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Assistant Managing Editor EAST LONGMEADOW This Christmas students in Kristin Rahilly's kindergarten class at Meadow Brook School received an extra present: the gift of helping others. Students sent five large boxes of goods to troops and injured children in a hospital in Iraq. The project just sort of came together. Rahilly said around Veteran's Day she began to talk to her students about what it means to be a veteran. Around this time she would see groups standing in the area holding signs requesting that troops were brought home. Rahilly said she wanted to do something for the troops and when a photo in The Reminder that featured Capt. Joseph A. Pagnoni, who is also an East Longmeadow resident, was brought to her attention, that was it. She contacted the newspaper for his information and the project was off. Pagnoni works in an Air Force hospital in Iraq where he not only cares for wounded soldiers but civilians and children. Last week when the question of what students had learned about Veterans Day was posed, they recalled what they learned: "It's like an aunt or something." "They protect us." "Soldiers and Marines." With the help of their parents, students brought in puzzles, biscuits, wipes, coloring books, crayons, toothpaste, hard candy, stuffed animals and more. They also crafted a book titled "Ten Black Dots" for soldiers featuring drawings in a storytelling form. Of their own Christmas lists, students were just as forth coming: a bike, Heelys, Power Ranger Plug and Play and Star Wars Legos. "I felt it needed to be done," Rahilly said, adding that the project was good at making a "child to child connection." She expressed her gratitude for the parents who have donated time, items, money and more. Principal Judy Fletcher agreed that the class had taken on a great project. Meadow Brook hosts several drives throughout the year for various charities and organizations. "The parents have given a lot," she said. "At this age level you want children to understand that others aren't as lucky." | ||||||
