Indian Mills School to host third annual Veterans Breakfast
The breakfast will take place on Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
In honor of Veterans Day, Indian Mills School is giving back with its third annual Veterans Breakfast.
Taking place on Nov. 7 from 8 to 9 a.m., military veterans (whether they have family attending IMS or not) are invited to take part in this event.
Coordinated by Karen Clementi and Kerry Haines, Clementi said it can be tough for students to grasp the meaning of what Veterans Day represents, and by hosting a breakfast, the students are able to gain a deeper understanding to those who served the country.
With the help of New Jersey Education Association Project Pride program, pancakes, French toast casseroles, bacon, sausage, bagels, pastries and more will be provided. All staff members sign up to bring additional food as well.
This year’s event will feature two unique “frame stations” for opportunities for the students to take photos with the veterans. Each year, there is an increase in attendance — with more than 150 attendees at last year’s event and hopes for even more this year.
Clementi has been at IMS for 20 years, and Haines for 13 years, and for the past several years they have been thinking of ways to honor veterans, but with so much going on at the school in November — including Education Week, conferences, report cards and more — the planning wasn’t put into action.
However, three years ago, the details were finalized and the outcome was better than expected.
Clementi said the look on students’ faces when they arrive with their veterans is “angelic and proud,” and they love that they can honor veterans in their school, with the satisfaction of knowing it is something they helped put together to treat their loved ones with recognition, good food and fun.
In addition to the breakfast, the Pre-K to fourth-grade students at IMS take part in activities such as writing letters to the veterans, designing pictures, making the centerpieces for the breakfast and more to cover the walls with student work as a way to further honor and welcome the veterans.
“The veterans are truly amazing. They appreciate everything the students and staff have to do for the breakfast. When they walk in the front hallway there are ‘gold’ stars with their names hanging from the ceiling, there are pictures and letters and poems around the entire cafeteria,” Clementi said. “The veterans notice all of it and comment on it. There is a lot of smiling and laughing going on.”
She went on to say the event makes students think, and that some of them express very heartfelt and intelligent things about the veterans.
Clementi and Haines take pride in the event they have put together and they enjoy watching the successful community/school involvement unfold.
“The goal is to recognize and show our gratitude to the veterans. One breakfast is not enough, but it is something little we can do,” Clementi said. “We can never thank them enough or understand what they did and do for us every day.”
For more information or to sign up to attend, email kclementi@shamongschools.org or call (609) 269–0220 x 2149.
