Mission Viejo Students Sacrifice Recess for U.S. Soldiers

Everyone from Saddleback Valley Unified--students, parents, teachers and staff--are helping send valentines to U.S. soldiers.

Some kids are skipping recess. Others are taking a break from a dance. In small ways, various schools are participating to reach out to men and women in the armed services.

Christy Ballard, Saddleback Valley PTA Outreach Chair, sent in this update:

Many schools have selected military already linked to their school. So fathers, mothers, sons, daughters and/or alumni will be receiving messages at this special time of year.

At , the Students and Staff chose to send their valentines to a former student and MVHS graduate, and his fellow marines at Camp Pendleton. Linda Vista delivered 500+ Valentines last week to Camp Pendleton; these were hand-made by students, staff, and PTA Volunteers (photos attached).

Robinson Elementary students choose to skip recess and go to the PTA staffed art room during lunch and make Valentines to show their appreciation (photos attached). The Robinson Elementary PTA will also hold a mini stuffed animal drive in early February for “Operation Gratitude”. The soldiers use these mini stuffed animals to gain children's trust when overseas.

At a recent family dance, the students of choose to stop dancing and make valentines to show their appreciation for our troops. Kaitlyn Hieb, the Student School Board Representative, has also been instrumental in implementing the project at El Toro High School.

The staff at Superintendant Clint Harwick's office have been working along with school board members on creating their own valentines to send to the troops. It is wonderful how all members of the SVUSD family are pulling together and create a community-wide effort that everyone from kindergarten to the SVUSD superintendant can participate in.

The public is also welcome to join. For more information contact Christy Ballard, SVPTA Outreach Chair svoutreach@svpta.org or Suzann Gastreich SVPTA President svpresident@svpta.org.