Service day just one of many at South

Answering President Barack Obama’s call for a National Day of Service on Sept. 11, students at South High School spent their time last Friday working on a variety of community-oriented projects.

Principal Maureen Henry said this wasn’t anything new for the school, where community service is a way of life. Last Friday was just an extra chance to give back.

Students in science classes led a paper drive for the Hewlett House, a local support center for cancer patients and their families. They collected napkins, paper towels, tissues and toilet paper.

Math classes and the boys’ varsity soccer team collected canned foods for the non-denominational Holy Name of Mary Church food pantry. Students in English classes wrote letters to soldiers, police officers and other first responders. The girls soccer team was set to host a free soccer clinic for elementary school children, and had to postpone the event because of inclement weather.

Many other students worked on projects to send to residents of the Franklin Nursing Home. Eighth-grader Ryan DeMarco joined his peers from Italian class to write letters, in both English and Italian. DeMarco noted that many of those residents are veterans and this was a good way to express his thanks. “It’s important to me because if we didn’t have them to fight for us, we could have lost our freedom,” he said. “We probably wouldn’t be so united.”

His teacher, Joan Hughes, said this was a nice opportunity to show senior citizens that the youth of America really do appreciate their contributions. “It’s to remember how every citizen has had an impact on helping create a great nation,” Hughes said. “We also want to remember those who have died for our country.”

Eighth-grader Marcello Oliveria made a card to send to a a veteran at the Franklin Nursing Home. The card had a patriotic theme, with depictions of an American flag and the Statue of Liberty, as well as remembrance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. “This is to show my gratitude to them for what they’ve done,” Oliveria said. “They deserve respect for protecting our country.”

Some seventh-grade classes made American flags out of construction paper to send to the seniors. Twelfth-grade government classes began organizing a school supply drive to help other students in the school.

Henry said that throughout the school day, every student had the opportunity to do something meaningful for their community. “At South High School, that’s our culture,” she said.

All teachers wore t-shirts that read “Small Acts of Kindness... Make a Big Difference.” Henry said that the school will host a service week in April and she encouraged students last Friday to start now in thinking of ways they can give back to their community.