Community Service at Hagerstown Children’s School

2009-2010

At HCS we believe strongly in community service as an integral part of the Montessori philosophy. HCS is devoted to providing each child a complete education. Part of that complete education is academic and social and yet another is as an involved person within our community. Community Service teaches children to think about their surroundings and to go beyond themselves as they express empathy and compassion. It reinforces the idea that acts of kindness no matter how big or small can create an impact on our lives as well as affect other people’s lives for the better.

During the 2009-2010 school year HCS students have been actively involved in the following projects:

 

A collection of clothing for Children In Need. We collected 65 bags of lightly used clothing for a local non-profit clothing and supply depot. Our contribution was very timely for the beginning of the school year. Children In Need was extremely grateful for our help because their supplies were depleted due to the large area that they service.

 

 

Next, we extended our reach to another country with Art and Education for Africa. We created a partnership with a Colorado University exchange student in Ghana and donated 12 boxes of collected art and schools supplies to African children that had no other resources. Our students created art and sent pictures to their new friends as a form of establishing good will and friendships. HCS students also collected spare change that helped send part of the school supplies overseas and also asked local businesses to help. Fifty-six students ultimately benefited from this project and the number of students continues to grow.

 

 

 

Our next project is Caring with Cookies.  HCS students will be making and baking 24 batches of cookies to donate to our local REACH Shelter,  Western Maryland Hospital Center and residents at Somerford. Our students will learn that even the smallest act of kindness – like sharing a cookie – can have a positive impact on someone’s life. Caring coming from a stranger in a very basic human level can affect the recipient as well as the donor. And no act of kindness is ever too small.

HCS students will also have a food drive for Food Resources again this year.  This project was very successful last year, the children enjoyed bringing different types of food each day to feed others.

Last, HCS students will donate toys for Toys for Help. This project will help Children's floor of our local hospital. Each child will donate a new stuffed animal or other item that will be given to a child in need of love and protection in an emergency. This project will allow the students to reach children in need.

Thru all these projects the students have exercised their academic knowledge by using, reading, math, art etc; while at the same time, tapping into their hearts and becoming active and involved people in the world around them. These acts of service will in still in them positivism and a willingness to help change our community and our world for a brighter future.

Thank you to all the students, parents, volunteers and staff for all their help in making this a successful Community Service Year!

 

During the 2008-2009 school year HCS performed the following Community Service Projects: