Students show appreciation for the military
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers MESSAGES FROM HOME- Sinaloa Middle School seventhgrade students Haley Kohn and Melissa Hiatt create cards of support that will be sent to troops serving overseas as part of the school's Military Appreciation Month. The students are part of a volunteer leadership program at Sinaloa.

Friends Ashley Cooke and Heather Tomaszewski baked snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies on Monday and delivered them to the Simi Valley Police.

So went a typical day for students in leadership class at Sinaloa Middle School.

English teacher Jennifer Healy guides the class, which encourages students to participate in community service activities- from baking goodies during Police Appreciation Week to writing cards for U.S. soldiers abroad during Military Appreciation Month.

Leadership tries to organize at least one activity a month, and Healy makes sure a variety of events are in the mix.

"We do a lot of stuff. This is really a fun class," said Ashley, 14, an eighth-grader who is the leadership class president. "We help out with school activities, dances and with the Renaissance program. Leadership is a good way to help our community and get our school involved and make sure school's a fun place to be."

Renaissance is a program that celebrates students' academic achievement.

Renaissance students, who carry a 3.0 GPA or higher or improve their GPA by 0.5 from the previous quarter, are recognized at pep rallies and through weekly awards. The leadership class also hands out weekly prizes for those who qualify, which is about half the student body.

During lunch last week, about 100 students wrote cards for members of the armed forces.

The cards were sent to Operation Gratitude, a charity which will distribute the cards to troops.

"I think it's really important that our troops know that no one has forgotten about them," said Heather, 14, an eighth-grader and vice president of the leadership class. "I think it's great that they're going to receive letters that kids have written."

Leadership students created announcements and posters for the event, encouraging classmates to write little notes of thanks.

The class is organizing a Share our Soles shoe drive for May 19 to 23.

Students will be asked to donate new or gently used shoes for children in other countries who have nothing to protect their feet.

For Teacher Appreciation Week recently, students gave small gifts of candy or other surprises to teachers.

Healy thinks it's important to teach youngsters the importance of community service.

"I definitely want our kids to have the opportunity to reach out and help," she said. "I think at their age, it's critical to have that foundation.

"I tell my students, you don't have to go to a foreign country to serve. There are little ways to serve people all around. You can do something simple, like bring people shoes or sign a card or buy a keychain with the money that goes (to people in need). It might not be huge, but it's really going to impact people."