Romance blooms on Valentine's day

Mark McCraw, 9, was hoping to receive a valentine from third-grade classmate Ashley Saarem, 8.

"I want one from Ashley because I like her," he said. Then he clarified, "I like, like her."

And he got the card he wanted.

"It said, 'Honey bunny' -- it was cute," he said.

Ashley said she was also hoping for a card from Mark but described their relationship as "just good friends" and hushed the girls giggling around her.

"I like Valentine's Day a lot because I get lots of valentines," Ashley said. "They're fun to look at and see who they're from."

After the last recess, Christine Stieber's third-grade class along with all others at Fritsch Elementary School, took a break from regular school activities to celebrate Valentine's Day with treats and cards.

"It's fun," said Maribel Herrera, 9. "You get presents from your teacher and from all the students at school."

Stieber's rule is that if students choose to pass out valentines, they must include one for each child in the class.

"We don't want anyone to feel left out," she explained. "Valentine's Day is the time for them to be thinking about friends and not themselves."

She said it also helps their reading and writing skills to address the envelopes, spell names correctly and read the cards.

But Sarah Hascall, 9, wasn't thinking about the academic benefits.

"I like it because of the candy," she said. "It's chocolate and hearts."

And getting the valentines -- no matter from whom -- is always an important part of the celebration.

"I like looking at the little pictures," said Misty Ferrigno, 9.