This special event included the sharing of Severn School’s history; musical performances by students; a special presentation by Severn alum and this year’s keynote speaker, Lyon Ellison ’03; a brief history of each of the six branches of the Armed Forces; and a Q&A with a panel of veterans from various branches of the military. Each panel member was also a relative of a Severn student, making it extra special for everyone involved.

While the fifth-graders take this assembly on as a project every fall, this was the first year it was integrated into the global studies curriculum. Severn's fifth-grade teachers -- Jennifer Hayman and Parker Masselink – made this change to make leading the assembly more meaningful to the students. Integrating the assembly into the curriculum allowed students to further connect with the material, cultivating a better understanding of both Severn’s history and the meaning of Veterans Day. In addition to leading the assembly, the unit included two in-class projects and two separate field trips.

“We wanted to be much more intentional about teaching the fifth-graders about Veterans Day and the importance it holds for our community,” said Hayman. Severn School was originally founded in 1914 as a preparatory school for the United States Naval Academy, and even now, there is a proud tradition of Severn graduates entering the service academies and going on to successful careers in the military.

The in-class projects included a Webquest Scavenger Hunt that helped students learn more about the history and meaning of Veterans Day and a research project on the six branches of the military. For this, students created WeVideos.

For their first field trip, the fifth-grade team took a short trip to Severn's Teel Campus, where they visited the school’s two significant memorials – the Alumni Walkway and the Century of Service Memorial -- and the Severn Archives. Alumni Walkway, designed as a connector between the present and the past, includes three main parts: Teel Gate, the Flagpole, and a historical timeline etched into the walkway itself. Unveiled in 2013, the Century of Service monument pays tribute to the more than 1,500 Severn alums who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Kate Castleberry ’24 and Carolyn Campion, Alumni Director, led a group of students through a brief presentation on the history of Severn’s memorials, followed by a scavenger hunt. Castleberry is working on a year-long Fellows project that involves extensive research into the history of Severn, making this a natural fit for her as well.

Severn Archivist and former faculty member Carol Duncan led a group of students through a tour of Severn's Archives, located within the Alumni House. Students had the opportunity to explore more of Severn’s history through the photos, objects, and other materials that are cataloged in the archives. They also learned about the archive process from Duncan.

"We really wanted students to better understand why Severn School holds a Veterans Day assembly, and these two activities on Teel were a great way to do that,” said Hayman.

 

The fifth-graders spent about 45 minutes in the two designated portions of the Teel Campus trip. Afterward, they completed a writing assignment, sharing what they learned about Severn’s history and what they saw in the archives.

The second field trip was to Washington, D.C., to visit seven memorials that they had researched. During that trip, students were divided into seven groups, each acting as the tour guides for the memorial they were assigned to research.

Finally, the students assembled poppies, which they passed out to all assembly attendees. The red poppy serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance, in honor of those who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Students were able to further connect these lessons with service through the Lower School’s Canned Food Drive in early December. All the items collected will be delivered to a local VFW Post, aiding in their holiday food basket initiative for local veterans.