Giving back
By Robert Wolfington IIICLARKFIELD - Along one of the walls at the Clarkfield Area Charter School is a thermometer that shows about $200 raised. The chart marks the progress Dave Schwarz's sixth-grade class has made for its penny drive in its efforts to raise money for the area Toys for Tots program.Each grade at the Clarkfield Area Charter School has set up a volunteer program, ranging from raising money to putting on a play for community members.
"At the beginning of the year we divided up the months of the school year. Each grade is signed up for something," said Schwarz.
Part of the schools mission statement included community involvement, realized through volunteer work.
"Educators will promote strong moral values, healthy lifestyles, global and local awareness, and utilize community involvement to ensure academic success," the CACS mission statement said.
Schwarz said it's a good opportunity to get the kids involved in something beyond school books.
"Part of my job is to not only teach them the reading, writing, social studies and science, but also how to be good citizens," said Schwarz. "This is part of our curriculum."
Courtney Rode, kindergarten teacher at CACS, said the program gets the kids active in the community and hopefully will encourage them to volunteer more later in life.
"I think it's great for the kids and the community," said Rode. "The kids get to understand what it's like to be involved in the community."
Heidi Sachariason, first-grade teacher at CACS, said she gets as much out of doing the volunteer work as the kids do.
"It also prepares them (for volunteering)." said Sachariason. "For us, it helps them get involved in the community and we're working along with the kids.
"We're going to do a holiday play down at the care center," added Sachariason. "They seem to really enjoy it there."
The kindergarten and first-grade classes will be working together later this school year on a sign language project.
Sachariason said they are still working on putting the project together.
Rode said these volunteer projects are something the students will be able to look back on and know they did something special for the community.
"I think these are the kinds of things they're going to take with them and remember forever," said Rode. "Twenty years from now they're going to be able to look back on this.
"Even if they don't realize how much they appreciate it, I think this is something they'll remember," she added.
