Berkeley Leader

Welcome to Marrington Elementary, Anji Klein!

MNE received a visit from U.S. Air Force Major General John Klein Jr.'s wife on Oct. 20 during her trip to the Lowcountry. Marrington Elementary was recommended to Mrs. Klein's team by Colonel Michael A. Freeman, the Commander of Joint Base Charleston, and was the only school in the area Klein did a full tour of. 

Major General Klein is in charge of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, which works closely with Joint Base Charleston. The Expeditionary Center is comprised of 42 locations, including the 628th Air Base Wing at Joint Base, and Mrs. Klein was dispatched to see the local life of the airmen her husband holds dominion over. 

Mrs. Klein's tour was led by Principal Jennifer Thielmann and focused on all MNE does to support its children on this stop along their path. Since Marrington Elementary's student population is 85 percent military children, its students are constantly changing based on where their parents are stationed. However, the school showed Mrs. Klein it does its best to be a point of stability for students and embraces its military-affiliation with pride.

For example, the classroom pods that comprise each grade level are named after different branches of the military. And to create a better sense of community at the school, all students are sorted into different “houses” that they represent and earn points toward during their time at Marrington. Furthermore, the mascot of the school is a compass and all students are known as the Pathfinders because from MNE they could go in any direction. 

Since the student body is so fluid, Principal Thielmann touched on the traditions MNE has in place for when a child leaves. Any student that withdraws during the year has their photo taken and hung on the hallway exiting the school. Additionally, before they leave for the last time, instruction stops and the departing student rings a bell over the school announcement system.

Mrs. Klein said she was very impressed by everything MNE’s staff does to support students and their military families, and particularly loved the school’s house system.

Original source can be found here.