The children in grade 3C continued their enthusiastic participation in service learning activities into the 2007-2008 school year. We remembered those individuals who especially needed our immediate help and others who needed our ongoing attention.
SEPTEMBER
Virtue of the Month: Respect
After defining respect and discussing the importance of respecting others, as well as ourselves; the children wrote beautiful cinquain poetry that focused on this very important theme.
OCTOBER
Virtue of the Month: Attitude
The children in 3C participated in the following school-wide service activities:
The Halloween Costume Collection, sponsored by The Outreach Committee; by donating used/new Halloween costumes for the children at The Audrey Hepburn House
The Winter Coat Collection, sponsored by The Community Outreach Committee, by donating women's and children's gently used winter coats for OASIS, which provides food and clothing to single mothers and their children in Paterson
The Principal's poster contest, by creating posters that convey a positive attitude about maintaining a healthy lifestyle at all times. They learned the dangers of smoking, alcohol, and illegal drug use.
NOVEMBER
Virtue of the Month: Citizenship
School-Wide Activities:
Red, White, and Blue for Citizenship Color Day, sponsored by Grade 7 Social Studies Classes, by wearing these colors and donating $.50 each to benefit Native American school children
Thanksgiving Basket Collection, sponsored by the Student Council, by donating non-perishable Thanksgiving food items to support needy families. The children in 3C eagerly volunteered to bring in items ranging from instant mashed potatoes to canned vegetables. Our classroom boxes were overflowing with a wide range of non-perishable foods!
Academy of Our Lady Girl Scouts' Annual Holiday Collection, by donating new Children's books (infants to teens) and new slippers for men, women, and children for the patrons of Eva's Village, a shelter for the homeless in Paterson
DECEMBER
Virtue of the Month: Caring
School-Wide Activities:
"Academy of Our Lady Helps the Homeless", sponsored by Grade 8, by donating travel size packages of items ranging from toothpaste to shaving cream
"Bear Hugs for the Holidays", by donating Teddy Bears for hospital patients for the holidays and designing and cutting out gift tags to accompany each Teddy Bear
Class 3C Activities:
"How To Be a True Friend": After "brainstorming" ideas, the children wrote paragraphs that described the qualities that they look for in a true friend and the importance of these qualities. The children's finished paragraphs were displayed in the classroom.
The children wrote cheery Christmas letters to their homebound pen pals, with great enthusiasm. They colored in the festive border on their letters and addressed their envelopes. The children's letters were mailed in time for Christmas. A number of children were delighted to receive lovely cards, with enclosed messages of gratitude, from their pen pals.
JANUARY
Virtue of the Month: Leadership
School-Wide Activities:
"Support Our Troops": The children wore red, white, and blue and donated $.50 each to support our servicemen stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq..
Valentine's Care Package Food Drive, sponsored by AoOL's Community Outreach for the national organization "Operation Support Our Troops", by donating nonperishable food items
The Principal's Contest, by writing and submitting paragraphs entitled "I Have a Dream"...The children were directed to write a paragraph about how they can demonstrate leadership qualities and what they can do to help make the world a better place.
Class 3C Activities:
The children wrote cheery letters within Valentine's Day cards that they designed for our servicemen in Afghanistan and Iraq , to be included with the Valentine's Day food care packages.
FEBRUARY
Virtue of the Month: Trustworthiness
School-Wide Activities:
Mite Boxes were distributed. Children returned their kind donations throughout the Lenten season.
Class 3C Activities:
We had numerous discussions about the importance of trustworthiness in any relationship. Individuals who can trust each other have an important foundation upon which to build a relationship.
The children enthusiastically wrote friendly, caring letters (on papers with hearts on the borders) to their homebound pen pals. Several children received grateful responses from their pen pals.
MARCH
Virtue of the Month: Responsibility
School-Wide Activities:
The children donated individually wrapped Easter candy to be placed in prepared Easter baskets for the Center for Food Action. This service activity was sponsored by The Outreach Committee.
Enthusiastic participation in the"Math-a-Thon", to support St. Jude's Childrens' Hospital: Booklets and informational materials were distributed to all who eagerly embraced this worthy cause.
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APRIL
Virtue of the Month: Fairness
School-Wide Activities:
The students in 3C and throughout the school sought sponsors as they completed their "Math-a-Thon" responsibilities during the month.
Class 3C Activities:
After countless inquiries by the children about when their next opportunity would be to write to their homebound pen pals, we focused on accomplishing that goal. The children wrote friendly, heart-warming "Spring" letters to their homebound pen pals.
MAY
Virtue of the Month: Tolerance
Class 3C Activities:
The children had an opportunity to review the school binder containing letters, drawings, and photos from our school-sponsored foster child, Josi Ibrahim, from Uganda, who is now a young adult. We discussed the special needs of Josi and his family. The children couldn't wait to add their thoughtful contributions to our class collection. We collected $54.00 for Josi and the members of his family.
JUNE
Virtue of the Month: Honesty
School-Wide Activity:
We celebrated Flag Day by wearing red, white, and blue and by donating $.50 to send used textbooks to needy students.
Class 3C Activity:
The children wrote their final cheery letters, as third graders, to their homebound pen pals, with promises to continue writing to their newfound friends through the summer and beyond. The children have developed a genuine concern, interest, and affection for their pen pals.
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