Elementary school participates in Operation Caring Classroom

Fort Belvoir Elementary School, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Armed Forces Foundation came together Monday to thank military kids for their sacrifices during a special presentation at the school.

The effort, known as Operation Caring Classroom, is an initiative of the Armed Forces Foundation that helps civilian kids support military kids via partnerships between schools around the country.

"It's a really special way to say 'thank you,'"said Lauren Maddox, assistant secretary for communications and outreach at the Department of Education, as she watched the distribution of letters, hundreds of stuffed animals, and about 1,000 books in three different fifth-grade classrooms.
"We have so much to be thankful for, for those in uniform who are standing up for everybody,"added Carrie Jasper of the Department of Education as a red wagon full of books made its way down the school's hallways.

Students in Kristin Hoffmann's fifth-grade classroom received letters from Coronado Elementary School in Durango, Colo.

"We are keeping your family in our prayers,"wrote Elsie Duverger, who included a photo of herself at the bottom of her letter.
"It's really cool,"said Gabriella Mireles, 11, as she read Duverger's letter. "I'm going to write back."

Ariana Nelson, 11, was also pleased with the letter she received.

"My favorite subject is reading,"Marry Ann Ellen Berry wrote.

"It's nice,"said Nelson after she finished the note.

The students eagerly shared their letters with each other, while the stuffed animals and books they received also found places of honor on each desk.

"I think its good that our students get to know that others are appreciative of the sacrifices that they're making,"said school principal Jane Wilson.