Crofton Woods Elementary Participates in Community Service Day

Each spring, the students of (CWES) take a break from their textbooks for one afternoon and focus on a different sort of learning. At their annual Community Service Day, the students discover how volunteering their time and talent can make a meaningful difference in the world around them. Ten years after CWES parent Teri Zacker introduced this innovative program, the event is going strong and eagerly anticipated by the children.

On March 23, six local nonprofit organizations spoke to the students. Each grade heard from two different organizations about the important work they do and how volunteers are an integral part of their success. Charged with this information, the students set out to work on service projects that would directly benefit one of the organizations.

Kindergartners crafted beautiful butterflies from clothespins and coffee filters to grace the trays of Meals on Wheels recipients. First-graders made colorful place mats with encouraging words and images for cancer survivors who will attend a survivors’ luncheon this spring. Second-graders contributed decorated fabric squares to be included in a community quilt banner, which will be used at Special Olympics events.

Third-graders packed healthy lunches in brown bags they decorated themselves to be distributed by the Light House shelter in Annapolis. The fourth-graders focused on duct tape crafts, which they will sell to other students. The proceeds will enable them to sponsor many families using Ronald McDonald Houses while caring for their ill children. Fifth-graders made greeting cards and packaged them into “Keep in Touch Kits” that children of deployed soldiers will be able to use to correspond with their far-away parents.

The students gain a new understanding of what it means to volunteer.

“I like that we have fun while we are helping other people at the same time,” third-grader Kieran Jackson said.

More than 500 completed projects will be donated and the school's administration is proud of the students.

“I absolutely love this day," principal John Barzal said. "It’s just a great chance to convey wonderful values to our young people and to make a clear statement about the importance of community service.”  

This article was contributed to Patch by Christine Jackson. If you have a story about people in Crofton and Gambrills to share, send email to crofton@patch.com.