Acccording
to Middle School Director Val Hendrickson, "service
learning is an important part of a CCES education, and by their
engagement in helping our community, faculty serve as role models
and hone their abilities to lead students in service learning experiences."
Faculty members came away energized and refreshed by the activity.
Reading teacher Jane Williams, who volunteered
at the Washington Center, a Greenville School District facility
for handicapped students in grades K -12, admitted she was "not
really looking forward to it because it seemed like 'one more thing
to do.'" But after working with Down's syndrome, autistic,
and brain-injured children in a PE class, "my first thought
was how fortunate I am to have two healthy children. My second was
how much patience it takes to work with these children and teenagers....I
left the Washington Center wanting to spend more time there!...I
completely forgot my initial feelings and left with such a rush...a
great feeling that is hard to put into words!"
Noted social studies teacher Chris Cunningham,
"I am inspired to return to the school--possibly with students
to help again."
Music teacher Tina Batchelder-Schwab felt that
her visit to United Ministries had also moved her to become more
involved. She reflected, "I have never had an experience where
all the faculty were asked to participate in community service,
and it is a very good idea. I think initially I was worried about
getting my classroom ready like everyone else, and I didn't fully
appreciate the opportunity. However, this soon passed when our organizer
at United Ministries began explaining to the CCES faculty all of
the different services they provide to the local community, including
shelter, meals, learning, GED preparation and exams, bill support,
and more. It was really moving and humbling. I think I have been
a little bit removed from the needs of this community because I
am always surrounded by so much of the "haves" instead
of the "have nots." I worked in a very challenging district
in Elmira, NY, prior to moving to Switzerland, and this brought
back a lot of feelings that I had during those four years. It has
opened my eyes to a wonderful organization that has caring and nurturing
people working for it. It has also made me aware that I want to
include my family in that process because we are part of this community
and need to give more than just the occasional Christmas gift or
used item. I am encouraged to get more involved by seeing firsthand
the good work being done by United Ministries."
After helping to rip up carpet and siding, science teacher Kimberly
Morgan treated the experience like a day at the beach:
"our extremely hard-working and over-heated group had a blast,
and in the cars on the way there and on the way back to school,
there were no complaints!"
It was an unusual way to begin the school year, but one that might
just become an annual tradition, helping to bind faculty together
and remind them of their mission to educate the hearts and souls,
as well as the minds, of their students.
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