Middle School Day of Action

Middle School students will participate in a Day of Action next Monday, November 21. Seventh and 8th grade students will go to A Wider Circle, Capital Area Food Bank, and DC Jewish Community Center for hands-on volunteering. Sixth grade students will remain on campus to make toys for the Washington Animal Rescue League and read to Kindergarteners. 

 

This Day of Action is one piece of a puzzle that forms a larger vision for the Middle School to become a “school of solutions,” says Director Kavan Yee, “where students learn this lifelong commitment to be a thriving member of a community.”

 

Another piece of the puzzle is the 8th grade service-learning class, in which students explore all sides of a social issue, identify key players, and propose solutions to affect positive change.

 

Creating a Direct, Lasting Impact

 

Colorful posters along the hallways in Middle School advertise the Hungry for Music campaign, a drive to collect new and used instruments for children who would not otherwise have access to them. This campaign is one of a variety of initiatives carried out by 8^thgraders as a culmination of their service-learning class. All projects involve a direct action and are intended to create a lasting impact.

 

Other projects include a letter-writing campaign to members of Congress advocating for continued funding for Alzheimer's research, making birthday cakes for homeless kids while lobbying local bakeries to donate to the cause, and creating a documentary to raise awareness about teen depression and submitting it to C-SPAN’s StudentCam 2017.

 

“It has been impressive to see the passion and dedication they unlocked from within to advocate for their cause. Armed with knowledge and statistics, they have been able to develop various personal approaches” to their chosen issues, says Director of Auxiliary Programs Dawn Smith.

 

Though they may not see a big result immediately, going through the process is valuable. Kavan says, “Hopefully they see through the currents of smaller actions, they can [make a difference].”

 

 

--------List of 8^thgrade projects

 

Project: Birthday Cakes 4 Free

Led by: Allison, Brydon, Quinn, Alex, and Jordan

How to get involved: Contact Birthday Cakes 4 Free and arrange a pick-up date for your own donation.

 

Project: Hungry for Music

Led by: Jack, Elka, and Brooke

How to get involved: Donate! We are taking donations through mid-December.

 

Project: Teen Depression Documentary

Led by: Benji, Sivaad, Rachel, and Nino

How to get involved: Support funding for research. 

 

Project: Alzheimer’s Research

Led by: Hudson

How to get involved: Write your congressman.