Community projects -- protecting polar bears, writing books on opioid addiction and building a garden sign -- all prove that students make the grade in and out of the classroom.
Area students excel not only in the classroom, but in the community as well.
They demonstrate that altruism and academics are symbiotic. Here are examples:
Polar Bear Protectors
A trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium last fall was more than a fun excursion for second-grade pupils at Osborne Elementary School, part of the Quaker Valley School District.
The visit launched a yearlong project that proves “anyone can make a difference,” said Angela Conigliaro, the district's director of communications.
They participated in the zoo’s Adopt-an-Animal program to study how climate issues impact animals. Sixteen animals — from African elephants to Western lowland gorillas — are available to adopt. Osborne pupils chose the polar bear, which is quickly becoming an endangered species because of global warming and lack of sea ice.
Calling themselves Polar Bear Protectors, pupils and their teachers — Kristi DiRenzo, Amy Quinn and Claudia Scanlon — studied polar bear habitats in conjunction with social studies lessons on geography, climate regions and conservation.
Margie Marks, the zoo’s curator of conservation education, encouraged the class to enter a contest sponsored by Polar Bears International, a group of conservationists, scientists and volunteers to secure the long-term survival of polar bears and sea ice.
The contest was open to student groups fighting climate change by engaging communities to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
On May 7, they received a $1,000 grant from Polar Bears International to continue their work.
The pupils also hosted a dance to raise money for PBI. The initial goal, Conigliaro said, was $300, but they raised more than $1,400.
To celebrate, the Osborne Home and School Association treated pupils to shaved ice and ice cream treats from Kona Ice, a mobile food truck.
Pupils write book on opioids
Three Baden Academy fifth-graders wrote a book to help peers understand opioid addiction.
“What the Heck is Opioid Addiction?” by Quincy Sirko, Angelina Dioguardi and Clayton Russell was written with help from mentors in rehabilitation and addiction medicine.
“Our elementary school, sadly, is filled with kids affected by the opioid crisis,” the authors wrote in a summary graph about their work. “We wanted a tool for them to learn about the problem, discuss it with friends and adults, and look to a future of hope where addiction science and medicine can help intervene in this tragedy.”
The 32-page paperback features illustrations and photos and is published by Grow a Generation, which partners with schools to create STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) projects. The book lists for $8.40 on lulu.com. Profits will go to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Sirko, Dioguardi and Russell will have copies of their book at a parent night Wednesday at Central Valley High School to educate the community on the impact of the opioid epidemic. Hosts are Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit’s drug prevention grant committee.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with registration and refreshments. The program is from 6 to 8 p.m.
Freedom art class designs sign
When a rotted post felled Oak Grove Lutheran Church’s community garden sign, Tom Applequist, a member of the New Sewickley Township congregation, reached out to the art department at Freedom Area High School to make a new one.
Art students designed it; the shop class built it.
“They did a beautiful job,” Applequist said. “Freedom High School was so happy to do this and be part of the community.”
Applequist picked the sign up last week. All that’s left is to dig a few post holes and seat it.
The community garden, launched in 2015, offers plots to church and community members, and Scout troops to grow crops for their families and neighbors in need.
Many growers donate all or a portion of their yield to Rochester Salvation Army’s food bank.
Anyone interested in leasing a plot or receiving more information on the community garden may email Oak Grove Lutheran Church at oglcgarden@gmail.com.
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