NEW CASTLE — The community at St. Peter the Apostle School in New Castle waited anxiously for the guest of honor to arrive on April 29, and when Staff Sgt. Sara McVey entered the gymnasium, the children, their teachers and a few others broke into a round of applause.
That morning marked the return of their pre-kindergarten 3 teacher, who had spent the last six months deployed to the United Arab Emirates with the Air National Guard’s 166th Airlift Wing. She said she was a resource adviser who worked with the commander of her squadron on budgeting.
McVey had been told she needed to report to her base in New Castle before arriving at school, but that was a ruse to get her to St. Peter’s in her fatigues, principal Carlo Testa said. She took in the scene in the gymnasium before embracing her mother, Angela, who also teaches pre-kindergarten at the school.
St. Peter’s fifth-grader Marley Hairston welcomed McVey back with a short speech about how the school community feels about her and is happy to have her back. The current fifth grade is the first class McVey taught at St. Peter’s.
“Your courage inspires us. Your strength motivates us. You give so many of us hope and inspiration,” Hairston said. “You’re a teacher, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a role model to so many of us.”
Hairston said the school prayed for McVey and counted the days until her return.
“Your selflessness, your commitment, and your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated,” Hairston said.
McVey graduated from St. Peter the Apostle School in 2011 and St. Georges Technical High School four years later. She has been in the Air National Guard for four years, following in the footsteps, she said, of several family members, including her grandfather, who was in attendance at the school. This was her first deployment.
“It was challenging for sure, leaving family and the kids. It was hard, but they were in contact with me as much as they could, so that really helped,” she said.
After the hugs and photos, there was no time to rest for McVey. A class of pre-kindergarten students eagerly awaited.
“Gonna go change out of this and back to work I go,” she said. “It’s Miss McVey now. I’m very happy to be back.”
