We always find lots of wonderful efforts and good ideas in the entries for our annual Parent Group of the Year search. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites from 2013 in this collection. For a community service project that truly had heart, children from Ritchie Elementary in Wheeling, W.Va., made valentines for veterans. The program’s theme was “Thank You,” and teachers encouraged students of all ages to participate. Younger students at the K-5 school drew pictures and wrote the words “thank you,” while older kids got creative with markers, stickers, and glitter. It was a group effort that hit home, as well—West Virginia has the highest number of veterans per capita in the nation, and many students at Ritchie have veterans in their families. In the end, students created 264 cards, which were mailed to the veterans hospital in nearby Pittsburgh, Pa., for Valentine’s Day.
