Pupils at the Christa McAuliffe Middle School, Jackson, participate in the Run for Vets on Nov. 1. The annual event raises the students’ awareness of the contributions made by American servicemen and servicewomen, and it raises money for local organizations that help returning veterans. FRANK GALIPO JACKSON — More than 400 students participated the Christa McAuliffe Middle School’s 11th annual Run for Vets on Nov. 1, along with many staff members, family members, high school students, veterans, and the Jackson community. The Jackson high school ROTC also participated.
This service learning-community activity, a 1-mile run/walk, has raised thousands of dollars for local veterans causes, such as phone cards for soldiers who are serving overseas, assistance for homeless veterans, the New Jersey Korean War Memorial and the New Jersey World War II Memorial.
McAuliffe students, parents and staff work together to promote and run this event, which is open to the entire community.
This year’s event began with an opening ceremony in the cafeteria. First the eighth-grade chorus sang the national anthem. Principal Robert Rotante thanked sponsors, staff, volunteers and the veterans. Seventh-grader Lisamarie Blauer was presented with a certificate for her Run for Vets T-shirt design.
The day’s activities, which were held outdoors, included a 1-mile run and a 1-mile walk, plus special relay events.
The National Guard, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Veterans of the Vietnam War were represented, and handed out patriotic items to students. A special banner was available for signature by students, and will be sent to a soldier overseas.
McAuliffe’s Builders Club collected items from a food drive that they sponsored, and loaded them on a truck for delivery to homeless shelters for veterans.
The event was the culmination of several activities conducted at the school to honor veterans, which included an oral history project, a McAuliffe Veterans Wall of Fame, a student/ veterans breakfast, and classroom visits by veterans.
About $3,700 was raised and will be donated to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Veterans of the Vietnam War, and VetWork, to benefit local veterans.
Run for Vets began in 2000 when students of sixth-grade teachers Nancy Dell’Osso and Marianne Higgins brainstormed ways to raise money for area veterans. This was a culmination of a “Veterans Oral History Project” in which students interviewed veterans they knew and presented them with awards to honor them.
Since then, many other staff members have contributed to this schoolwide “Honor Our Vets” project.
Teachers Jennifer Connor and Mike Saulnier have joined Dell’Osso as co-coordinators for Run for Vets, and have created spirited promotions to increase participation among students.
Every year, Linda Fera and her students create a McAuliffe Veterans Wall of Fame, which honors veterans who are friends and family members of McAuliffe students and staff.
Each year, literacy and social studies teachers encourage their students to enter the VFW’s “Patriot’s Pen” writing contest.
The Builder’s Club organizes a drive annually to donate items for military support packages, which are collected on the day of the event, and sets up a table for students to write letters to American soldiers overseas to be included with the packages.
Jamie Boccia’s peer leaders and Alice Menafra’s student council members are involved in volunteering on race day, and Melissa Svoboda coordinates donations of food and baked items to sell at the event. Other McAuliffe staff members work extra hours each year to help plan and volunteer at the event.
Many parents participate by running, walking, selling snacks, baking, or helping on event day.
Robert Rotante, the school’s principal, is an ardent supporter and participant of the event. His father, John Rotante Sr., was a U.S. Marine, and his brothers John Rotante (major, U.S. Army) and Brian Rotante (captain, U.S. Army) are currently serving the nation.