Peters Township school honors community helpers
Police, fire and emergency medical services personnel converged Wednesday on Peters Township’s Pleasant Valley Elementary School. And everyone was smiling.
“As part of Character Counts Week that we’re celebrating, we decided to pay tribute to our community helpers,” guidance counselor Stephanie Ali said about the township-wide effort to promote positivity.
Managing to avoid some early afternoon rain, students and staff members gathered outside the school for a ceremony to extend gratitude to those who protect and help in emergency situations.
Ali said the idea came from third-grade teacher Lynn Burner, and students worked on gifts to present during the ceremony.
“The third-graders, as part of their economics unit, used the assembly line to assemble gift bags,” Ali said. “The second-graders made plaques. The first-graders did some handprints, and kindergartners practiced, very hard, their Pledge of Allegiance.”
Music teacher Barb Viola taught second- and third-graders how to sing the first verse of “America,” also known as “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” and even the children’s wardrobe lent itself to the patriotic vibe.
“It also was ‘wear red, white and blue’ day,” Ali explained. “They really did a great job with that. I saw most kids in red, white and blue.”
The people who accepted the gifts appreciated the appreciation and the opportunity to visit Pleasant Valley.
“We like to interact with the students and the school, so if we do have to go to them in their time of need, they’re comfortable with us and we’re comfortable with dealing with their issues,” Peters Township firefighter Adam Kauer said.
Paramedic Dan Price also mentioned the acquaintance factor.
“We like being able to spend some time with the kids so they get a little more familiar with us,” Price said. “Whenever we’re needed, it can be very scary. A stranger is coming up to them.”
For Pat Mazzotta of the Peters Township Police Department, the visit was particularly uplifting.
“With all the negativity going on nationwide right now, it’s nice to be complimented and appreciated,” he said, “instead of being on the other side of things.”