We are proud to announce that Maryn Hyer, of Greenfield High School, is this year’s eighth-grade Ambassador of Project 351. She joins more than 370 other young leaders across the Commonwealth in a statewide youth-led service initiative to lead positive change in the lives of children. Project 351 is a non-profit, statewide youth-driven service organization that convenes an eighth grader from every city and town in Massachusetts for a transformative year of leadership development, enrichment, and impact through unique service opportunities.
In order to be chosen as an Ambassador, one must possess kindness, compassion, humility, gratitude, and a dedication to service of the community. When Ms. Bennett and the other eighth grade teachers read the application, Maryn instantly came to mind to be Greenfield High School’s Ambassador.
In January Maryn traveled to Boston and joined the other 350 ambassadors at Faneuil Hall for a day of high-impact service, team-building, and networking. Whe will continue to serve the Town of Greenfield in her role as ambassador and is currently launching a spring service campaign.
Hyer’s Spring Service will benefit Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit group that provides low-income and homeless children with everyday essentials. Cradles to Crayons is looking to collect new and gently used clothing and shoes in sizes infant up to adult medium. Donation bins will be set up through Friday April 5th at Greenfield High School and Buckland Shelburne Elementary School.
I believe we have just begun the longest stretch of uninterrupted school days on the calendar. There is one half-day at the end of March, but that's it. I felt that the days leading up to February break were difficult and people (staff and students) might have not been feeling their best. It's no fun being in a grumbly classroom, feeling grumbly, listening to other grumbly people. No. Fun.
To try to avoid going down that path again I really wanted to focus on getting off on the right foot this week.
1) The Awesome Box. What do you think goes through most student's heads when you say "I'm going to call home."? What if you could tell your teacher to call home about some specific, awesome thing you did in class? I don't always see what goes on, and I don't always know what is important to each student. Students can use this box to send me notes and then I'll contact home about it on Friday afternoon. What better way to end the school week?!!
2) In addition to our regular Mindful Minutes at the start of each class, on Fridays I'm having students use a new website called Givethx. This site allows students to give, receive, and reflect on positive feedback from their peers. I can monitor all of their notes but other classmates are not privy to these notes of gratitude. We've already used it a couple times in class and I think it is a wonderful tool. This week students were randomly assigned to each other, kind of like Secret Santa. On Friday they'll have to send a note to that specific person. This way everyone is included and participating.
I hope I can keep the momentum up with these tools!!!
Start 2019 with a heartwarming reminder of Mister Rogers’ legacy.
Join your neighborhood for a screening of the award-winning film.
"In Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville looks back on the legacy of Fred Rogers, focusing on his radically kind ideas. While the nation changed around him, Fred Rogers stood firm in his beliefs about the importance of protecting childhood. Neville pays tribute to this legacy with the latest in this highly engaging, moving documentary portrait of an essential American artist."
