Serving Our Community Kids Style (SOCKS) (A Learn and Serve America Subgrantee)

700 students, the entire student body of Independence Elementary in Clarkston, participated in service-learning during February.

• Kindergarteners made gift bags for Haven, a shelter for abused women and children;
• First graders made dog bones for the Humane Society and gathered materials for bird nests;
• Second graders made care packages for service men and women including letters from the students;
• Third graders made muffins for Meals on Wheels with letters and refrigerator magnets;
• Fourth graders made blankets for the Linus Project; and the
• Fifth graders performed for Clarkston senior citizens, then shared brunch and memories.

This program, which is in its second year, was initiated by a parent and planned with teachers. Seventy-five parents volunteered to make the day a success. The entire school population made donations, and funds from Learn and Serve – Michigan covered the program costs.

"We are very proud of the strong curriculum connection with our projects and the quality of our projects," said Clarkston Service-Learning Coordinator, Sue Wilson. "The rewards of this program are hard to quantify. It has changed the lives of many people, both the participants and the recipients."

In 2005-2006, Clarkston Community Schools engaged more than 2040 students in more than 88,230 hours of service-learning. Clarkston's service-learning programs were funded by the Michigan Community Service Commission's Learn and Serve – Michigan program. The school was recently awarded a $24,500 Learn and Serve – Michigan school-based grant for the 2006-07 school year.

For more information about service-learning at Clarkston Community Schools contact Sue Wilson, 6389 Clarkston, Clarkston, Michigan 48346, (248) 623-5413 or at wilsons2@clarkston.k12.mi.us.