value each month from September through June. Topics include respect, responsibility, generosity, perseverance, caring/compassion, resilience, honesty, courage, and fairness. November’s topic is citizenship. In addition to marking Veterans Day, the students are being encouraged to help others, and appreciate what it means to be a good citizen. At the end of this month, the district will hold its first Points of Light Ceremony. The entire school will come together to celebrate respect, responsibility, and citizenship, and awards will be presented to students who have exhibited strong character during each month.
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