To help inform and inspire their scholars, the Old Donation Center (ODC) staff held a Community Service Information Fair as part of their Quest program. Quest, an interest-based differentiated exploration unit, takes place for an hour two days each week at the school. This year’s service-learning program has a service focus encouraging students to find creative ways to meet the needs of their community.
Almost 500 students in grades two through five rotated through the gymnasium speaking with various community groups to learn ways that they could partner with organizations to make a positive difference in their local neighborhoods. Once they had visited each station, students needed to select an area of interest and problem solve to determine creative ways they could work together to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
“Research shows that children as young as two display spontaneous helping behavior toward other children,” said Camille Grabb, the school’s reading specialist. “If this early foundation of empathy for others isn’t fostered and nurtured, then we run the risk of having it decline as the child grows older. Many children want to make a difference in the world, and Quest is an opportunity for them to become empowered to begin making that difference right now, even at their young ages. I am confident that their creative minds will uncover ideas we haven’t thought of yet to address the needs of some of our neighbors and friends.”