Eighth grader Emma Thompson, pictured at right, reads along with first grader Kree McConachie as one of Holyoke JR/SR High School’s random acts of kindness last Friday, April 26. Groups completed service projects all around the community. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Seventh grader Carter Van Overbeke and freshman Ethan Johnson are pictured from left, as they help trim brush on the shore of the Lions Club Fishin’ Hole. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Students pay it forward with Random Acts of Kindness Day
Holyoke JR/SR High School students got a hands-on lesson in civics last Friday, April 26, as 21 groups fanned out into the community for service projects coinciding with the district’s Random Acts of Kindness Day.
The events were planned after a project done by Holyoke High School’s 21st Century Skills class identified cliques as a problem among the student body. Students, under the leadership of senior Jacky Mosqueda, have since hosted a variety of team-building exercises and successfully fundraised for matching T-shirts that were worn on the day of the projects.
Groups touched everywhere from the Regent Park nursing home to Holyoke Elementary. Six projects helped individuals with yard work, gardening, and moving boxes and furniture.
At their home base, two groups gave custodians Lupe Montes and Albino Nuñez a hand and cleaned around the outside of HHS. At the elementary school, others read to students and spruced up the playground by painting new four square courts.
At Regent Park, a group of students also played bingo and had outside time with residents.
At the Peerless Theatre, one group did spring cleaning while another helped move offices. Other single groups helped clean up at the Lions Club Fishin’ Hole, Heginbotham Library, golf course and tennis courts, Holyoke Fitness Club, Phillips County Family Education Services and the Phillips County Fairgrounds.