Marine Corps League Recognizes Holly Springs Elementary For Support of Troops

UPDATE (8:00 a.m., Thursday): Patch spoke with Holly Springs Elementary STEM Academy Principal Dr. Dianne Steinbeck about her school's commitment to the Marine Corps.

"This has been a tremendous partnership with The Marine Corps League of North Georgia Detachment #1280," Steinbeck said. "It has allowed our students to discuss and understand what our men and women in the Armed Forces do for us so that we have the freedom to live and learn here at Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academy."

Steinbeck added that each grade level performs its own service project, and Academy third graders have adopted deployed Marines as part of their project. Steinbeck is proud of the recognition the third graders have earned for their supportt of the Corps.

"We are honored and humbled by the recognition and hope to continue partnering with them to give a little back to our service men and women. It is the very least we can do in consideration of the sacrifices they make for us," Steinbeck said.

According to Steinbeck, the overseas Marines are quite fond of the Academy's Girl Scout Cookies, and they are the most requested item amongst the devil dogs.

ORIGINAL STORY: A local elementary school is being recognized for its support of deployed Marines. 

The Marine Corps League of North Georgia Detachment No. 1280 recently presented Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academy and student Sydney Sincula with Iwo Jima Awards to commend the school for their support.

The school for the past three years has collected donations for care packages to send to troops serving overseas. Kimberly Forrester, a third-grade teacher at Holly Springs, has organized these drives for the past three years.

"Our school has really taken on this project with great pride, as students and parents continue to donate large amounts of needed items," she said. 

Last school year, student Sydney Sincula and her parents, James and Laurie Sincula, donated 167 boxes of Girls Scout cookies to the cause.

The student this school year set a goal of donating 200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. However, Sydney exceeded her goal by donating 550 boxes of cookies to the soldiers.

“This is an amazing feat that we all feel deserves the highest of recognitions,” Forrester added of Sydney’s efforts.

Marine Corps League Detachment No. 1280 is based out of Talking Rock in Pickens County.

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