Student build on Strong Traditions

By Lauren Valentino, Principal

November is a month rich with tradition at Botelle School. For over two decades, Botelle students, staff and PTO have welcomed local veterans and their families to the annual Veterans Day Assembly, celebrated with song and ceremony. This tradition started in 2003 thanks to music teacher Elizabeth Allyn and has been going strong ever since.

Preparations for this special day began in September. Mary Pat Lasko, school secretary, and Richard Byrne, a veteran himself, updated the list of veterans to be invited. Music teacher Mary Krusch chose patriotic songs for students in all classes to sing, including a whole-school song and selections for chorus. Students have been practicing weekly. The band, composed of fifth and sixth graders, will also perform.

As the school’s senior students, the fifth and sixth graders play a large role in the assembly’s success. First, they write to invite the almost 100 veterans and their guests. They also emcee the assembly. With help from teacher Sarah Ward, they tell the history of Veterans Day at Botelle and introduce each class and song. Students also create videos on the history of Veterans Day and Norfolk’s Veterans Memorial.

A special ceremony based on the book “America’s White Table” by Margot Theis Raven pays tribute to veterans who are prisoners of war or missing in action. Says sixth grader Elana Hunt, “It was fun putting the plate on the table, because it could have helped people if they lost someone.” The assembly concludes with Byrne passing the microphone to each veteran to share their name, rank, branch and time of service.

Many veterans have attended every assembly since 2003, and some have created albums with their invitations and photos with the students who escorted them into assemblies over the years.

Botelle’s PTO will again prepare a luncheon for veterans and their guests following the assembly, which this year will be held on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, at 10:30 a.m., in the school gym. All are welcome to attend this special event that brings the community together to honor those who have served our country and protected our freedoms.

A more recent tradition in November and December is the food drive to support the Norfolk Food Pantry, sponsored by Botelle’s Student Council. This year’s council representatives are Elana Hunt, Jiovanni Vargas and Abigail Bennett. Last year, volunteer Marie-Christine Perry visited Botelle to teach students about the pantry and the donations that are needed. In 2023, the Botelle School community donated over 200 food items. Participation in traditions like these helps develop community-minded citizens and confident leaders who look for ways to make a difference in the lives of others.