While several Keller ISD schools recognized and celebrated Veterans Day this month, few featured an event on the scale and with the personal meaning of South Keller Intermediate School’s ceremony.
On November 11, the students and staff of South Keller held a Veterans Day Celebration to pay respect to all U.S. service members past and present. The event included:
- Student boy scouts presenting the Colors
- A performance of Taps by SKI Band Director David Puckett
- The history of Veterans Day presented by the SKI student council
- And video greetings from servicemen and women stationed all over the world
The highlight of the event was SKI’s approximately 900 students joining in song to perform the five service hymns. Students learned and rehearsed the songs for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard for more than a month in preparation for the Veterans Day event.
As each song was sung, the Veterans in attendance stood at attention as their branch was recognized. There was barely a dry eye in the house as the future leaders of the country saluted the heroes of the generations ahead of them.
The event was a personal one to the many students and staff members who have close relatives who served or are currently serving in one of the branches of the military. A Wall of Honor has been established in one of South Keller’s main hallways, which contains nearly close to 100 tributes to close relatives of SKI students including photos and the dates of their service to the United States.
The Wall of Honor also includes actual military uniforms on display, along with posters that contain the lyrics to each of the five service songs. Following the ceremony the visiting veterans had a chance to tour the wall and were then greeted with a reception in the campus library.
SKIS, which serves students in the southeastern corner of KISD, has dedicated itself to making a positive impact on its surrounding neighborhoods, and the faculty and students hope that patriotic activities helped build an increased sense of community pride.
“SKI is all about having fun while learning and making a difference in our community,” said Suzi Schlecte, a Reading Intervention Support Teacher at SKI and chair of the Veterans Day Celebration Committee.
Besides the increased patriotism, the program has provided many additional teaching opportunities.
Timothy Rasinski, a Professor of Education at Kent State University and author of “The Fluent Reader,” visited Keller ISD last spring and spoke about the impact of repeated readings as a reading strategy and the motivational value of providing students with the opportunity to perform. Using the lyrics of military branch service songs, SKI faculty have been able to 
present lessons on everything from vocabulary and punctuation, to imagery and word choice. Teachers also hope welcoming many visitors to the event will be an opportunity for students to practice appropriate audience behaviors as well as respect for service and tradition.
“The Veterans Day Celebration is great because it was inspired by a SKI teacher, and designed through the collaborative efforts of the entire campus, students and staff alike,” SKI Principal Deborah Cano said. “It is such a privilege to work alongside, and with, the students and staff of South Keller Intermediate.”
South Keller is one of seven schools in Keller ISD that improved its Texas Education Agency accountability rating this past year. Rated “Recognized” for the 2007-08 school year, SKIS earned an “Exemplary” rating for 08-09, joining Bear Creek as the only other intermediate school in the district to hold that distinction.
SKI’s Veterans Day Celebration will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. For more on the event, click here to view a commercial created by SKI students.
South Keller Intermediate Facts
Opened: 2001
Address: 201 Bursey Road, Keller, 76248
Enrollment: 869
2008-09 TEA Accountability Rating: Exemplary
Mascot: Cougars
Feeder Pattern: Indians Springs MS > Central HS/Keller HS
Principal: Deborah Cano
Assistant Principals: Kristen Eriksen and Lisa Young
Click here to visit the SKIS campus Web site