WAYNESBORO, VA (Rocktown Now) — At Waynesboro Public Schools’ Kate Collins Middle School (KCMS), art teacher Terry Ward introduced 6th-to-8th-graders to “Project Thanks,” in which the students create pop-up greeting cards for public safety staff. It’s Ward’s first year as KCMS’ art teacher after years of art-teaching at other schools including Nelson County High School and Albemarle County’s Henley Middle School.

Photo credit: Waynesboro Public Schools.

Staff reports that Ward has made it a tradition to have his students make thank you cards for first responders which he delivers on September 11th.

Photo credit: Waynesboro Public Schools.

The students thank you greetings made of manilla cardstock picture ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, badges, and various rescuers. The cards were meant to have “pop-up” parts and decorative lettering.

Photo credit: Waynesboro Public Schools.

“I mentioned in class that just last week, many of us in Waynesboro were anxious and afraid because of the violent attack at Westwood Elementary School –who knew it could happen here?” Ward said. “Back on September Eleventh, with deadly violence in so many states at once –in New York, Pennsylvania, DC– we all felt that same sort of anxiety, but it was all over the country, nationwide!”

“I emphasize the bravery of those firefighters and police,” Ward said, “as workers and tourists evacuated the buildings, the rescuers were running in so they could save lives.”