On Monday, as part of the first ever Islanders Give Back Day, the entire Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School student body fanned out across the Island to spend the day helping the community.
On Monday morning, the entire Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School student body fanned out across the Island for the first Islanders Give Back Day — a chance to spend the day doing community service in lieu of classes at one of about 45 sites.
In the great hall at the Center for Living, students sat side by side in a circle with Island elders. Center for Living special assistant Janice Rose facilitated conversation, asking if any students would like to dance or sing for the group. Junior Anna Nitardy performed part of a dance piece called Uncharted Melody that she has been working on at Rise Vineyard Performing Arts. Soon other students joined in.
“I feel like I want to sing a song,” sophomore Joshua Sampaio said. “Do you guys like Michael Jackson?”
Classes were suspended for the day while the students spent the morning in the community.
Classes were suspended for the day while the students spent the morning in the community.
He cued up the song Thriller and grinned as he performed the classic dance.
“Show us your moonwalk!” Ms. Rose said.
Center for Living executive director Leslie Clapp looked on, beaming.
“Can’t they come every week?” she said. “They bring energy, they bring something new. They draw people out, it’s just fabulous.”
She pointed to one elder in particular who smiled widely as she followed the dances with her eyes.
“She’s really brightening from this,” she said.
The idea for the give back day has its origins in Ena Thulin’s global politics and civics class. Juniors Gus Hoy and Andrew Karlinsky took the lead organizing the event, visiting sites ahead of time to prepare.
Classes were suspended for the day while the students spent the morning in the community. Students visited Morning Glory Farm, cleaned up the beach in Menemsha, and visited Island elementary schools among other sites. Afterwards, they would reunite at the high school for a lunch sponsored by Island vendors.
At Owen Park, students took a break on the swings before getting down to the business of picking up litter. Senior Evelyn Higgins said she loved having the opportunity to do some community service before she graduates next month.
“We should give back because the community, environment, and school have done so much for us,” she said. She helped choose Owen Park as a give back day destination because she loves spending time there.
“This is my favorite place to be in the summer. You can hear the birds and look at the ocean,” she said.
Sprucing up the yard at Grace Church.
Sprucing up the yard at Grace Church.
At Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven, students planted flowers, raked leaves, and sorted through old toys.
Leslie Frizzell, who runs alternative programs after school, said her group of students had a discussion about service before leaving for the day.
“We talked about how community service is often associated with punishment, and how to break out of that,” she said.
She added that students were interested in incorporating more service into their education, potentially using morning flex time to brainstorm more outings.
The students in her group said it was a time for getting to know each other as well as learning about community organizations.
“It’s cool to see the entire school organize,” said sophomore Tripp Hopkins.
Sophomore Ashley Briggs worked nearby.
“It’s a great idea,” she said. “We should do it every year.”
Comments
Well done and thank you to
MVRHS Parent Vineyard HavenWell done and thank you to all involved in making this happen—students, teachers, staff, administrators, and community members. It sounds like a wonderful event for so many reasons.
It was a pleasure to have 12
Edgartown Golf Club EdgartownIt was a pleasure to have 12 Students come and help us out today. They were respectful, friendly, interested and engaging. Fairway divots were filled in record time and the golf carts have never been cleaner. Pictures of the event can be seen at edgartowngolfclub.com/news. Thanks to all! We will have a bigger list next year ! And thanks to former Grads Henry Smith and Askel Cooperrider for guiding them through the process...
These kind of activities
BS OBThese kind of activities would have more impact if done on a weekend or after school hours. Adults who contribute to civic activities generally must give up family or personal time to do so, not during their workday. It would have been a more meaningful learning experience for the students to experience sacrificing their personal time for the community rather than a couple hours out of the school day and the rest of the school day having a cookout and lounging around the schoolyard for the afternoon. Whenever MCAS test discussions come up there's always a great deal of discussion that teachers don't have time to teach because so much time is spent on test prep. Well they just lost another day of teaching today.
You certainly missed the
MV Parent West TisburyYou certainly missed the point! These kids are getting a great education, learning communication, social skills, planning, documentation, how to organize a group and work in a team, not to mention getting an introduction to what non-profits and community services even exist around them. As the article states, it's not a punishment, and for you to argue that these young citizens should have taken time out of their weekend for it to be valid is mean-spirited and short-sighted.
Crawl back in your shell.
BS2Crawl back in your shell. ANYTIME kids participate in these kind of activities is great
I was there. Not sure if
BS OBI was there. Not sure if others commenting were there or not. It was a total day to blow off education. The kids loved it. Whatever event they participated in lasted about 2.5 hours and they relaxed around the campus the rest of the day. Many kids didn't even go to school because they knew it was a day to blow off school. Yes a "feel good" moment for the community but a loss of education for the students.
Cudos to the person who came
Brian Alden Vineyard HavenCudos to the person who came up with the concept... it would benefit the students and the community if this could be done on a monthly basis... it gives the students a real life lesson...
I am concerned that students
Elizabeth Rosen New York, New YorkI am concerned that students were working at a church during school hours and that teachers who are paid by the state were also involved. Don't we live in a society where there is a real separation between church and state?
Let me get this straight -
Colonial Bob TisburyLet me get this straight - young people went to "work" repairing golf divots and washing carts at the private Edgartown golf club ?
Sounds like a great deal for the golf club - free labor for a private business.
Once again - it's time for the Island to examine it's business model - if we need to import laborers to do menial tasks there is something wrong.
Bob, I'm afraid you are
Mark Hess EdgartownBob, I'm afraid you are missing the point of the exercise; Give Back Day. The Edgartown Golf Club in conjunction with the Martha's Vineyard Boys and Girls Club has for years provided free golf lessons and clinics for any and all island children. Our course is available , free of charge to any golf team member at anytime during the year and to those youth who have shown special interest in the game.The particular kids that came, chose the venue on their own as there was a multitude of businesses to pick from. Aside from getting away from the books on a beautiful spring day, the kids also had a chance to experience our beautiful property. The kids were simply showing their appreciation and we certainly appreciated that.
I am astounded by some of the
June Manning AquinnahI am astounded by some of the above comments. As a teenager, I appreciated the opportunity to volunteer in my community. Perhaps that volunteerism has followed me for the past half a century plus ! As an adult volunteer, I am often surrounded by young students from not only preschool children planting and donating fresh vegetables for the Serving Hands Food Cupboard up to junior high students and to the MVRHS Football, Hockey, and Tennis teams who volunteer at the Food Cupboard especially during the exceptionally busy holiday seasons. The MVRHS Hockey team and Tennis team - young men and women - always volunteering at the Martha's Vineyard Community Services Electronic Disposal Days - a Saturday event twice a year. MVRHS students volunteer on one Saturday a month at YMCA of MV teaching Elders the technology of their laptops, cell telephones, notebooks, etc. Students assisting Elders at the Up-Island Council on Aging with their technology questions. A grammar school student who prepares and delivers meals to the USCG Station Menemsha with his family or a sibling who volunteers at the library. These are all lessons in life for these young ones. Lessons in civics and the importance of giving back to their community. Their social skills are enhanced by their volunteerism. It is a joy to be surrounded by these young ones who exemplify such community spirit. The opportunity demonstrates areas in their lives that they never knew existed before - an eye opening experience for many. I am in awe of these AWESOME Vineyard Volunteers. Make it a once a month day for all grades as part of their civics class !
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