Letters from the front lines
J.H. Sissons students receive replies from Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, December 5, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Students at one Yellowknife school have started to receive responses from a special letter writing campaign they did in hounour of Remembrance Day.
Effie Lockhart, 8, and Anna Pontin, 10, Grade 3 and Grade 5 students, respectively, at J.H. Sissons school, were excited on Tuesday to receive letters from Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. Students from the school sent letters as part of Remembrance Day, and are now receiving letters back. - Candace Thomson/NNSL photo
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In October, the entire student body of J. H. Sissons school sent letters to the final tour of soldiers in Afghanistan. Some of the letters were personalized, some were from an entire class and some were just drawings done by kindergarten students – but tokens of respect nonetheless.
The idea came from teacher Cynthia Clark, who gained support of other teachers and the interest of the students. Clark's sister-in-law is serving with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan and was the for the letter writers correspondent.
"I think the students were honoured to do it, excited to do it because if they don't have parents or relatives in the military they have a lot of friends in this school with parents in the military," said Paul Bennett, principal.
"The soldiers were very excited and happy to get the letters," Clark added.
Most of the students wished the soldiers a merry Christmas, knowing it would be some time before they got the letters. They also described Yellowknife, writing about the snow or their school.
Some of the students, particularly in the older grades, were more personal.
"There are some real sincere questions from the older kids, like "What is your job?" or "Are you anxious to return?"," Bennett said.
One Grade 5 student – 10-year-old Anna Pontin – thanked the soldiers for helping girls have the chance at an education.
"I'm a girl and I’m writing this at school and I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't go to school," Pontin said. "I've always gone to school and I've taken it for granted, but it's something special."
Pontin said she'd written one letter wishing the soldiers a merry Christmas and thanking them for what they've been doing. Aftergiving the topic some more thought, she decided to write more profound.
"I went home and told my parents about (the letter) and we talked about things the military is doing. I realized they're helping girls like me get an education, so I thought it was really important and I changed my letter," she said.
On Tuesday, a large manilla envelope arrived at the schoolwith the soldier replies. They were filled with well wishes for the holidays and reminders to the children to enjoy the time they spend with their families, and to tell their families how much they love them.
When Pontin's principal called her and Grade 3 student Effie Lockhart, 8, into the office to show them the replies, Pontin was shocked and excited. Her eyes lit up, her mouth dropped open, and she reached carefully for the letter.
Although Lockhart's letter wasn't there yet, it will come with another batch of replies, she was just as excited as Pontin that the soldiers were replying. Both of Lockhart's parents served overseas when she was younger, and her father is still in the military.
"It's really special," the girls agreed, on receiving the replies.
Every student or class in the school will receive letters from the soldiers, something Bennett hopes will draw the school community closer while integrating further respect and appreciation for the military.
"For the kids to see their thinking and know that we value them, not just for protecting liberty but the tangible things like education ...wow," he said.
