Nearly two thirds of Darlington Elementary School's student body completed requirements of Harford County Public Schools' Patriot Program this school year, the first time Darlington has taken part in a program designed to educate students about the significance of caring for one's nation and state.
Seventy-nine of 120 Darlington students in kindergarten through fifth grade completed the requirements, on top of their regular classwork.
They celebrated that achievement, which comes with the title of Patriot, Thursday morning with a Patriot Program assembly in the school gymnasium.
Fifth grader Jeffrey Stout, one of 12 fifth-grade patriots, opened the assembly as a town crier, wearing a vest and a replica tri-cornered cap.
"Congratulations to our patriots, who have worked very hard," Alberta Porter, the acting principal, told students and their families gathered for the assembly.
Student participation in the Patriot Program is voluntary. Those who join must complete requirements in six subjects, including the American flag, U.S. geography, U.S. government, patriotic songs, national symbols and monuments and completing a community service project.
The requirements are scaled according to grade level, Lisa Brown, the school's media specialist and leader of a faculty-staff Patriot Committee, explained.
Each grade made a presentation during the assembly. The kindergartners led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance; first graders showed patriotic symbols, such as the Liberty Bell; second graders sung, "You're a Grand Old Flag;" third graders presented patriotic words that match the letters that spell "patriot;" fourth graders presented facts about Maryland's government and state symbols, and fifth graders sang "50 Nifty United States."
The assembly was also a celebration of parent, faculty and staff volunteers who helped the students complete the requirements and administered evaluations of what they had learned.
"Each person made a choice to learn more about our country, our rights, our responsibilities and to grow as a patriot," Porter said.