Our Lower School service-learning project brought our Mounds Park Academy mission statement to life. When we learned about an orphanage in Jamaica we realized we could help improve the quality of their living conditions. In our diverse community we started brainstorming how we could make a difference for 35 children and their staff. Students joyfully and independently created things to be sold at our Baa Baa Boutique in December. Students communicated our efforts through art, written expression, dramatic commercials, and verbal presentations. It was an honor to witness their process of exploring all the intellectual opportunities. Students increased their vocabulary, social awareness, and integrated all areas of learning into this one activity. They realized that their hands could reach across an ocean and bring a smile to another human being. I remember Bob Kreischer, the founder of Mounds Park Academy, using the phrase, "'I can do' attitude." Well "I can" and "we did". Both phrases can be used simultaneously when talking about the MPA community!
Global responsibility reached a new height. We thought it was within our means to purchase a goat and a few chickens for the orphanage. However, our MPA ambitions and generous spirit exceeded our expectations of purchasing chickens and a goat. We did so much more! We purchased chickens, two goats and contributed to the solar water system they desperately needed. We also gave them 200 books, boxes of crayons, drawing paper, craypas, paint sets and brushes. We raised an impressive $1,100.30 through our entrepreneurial activities.
I look forward to representing my school community at the Garland Children Home in Jamaica. The Lower School students were kind enough to decorate t-shirts that I would be wearing during our intense days of repairing, installing, and renovating the orphanage facilities. Hopefully this will help them make another connection with our friends in Jamaica.
I am so grateful for this experience and look forward to sharing it with all of you when I return home. I will give Billy Bob Joe Buddy and Bobetben a kiss when I see them! (These are the goat names that won the lower school raffle contest:)
Sincerely,
Kristine Petersen
Global responsibility reached a new height. We thought it was within our means to purchase a goat and a few chickens for the orphanage. However, our MPA ambitions and generous spirit exceeded our expectations of purchasing chickens and a goat. We did so much more! We purchased chickens, two goats and contributed to the solar water system they desperately needed. We also gave them 200 books, boxes of crayons, drawing paper, craypas, paint sets and brushes. We raised an impressive $1,100.30 through our entrepreneurial activities.I look forward to representing my school community at the Garland Children Home in Jamaica. The Lower School students were kind enough to decorate t-shirts that I would be wearing during our intense days of repairing, installing, and renovating the orphanage facilities. Hopefully this will help them make another connection with our friends in Jamaica.
I am so grateful for this experience and look forward to sharing it with all of you when I return home. I will give Billy Bob Joe Buddy and Bobetben a kiss when I see them! (These are the goat names that won the lower school raffle contest:)
Sincerely,
Kristine Petersen
Kindergarten teacher
