District 64 Superintendent, Dr. Bender, leads Field School students and staff in singing the Star Spangled Banner.
Music teachers, Jenny Johnson and Joani Heavey, Art teacher Michaela Sorensen, Foreign Language teacher Maryann Arsenijevic, and Physical Education teachers, Maureen Borowski, Samantha McDaniel and Jason Mata successfully worked to combine their enrichment programs, the social studies curriculum, and the district’s civil behavior initiative, by honoring a remarkable day in our country’s history. All of these teachers are members of the Park Ridge Education Association.
The picture of 600 children, standing silently on the beautifully landscaped front lawn of Eugene Field Elementary School, with their tiny hands over their huge hearts, in a demonstration of respect for their school, community, and country, filled onlookers with great pride. The “Celebrate America” flag raising ceremony held on Friday, September 9th, 2011, was a memorable moment and a meaningful learning experience for each and every student.
Among the honored guests were Park Ridge Mayor Dave Schmidt, Aldermen Sweeney and Maloney, Police Chief Frank Kaminski and Senator Dan Kotowski.
Fifth graders began the ceremony with spirited voices singing, “This is America!”, by Teresa Jennings. The list of patriotic music also included dramatic songs such as “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin. Mrs. Heavey proudly commented, “To learn all the patriotic music for this 9/9/11 event, the entire student body worked extra hard from the first day of school!” She added, “The fifth graders did an awesome job as role models and leaders for the all-school singing. They also performed, “Celebrate America,” a song that I wrote nine years ago for the one-year anniversary of 9/11.”
Lt. Duane Mellema and the Park Ridge Police Honor Guard, respectfully led the procession of fifth graders, Sophia Post, Margaret Edsey, and Matt Herguth, who carried, and then hoisted “old Glory” to it’s rightful place of admiration.
The highlight of the program was a solo rendition of The Star Spangled Banner sung by District 64 superintendent, Dr. Philip Bender.
Field School Principal, Susan Walsh, said in her speech, “Today we honor the heroes who serve our community and our country”. Mrs. Walsh encouraged all Field School students to notice the heroes around them every day and to find the hero in themselves.
The special subject teachers look forward to a future filled with hope and honor and many Field School heroes.
