Making a Difference through Service Day 2019

Students at Morganton Day School braved the cold to reach outside the walls of their school and into the Morganton community. During their annual “Making a Difference through Service Day” on Nov. 25th, MDS students experienced being part of a greater community and contributing in meaningful ways. 

Another important part of Making a Difference through Service day is helping build student agency, the capacity and propensity to take purposeful action. Working collaboratively, students choose service projects that tie into their unit of inquiry or tap into their areas of interest. This year, projects included the following:

Junior Kindergarten children brought and bagged books to hide at Martha's Park for other children to find.

Kindergarten students braved the cold to crush cans at Habitat for Humanity, which sells the cans to help build homes. Kinders also removed the tabs to give to the Ronald McDonald house and made cards for the residents of Magnolia Lane nursing home.

1st grade students brought and cleaned toys to donate to the Options organization.

2nd grade made Christmas ornaments and visited a nursing home.

3rd and 4th grade students learned about Foothills Conservancy of N.C. and built bat boxes to create a safe habitat. Then students wrote letters to North Carolina legislators to ask for continued support of the Conservancy. 

5th grade prepared and served a delicious lunch for public safety officers.

6th and 7th grade went to BUMC, where they sorted food, bagged dog and cat food, organized and compiled Santa Bags, folded envelopes, and sorted and rolled underwear for distribution.

8th Grade organized bags of Thanksgiving day food donations and sorted toiletry donations from local businesses at the Outreach Center.

Making a Difference through Service Day is a tradition that captures the very spirit of the school. Each day, teachers strive to help students see ways they can take action on their learning, and each year, students and teachers come together and infiltrate our community supporting various organizations through service projects. As the holiday season approaches and thoughts turn to gratitude, Making a Difference through Service Day gives students a special opportunity to reach out and make a real difference. 

Morganton Day is committed to education that prepares students to be the future leaders of our global community, and service learning is one small part of that education.