Volunteering Connections
Have you ever volunteered to do something? Have you helped make a difference in your community, whether it is at a local church, a local service organization or even at your local school volunteering? Some of my prouder moments are when I have been able to serve others, usually by volunteering and helping fulfill a community need in some way. One of my first memories of volunteering was dressing up as a clown and selling balloons at our school carnival. Putting smiles on younger children’s faces was so rewarding and I began to look for other opportunities to volunteer. Because of so many experiences, I feel one of the greatest things we can do as humans is to serve others. Some even make the utmost service by serving their countries.
Our eighth-grade students recently thought of those who served our country by making Valentine’s Day cards to be distributed to our veterans throughout Wisconsin. The cards were handmade and each had a small note to the veteran thanking them for their service. Although a small gesture, the experience of students reflecting on what service means to them and veterans receiving a small token of appreciation brought generations together. The end results of the cards were fabulous! There were some beautiful card creations. The students really took the assignment seriously – a proud teacher moment for sure.
This sparked some deeper thought. These students were so engaged in their designs, took so much pride in their work and were thinking of those who fought for our freedoms. It had me wondering how can we get more of this feeling in our classrooms. Aside from the regular curriculum taught in schools, being of service can teach more than any textbook can. The learning from volunteering can be priceless. These experiences we provide our students in serving others today will have lasting, positive impacts on our society at large for tomorrow and days ahead. There are so many benefits of community involvement on both sides, so this is where you may come into the equation. Are there any opportunities for students of Spencer Middle School to be of service to others or the greater community? How can Spencer Middle School students help the Spencer community? If you know of a way that middle school students can volunteer their services or you see a need that should be addressed, please reach out to the school and let us know. You can also email me directly, Christa Hoheisel, at choheisel@ spencer.k12.wi.us. I would love to get my students involved in some type of volunteerism to strengthen their skills and connections to the community. And lastly, how do you offer your services to your community?
