News - Erieview Kids in the Community Kicks Off New School Year of Service

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Erieview Elementary cafeteria filled with students at the school year's first Kids in the Community meeting

Erieview Kids in the Community, an Erieview Elementary outreach group that meets monthly throughout the school year, had its kickoff meeting on Monday, September 23rd. Students in grades K-4 comprise this group and learn to be kind, helpful citizens through the organization of thoughtful outreach activities that benefit the greater community. The first meeting was attended by over one hundred students and led by Erieview Music Teacher/Choir Director Mrs. Kathy Walker and Erieview Teacher Mrs. Patricia Forte, along with a sizeable group of enthusiastic parent volunteers. The motto of Kids in the Community is “If Everybody Did,” which is derived from the book by the same title. This message: that every person’s actions, no matter how small, add up to a greater cumulative impact immediately resonated with students. Students jumped into action and discussed ideas for kindness initiatives with their tablemates, jotting down ideas on paper leaves. These leaves will be gathered to form a Kindness Tree in the lobby of Erieview to showcase the group’s efforts and to remind students to implement their ideas.

Erieview Kids in the Community members hold up paper leaves they wrote words of kindness on

The purpose of the first meeting was to communicate the objective of the group, discuss and plan upcoming projects, and brainstorm ideas of how students can be compassionate and helpful in their respective environments, whether at school or at home. Throughout the school year, Kids in the Community will collect pull tabs for Ronald McDonald House, which recycles them as a fundraiser to support various programming and families whose children are undergoing medical treatment. Ronald McDonald House provides low-cost (or sometimes free of cost) housing for families in their greatest time of need in a child-friendly environment. Kids in the Community will empower students to make a positive impact and grow to become positive leaders among their peers. Thank you to Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Forte, the parent volunteers, and administrators for this groundbreaking and impactful opportunity!