As I stated at the General PCC meeting, we all agree that we want our children to be kind, compassionate human beings. We want them to be people who engage in service throughout their lives, helping to make this world a better place.
How do we do that? The BEST way to do that is to simply INVITE our children to “do” things for others.
Recent examples of activities which have provided our students the opportunity to serve others include:
- Fourth and Fifth Class students have wrapped gifts and bagged candy for an organization called Santa’s Helpers which distributes Christmas gifts to families in need.
- Fifth Class students are visiting our elderly friends at Mount Carmel Home monthly.
- Sixth Class students have been going in small groups each month to Sts. Joachim and Ann food pantry.
- Sixth Class students hosted a bake sale to help purchase toys for Sts. Bridget and Theresa Parish in St Louis.
- Seventh Class students have spent a number of Saturday mornings interacting with “young athletes” from Special Olympics here at ASH. In addition, some of these same students are volunteering on additional weekends at other Special Olympics events.
- Eighth Class students have planted, nurtured and harvested their own gardens, the produce from which has been (and is being still) distributed to soup kitchens.
- Plans for Adopt-a-Family in Seventh and Eighth Classes are in progress for Christmas.
- Social Justice Committee members have stayed after school to make pillowcases for children with cancer.
- The whole school community (with the help of the Social Justice Committee) contributed to our Mater Feast Day collection of children’s items for Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Center.
Harnessing and observing the natural generous energy that most children have is supremely satisfying.
Equally satisfying is to observe our students come to the realization that it is as joy-producing to DO something for someone as it is to receive something from someone.
May the growth continue!
Maureen Glavin, rscj
