NEWS

Service - Learning

02/27/2009

A major project began in the fall semester. Our fourth and fifth graders are learning some landscape design and the details of landscaping as they prepare and plant flower beds in the "Old Jewish Cemetery" of Chambersburg.  Their work will enhance the beauty of a Pennsylvania Historical site that has visitors from around the world and has its own website, maintained in Germany. They learn about organizing tasks and teamwork, from such seemingly simple tasks as removing and bagging debris and the logistics of making it accessible for removal from the site.  As students work, they also learn local history, learn about a religion that is new to them, and they sharpen their thinking, reading and writing skills as they are required to journalize and discuss their experiences.

In the spring, students visited the cemetery to examine the fruits of their labors.  Some of the daffodils that had bloomed in April were submitted to the Franklin County Daffodil Show.  One submission won a ribbon at the Tuscorora Daffodil Society - Chambersburg Garden Club Daffodil Show for an honorable mention.