United We Run

 Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22 and Zachary Kolda Elementary, cordially invites you to participate in our first “2023 United We Run” 5K and 10K in order to support our 2023 Marine Corps Ball and assist with the build of Kolda Elementary children’s park.  The event will be held Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 0700 at Sherrill Veterans Memorial Park

MATSG-22 and Kolda Elementary Partnership

Due to Corpus Christi being the home to the Naval Air Station (NAS) and Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), Zachary Kolda Elementary houses the highest percentage of military students in the Corpus Christi area. Kolda Elementary is not only a campus named after a local hero that gave all (life) for his country, but it is unique in that it exhibits a sense of patriotic pride.

Upon returning from the Covid pandemic, our campus worked diligently to build partnerships and our primary focus was to begin with the community that we served. We were able to obtain the Purple Star Designation by TEA in 2022 for the relationship that we built with our military families. In 2022-2023, Sgt Major Armentrout and administration worked at building a relationship in which Kolda Elementary would be the official adopted campus of the US Marines at Marine Aviation Training Support Group

-22 (MATSG-22). The goal was to build on Kolda's foundational values of Knowledge, Service, and Character.

For Knowledge, the Marines have donated hundreds of books to students that donated to the Toys for Tots Drive. As a way of recognizing the kindness in students' willingness to donate, they returned the generosity in a way that encouraged students to read and build on their literacy. To support literacy, the Marines also volunteered to come to campus and read to our students on Read Across America Day. Some Marines went the extra mile in joining classes out at recess. As a way to build on History, during our Veteran's Day celebration the Marines held a Historic Uniform Pageant for our veterans and students as they took everyone on a historic journey on the uniforms worn in different eras. In return, Kolda Elementary nominated MATSG-22 for the Partners in Education Award given by Corpus Christi ISO to organizations that unconditionally give to students. MATSG-22 was recognized for the gift of time that they continuously give to the students at Kolda Elementary.

For Service, the Marines have updated our Marine Corps Seal. Our teachers have provided childcare for Marines to attend the Marine Corps Ball. For many of the families, they expressed their gratitude to our teachers because they are alone in this area and entrusting their children to someone unknown is often difficult. The Marines worked at our Freedom Fest, by playing tug-a-war, challenging families to do pull-ups, providing live demos of dog training in the skills of basic obedience, scent detection, and patrol work. Many families commented on how safe they felt knowing that about 50 Marines were present to ensure safety and community for our families. In April, the Marines of MATSG-22 collaborated with the USO and HII-Mission Technologies to set military and STEM stations for military students as a way of celebrating Month of the Military Child. Upon hearing from students that the day "was the greatest day ever'' we also heard from parents saying 2 weeks later "my child is still talking about the event." The greatest joy was being able to take our active-duty military students to the Naval Base and having many of their military parents brag about their child(ren). They pridefully stood there taking pictures and videos of their child running drills and engaging with other military children. Many students bonded with other military children as they would discuss where they moved around to and the various roles that their parent(s) serve within the military.

For character, the Marines have supported numerous 5K runs and runners' club practices. The motivation that it gives a student when they know that they are training alongside Colonel Tiger, Sergeant Major Armentrout, and numerous Marines is

unmeasurable. They continuously motivated our Cadets to try their best and to never give up. To support hunger, the Marines ran alongside our Cadets in the Miles for Meals 5K and to support the men and women who serve in the military the Marines along with Kolda Elementary ran Beach 2 Bay, a marathon relay race that includes 6 runners each running between 3-6 miles.

The partnership was formed as a way of giving back to the military families that give so much to our country for our freedom. One parent once said "my wife wants us to move after I retire, but I want to stay because we feel welcomed here." He further explained that for many places that our military families move to the feeling is not the same and many times they feel unwelcomed. John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." As educators, we educate all our children, but we want our men and women that are serving to protect our country to know and feel that their most prized possession, their children, are safe, loved and well taken care of at Kolda Elementary.

While we are the adopted campus of MATSG-22, our military families serve in all branches. Moving into the 23-24 school year we will also work alongside the Coast Guard in beach clean-ups and literacy activities. The Army has also come to Kolda to read to our students and to engage at our Freedom Fest. This partnership has opened the doors and built relationships for all military branches. All students have learned and engaged with military men and women that move around the world. These relationships work to take us from being an educational institution to a place where we truly teach our students about service and character through respect, discipline, and high expectation.