WMS 8th graders honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with good deeds in community
Students canvass area nursing homes, day cares, and businesses to lend a helping hand on MLK, Jr. Day
Launch the media gallery 1 player“Everybody can be great . . . because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
This quote, spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., captured the spirit of Wahoo Middle School 8th grade students as they lent the Wahoo community a helping hand on the morning of January 18, 2016.
The students were sent to ten different locations throughout the community: Wahoo Elementary School, Saunders House, South Haven, Saunders Care Center, Happy Hearts Daycare, ½ Pints Daycare, Saunders County Lost Pets, Simon’s Home Store, Wahoo Public Library and Cookies and Crème.
The tasks that were assigned to the middle schoolers varied. Some students played games with residents at a care center, while other students walked dogs at the pet rescue. Some students participated in an exercise class with their new friends at one care center, while others listened as beginning readers read stories to them in an elementary school classroom.
Collene Vanek, a life enrichment coordinator at South Haven Living Center, was thrilled with her young helpers.
"The residents and students created an art project together that will be on display at the Wahoo Public Library," she commented. "I never know how these multi-generational activities are going to go, but the group you sent here amazed me. Your students did such a GREAT job interacting with our residents and were so engaging and respectful. Most importantly, the residents had a wonderful time! "
Mike Bomar, a middle school math teacher, has taken student groups out into the Wahoo community for the past 11 years.
"Every year, after this project, students can't wait to go back and help again. Their eyes are opened and they realize that helping others can be fun," Bomar said.
Brandon Swahn, an 8th grader who participated in the work day, said that he had fun helping Mike Simons move materials from his existing store to a new location.
"People like Mr. Simons help us to learn," he stated. "They buy our books and pay for our iPads. It was nice to be able to help him out."
Linda Walker and a group of 8th graders worked on an art project at South Haven Living Center.
WMS 8th graders honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with good deeds in community
| Rebecca Starkrmgig@aol.comLincolnRetired teacher😉😉 | Jan 23, 2016 | Way to go 8th graders and 8th grade teachers! I'm so happy to see the MLK tradition continues! 💙💛 |