Pequannock Valley Middle School
Pompton Plains, New Jersey, USA
Students in the Teen Action Council, which meets regularly throughout the year, brainstorm community service ideas at the beginning of each year. With faculty help, this list is narrowed to the most approachable and manageable ideas. Students then work on these projects for the rest of the year. While teachers handle any administrative or clerical issues, the students perform all of the other tasks. This allows students to see all of the work that is needed for any small-scale community service project. The rationale for this practice is to connect with all types of learners and provide a challenging experience for all students. The practice is 100% voluntary and is not graded. Students participate out of an inherent desire to support change and make a difference in their community and global setting. Activities that the Teen Action Council have undertaken have included creating a pen pal program, participating in a river clean-up, gathering goods to send to troops, running in a local fund-raising race, and creating welcome bags for new students. The content for the activities covers four criteria: current events, civics, the human condition (past and present) and the ability of one person to make a difference.
