A Focus on Service Learning

To enhance personal growth and development and create more civic-minded students, Bernotas Middle School has prioritized service learning during the 2017-18 school year. By pairing up with local not-for-profit organizations and agencies as well as a neighboring D47 school, teams of sixth, seventh and eighth graders are making a difference in the Crystal Lake community!

According to Bernotas assistant principal Kellie Marks, the service-learning project idea grew out of a desire to increase students’ awareness of the various needs in their community and to encourage them to get involved. Marks said the year-long service learning plan came about during “Rising Star” (school improvement) team meetings during the 2016-17 school year. After researching and discussing the benefits of service learning, the Rising Star team dedicated time throughout the 2017-18 school year to teach Bernotas students how to engage with their community.

“One of the goals of the service learning endeavor is for our staff and students to value working with our community and to continue this work in the future,” said Marks. “It is exciting to watch the progress that has been made so far!”

One of the unique aspects of the Bernotas service learning model is that each service team is run by students. At the beginning of the school year, each grade-level team chose a not-for-profit agency to work with. Students learned about their respective organization’s mission through guest visits or by taking field trips to on-site locations. Grade-level teams then brainstormed ways to contribute to the mission of their partnering organization, creating committees to accomplish tasks. Once or twice a month, students meet with their fellow students during homeroom to carry out their service learning projects.
Student-community partnerships by grade-level include:

Sixth graders:

• The Huskies are taking up donations for PADS of McHenry County and creating holiday greeting cards for those served by the organization.
• The Badgers are working with the Crystal Lake Fire and Police Departments to increase awareness of cyberbullying and fire safety.
• The Wildcats have paired up with the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Students are collecting non-perishables for the pantry and learning about volunteer opportunities and the many different ways this organization serves the community.

Seventh graders:

• The Redbirds are working with On Angels Wings, a local animal shelter. Students are creating flyers to raise community awareness about abandoned and unwanted pets, collecting supplies and visiting the animals in the shelter.
• The Hawkeyes are helping women and children through the Home of the Sparrow. After learning about homelessness from the organization’s volunteer coordinator, students brainstormed ways to help. Ideas presented included recipe boxes, grooming kits, first aid kits, and a clothing drive.
• The Bruins walk across the parking lot to visit North Elementary several times a month to provide a structured recess for K-5 students that they call a “peaceful playground.” Students created grade-level appropriate games and activities that promote communication, teamwork and inclusiveness -- for indoors and out!

Eighth graders:

• Team Illini rang the bell over the holidays to benefit the Salvation Army. Illini students are now working on the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser (to benefit childhood cancer research) in March at Bernotas.
• The Spartans are organizing the third annual 5K Viking Strong 5K Walk/Run, which will be held April 29th at Lippold Park in Crystal Lake. Proceeds will benefit NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) McHenry County. Students are designing the T-shirt, contacting sponsors, and working on various ways to promote the event to the public. They will also serve as volunteers on race day.
• The Irish are charged with coming up with age-appropriate games, activities and crafts for NISRA (Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association) summer camps.

“Kids need to be made aware what’s going on around them and in the world,” said sixth grade math teacher Beth Weber, whose Wildcats team of students have helped the Crystal Lake Food Pantry by sorting and stocking shelves, conducting a food drive and promoting the pantry’s services at school. “They’ve shared their experiences and newfound knowledge about this community resource with their parents, who’ve reported to us that their kids really want to volunteer and make a difference.”

“I think the focus on service learning is good, especially for us eighth graders, because we tend to be a little self-centered,” said Olivia Johnson. ‘I think it’s good we get out and do things for other people for a change.” Johnson’s Illini team has been organizing the upcoming St. Baldrick’s event at Bernotas. Johnson said she’s enjoyed the opportunity to work “off curriculum” and get real-world experience heading up the T-shirt committee, where she’s coordinated with graphic designers and vendors.

”I want to help my community as best I can and love that we’re all doing this together as a team,” said eighth grader and Illini teammate Johnny McMinn. “It’s important to be selfless and to share and care. As a community, we should be doing that all the time.”