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<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Fridays are fun days at the Graham Academy.</p><p>Nick Ouellette, president and CEO, said the students at the school for children with autism and emotional challenges, look forward to the end of the week as an opportunity for experiential learning.</p><p>Last Friday that experiential learning included an up armored Humvee, a rugged helmet and an understanding of how to treat the American flag, as the school hosted Staff Sgt. Kevin Walters, a member of the Bravo Battery of the 109th artillery, Kingston.</p><p>Walters enjoyed the event as much as the children did.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m loving this,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This is what it&#8217;s all about.&#8221;</p><p>Ouellette said the school is committed to helping students not understand concepts intellectually but to equip them for the future.</p><p>&#8220;Students here have certain &#8216;jobs&#8217;,&#8221; he said. &#8220;One of those jobs is going to be the raising and lowering of the flag. We want them to understand how that&#8217;s done properly.&#8221;</p><p>To third-grader John Mickle, the day was both about fun and learning. It was not his first experience with military vehicles.</p><p>&#8220;I love to see them when they are at the armory,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Mickle also thoroughly enjoyed trying on a helmet, even though it weighed several pounds.</p><p>Students from every age group made their way to the school&#8217;s courtyard to see the equipment and to learn about the military.</p><p>As grades 1 through 3 waited their turn, they practiced &#8220;standing like soldiers,&#8221; patiently waiting for younger schoolmates to exit the area.</p><p>Ryan Blinkley, public relations coordinator, said Friday&#8217;s weekly experiential learning event was an early start to the school&#8217;s transition program which prepares students for life after graduation.</p><p>&#8220;The goal of all our staff and support workers is to prepare our students to be successful,&#8221; he said.</p><p>A smiling Nathan Sanchez, first grade, said he especially enjoyed getting into the front seat of the vehicle.</p><p>For the students of the Graham Academy, the event, filled with sunshine and the opportunity to spend times outdoors, was a celebration of the weekend and a the chance to spend time with their schoolmates.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Nathan Sanchez looks over the inside of a Humvee as Da&#8217;Saun Johnson gets behind the wheel. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_kids2_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Nathan Sanchez looks over the inside of a Humvee as Da&#8217;Saun Johnson gets behind the wheel. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_kids3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nathan Sanchez tries on a helmet with help from Staff Sgt. Kevin Walters. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_kids3_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Nathan Sanchez tries on a helmet with help from Staff Sgt. Kevin Walters. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_kids1_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">John Mickle, a third-grader at Graham Academy, tries on a communication helmet. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_kids1_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>John Mickle, a third-grader at Graham Academy, tries on a communication helmet. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Students at Graham Academy in Kingston learn proper way to treat American flag