Honoring Local Heroes
Birches Elementary School Invites Washington Township First Responders for a “Heroes Day” Kickoff to Kindness Week
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – Birches Elementary School kicked off its Great Kindness Challenge Week on Monday, March 19, 2018, inviting local law enforcement, fire department and emergency medical staff members for a “Heroes” event. As the busses arrived to start the day, students were greeted at the front door by a gauntlet of first responder personnel, including Chief of Police Pat Gurcsik and Fire Chief Patrick Dolgos.
After walking through the arch of rainbow balloons, students made it to homeroom before being called back out into the hallways. There, they cheered and high-fived as the first responders made a lap around the school.
At the end of the lap, the guests were greeted by fifth-graders with homemade signs thanking them for their service before enjoying a complimentary breakfast in the school cafeteria. While having their donuts and coffee, the invitees received a delivery of thank-you cards from students around the school.
Birches is celebrating kindness all week, with special events each day. They include:
- Monday: Heroes Day
- Tuesday: Teamwork Tuesday – Teachers will have students work on teamwork activities and play different games.
- Wednesday: Roundup Wednesday – Annual roundup fundraiser, with staff and students bringing in items to donate to local animal shelters.
- Thursday: Be Kind/Unwind Day – Teachers will host different unwinding activities in the classrooms, and the school will have an open house at Student Assistance Counselor Mike Petticrew’s new Sensory Room.
- Friday: Birches Rocks – Students will collect the kindness rocks that were placed in the school courtyard and have the opportunity to take one of the rocks home.
Also on hand at Birches on Monday were Shirley, Joe Sr. and Joe Vallee Jr. Shirley’s father, Arthur, created the book Rainbow Rabbit 40 years ago, and it was reintroduced by his family. It tells the story of a rabbit whose colorful coat makes him feel isolated in his own village. Birches uses the book to support its anti-bullying program, with all students provided with a plush rainbow rabbit to take home and remind them of the story’s idea.
Please click here for more photos from Monday's event.
- WTPS -