Harbouring patriotism

Students of Harbour View Elementary School stepped out of the

classroom Friday for their first lesson of the day as a patriotic

assembly drew a large gathering on the school’s front lawn.

They came together to pledge their allegiance, sing patriotic songs

and learn how to cope and move on, but not forget what happened to our

nation on Sept. 11.

Friday’s assembly was a bit of “closure for our kids,” Harbour View

Principal Roni Ellis said.

The school will continue to hold a patriotic assembly the last Friday

of each month.

“This school has some great, caring students, and I’m so proud of the

patriotism they have shown,” Ellis said.

Through a fund-raising campaign, Harbour View students raised $7,850

to send to the New York Firefighters 9/11 Distribution Relief Fund. The

school mailed that check, along with two large cards inscribed with

various messages of well wishes, to New York on Monday.

“The money just kept coming in,” Ellis said. “It was an incredible

experience for our kids.”

Fifth-grader Ashley Rogers, a bright, well-spoken 10-year-old who

stopped to voice her opinion before she led a group of first graders --

she asked them to “please” get into a single file line -- off to a

classroom.

“The money we were able to raise shows me that people really do care

about our country,” Ashley said.

Another fifth-grader, Jacob Otis, said he learned how evil terrorism

is.

“I think it was just horrible that people could use weapons to destroy

other people and their countries,” he said. “That made me feel a lot of

anger and sadness, but we’re trying to show them that our country is

strong and will come back.”

Jacob said he also sold lemonade on his own to earn even more money.

“I feel good when I’m with my friends here,” first-grader Alex

Nakashioya said. “I think it’s a neat thing we did by giving this money

to the people who need it.”

When the assembly ended, students headed for their classrooms while

their parents headed for home. Ellis noted that these Friday assemblies

have brought the school together.

“These kids have such a true respect for one another,” she said. “The

parents have been very supportive in all they’ve tried to accomplish with

this fund-raising.”

* MIKE SCIACCA is the education and sports reporter. He can be reached

at (714) 965-7171 or by