By CJ Mead
The Portland Upside
July 2009
The Portland Upside
July 2009
School’s out but the echoes of service day still ring in the halls of Rowe Middle School in Milwaukie. (Photo by Rob Bednark)
Can middle school students really make a difference in their community?
Rowe Middle School’s response to this question is most certainly, “Yes we did!“
Seventh and eighth graders from the North Clackamas School District middle school recently heard President Obama’s call to service and took it personally. The entire student body participated in a project to serve the greater community and make a difference in the lives of its constituents.
Students chose how they would be involved by selecting an area of focus, either literacy, social justice, school beautification, or environmental stewardship. They served in these areas in several different ways. Some assisted elementary school students in one-on-one reading. Others spent the day at Portland Rescue Mission helping the homeless. One group of middle schoolers created a large mosaic for their school entrance, and still others pulled invasive ivy at state parks and recreation areas in several locations in the Portland community.
For many students this was a day of education they will never forget, an opportunity to move outside of the classroom and receive a real life, hands on experience. One student commented, “I didn’t know that school could be so fun.”
To many people the life of middle school students is one of drama, self indulged adolescence and insecurity.
However this day was quite the contrary.
One celebrated, “I have seen [one particular student] many times at Rowe and have always known he could be great, but he has never acted great. Today when he was with a little kindergartner, he was great. I knew he had it in him.”
Students rose to the occasion, taking on tasks and leadership roles that required stepping outside of their comfort zone to make a difference in the community. Helping homeless individuals in downtown Portland can be a daunting task for a student who has never experienced inner-city homelessness.
“Service Learning Day really opened my eyes and showed me how other people live” reported a student.
For others, working hard towards improving the natural and aesthetic environment around them builds a sense of community that will last a lifetime and create active citizens for years to come.
In this current time of budget crisis, this day proved a reminder of the great achievements that are possible from our schools. Such a creative use of the students’ time and school resources proved to be a true act of educational ingenuity, one that educators hope to repeat for years to come at Rowe Middle School.
_____
CJ Mead believes that when surrounded by positive people amazing things will happen, seeing this firsthand in his youth-development work for local nonprofits in Portland area schools.
Can middle school students really make a difference in their community?
Rowe Middle School’s response to this question is most certainly, “Yes we did!“
Seventh and eighth graders from the North Clackamas School District middle school recently heard President Obama’s call to service and took it personally. The entire student body participated in a project to serve the greater community and make a difference in the lives of its constituents.
Students chose how they would be involved by selecting an area of focus, either literacy, social justice, school beautification, or environmental stewardship. They served in these areas in several different ways. Some assisted elementary school students in one-on-one reading. Others spent the day at Portland Rescue Mission helping the homeless. One group of middle schoolers created a large mosaic for their school entrance, and still others pulled invasive ivy at state parks and recreation areas in several locations in the Portland community.
For many students this was a day of education they will never forget, an opportunity to move outside of the classroom and receive a real life, hands on experience. One student commented, “I didn’t know that school could be so fun.”
To many people the life of middle school students is one of drama, self indulged adolescence and insecurity.
However this day was quite the contrary.
One celebrated, “I have seen [one particular student] many times at Rowe and have always known he could be great, but he has never acted great. Today when he was with a little kindergartner, he was great. I knew he had it in him.”
Students rose to the occasion, taking on tasks and leadership roles that required stepping outside of their comfort zone to make a difference in the community. Helping homeless individuals in downtown Portland can be a daunting task for a student who has never experienced inner-city homelessness.
“Service Learning Day really opened my eyes and showed me how other people live” reported a student.
For others, working hard towards improving the natural and aesthetic environment around them builds a sense of community that will last a lifetime and create active citizens for years to come.
In this current time of budget crisis, this day proved a reminder of the great achievements that are possible from our schools. Such a creative use of the students’ time and school resources proved to be a true act of educational ingenuity, one that educators hope to repeat for years to come at Rowe Middle School.
_____
CJ Mead believes that when surrounded by positive people amazing things will happen, seeing this firsthand in his youth-development work for local nonprofits in Portland area schools.
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