SENDING CARE PACKAGES TO THE PRINCIPAL

And there is no way the kids know how wonderful the soldiers think this is.

For students at Chilton Elementary, there is a major change at school this year. Their principal is gone, serving in Iraq with the U.S. Army reserves.

While Rich Appel is on the other side of the globe, his presence is still at the school. The students are learning a lot more than reading and math.

"We miss him, and it's really sad," student Ashley Schoenborn said.

Students spent Thursday making CARE packages for Appel and his fellow soldiers.

"This would be something I bet they'd really like," one student remarked as they put the packages together.