FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 28, 2014) -- Loyd and Wilson Elementary schools won Partners in Education Project of the Year awards with 'Loyds, Let's Move' and Wilson's 'Enriching the Lives of Faculty' projects. The awards were given in a ceremony May 13 at St. Luke Ministry Center's Banquet Hall.
Loyd principal Julita Martinez said the concept behind Loyd's project was to have more children involved in knowing how to stay healthy, fit and exercising.
The 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment, WRBL and Kinetic Bank, Loyd's partners in education, sponsored a group of students and Families that met on Saturdays for activities and exercises, Martinez said.
"It was kind of like a field day," she said.
Martinez said each PIE partner contributed in their own way.
The 2nd Bn., 58th Inf. Regt., gave manpower and led exercises, WRBL taught the children about the weather and choosing the right time to exercise and Kinetic Bank taught about leadership qualities and values and how to apply them, she said.
Martinez said even though they have busy schedules, they take the time to be at the school and that their actions set a good example for the students.
"It takes more than one person to educate a child," she said.
Martinez said the children would meet in the gymnasium for 30 minutes every morning doing different exercises and they would also participate in the Saturday running club, which helped add miles to the project, too.
Each week throughout the year, a large map located in Loyd's hallway marked by a panther paw, traced the converted exercise time into miles, she said.
"It was very impressive to see the children using pedometers to count the steps they take in the building," Martinez said.
Martinez said winning the award was surprising, but it wasn't all about the win.
"It's not about winning, its about what we can give to the children and what the children can get from all of the effort and energy that is put into doing things for them," she said.
Wilson principal Renee Mallory said the year has been challenging.
"So, we decided the best way to enrich the lives of faculty was through service," she said.
Mallory said the idea for their Project of the Year didn't come about until after the success of their first project last year, Help the Hooch. That project consisted of Wilson's PIE partners, faculty, staff, students and parents collecting trash along the river at Uchee Creek.
"We had such a huge turnout, so we figured that could be the focus for the entire year, while we continue to work in many areas," Mallory said.
She said the 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, was the dominant PIE partner that assisted with the overall project.
"Major Joel Kassulke really brought leadership," said Lisa Galloway, PIE facilitator.
He helped get volunteers for the project and came to every Citizen of the Month program where children were honored for their hard work, responsibility and citizenship inside the classroom, she said.
Though during the holidays, she said, another PIE partner, Embracing Military Families, a nonprofit organization, helped fund the schools support of military Families in need and a clothing giveaway. Their third PIE partner is the Veterans branch.
For the month of December, faculty and students presented their PIE Partners with treats in appreciation of their efforts, Galloway said. The faculty also helped provide those Families in need with Christmas gifts.
"We do a lot of service at Wilson," Mallory said.
One of the most successful things, Galloway said, was the faculty joining the kids and PIE partners to have a game day in the Covenant Woods.
Mallory said it was an extension of the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child."
"The kids need to know that they've got people reaching out to them to make sure that they are successful," she said.
Mallory said it is not about the competition, rather about what our partners can do to help the children.
"It's always nice to be recognized but it wasn't about the win, (but) it certainly made us all feel good," she said.
Social Sharing