GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Students at a Green Bay middle school are learning through serving.
Since the beginning of October, 8th graders at Franklin Middle School have been working hard on their community service projects. Each student was tasked with identifying a need in the community, researching ways to help and then implementing an action plan to fulfill the need.
“It’s not just as simple as, ‘Here’s a card, hope you feel better.’ It’s how can you serve our community,” said Amanda Laluzerne, the library media specialist at Franklin.
On Wednesday night, the students took part in a exhibition where they showcased their work to the public and detailed their service project experiences. But Laluzerne says it doesn’t end there.
“This is just their research, their progress. They may not be finished with filling that need or doing that service. The whole point and the whole plan is for them to continue that service and helping our community,” she said.
Examples of the students’ projects include:
Making stockings and bracelets for St. Judes/Children’s Hospitals
Creating a little free library for their neighborhood to encourage children to read
Tutoring younger students at Franklin
Assisting elderly with rehab
Cleaning up a park and making signs to advocate to keep the park clean
Making treats and toys for local animal shelters
Collecting coats for those in need
Visiting Green Bay elementary schools to promote extracurriculars and read with younger students
Laluzerne said these projects go a long way in showing kids the power of community service, and that age is no barrier.
“It really does help students notice what people are going through in our community and how they can make a difference,” she said. “A lot of times they’ll start by saying, ‘Well, I’m only in 8th grade. I’m only 13, I’m only 14.’ But it is really impressive the impact that they can make on our community.”
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