As part of Polk County Middle Schools mini-courses, 26 sixth, seventh and eighth graders, have formed a Service Learning Group that meets twice a week during mini course time to help out around the school and to complete community service projects.

The group has adopted the quote, How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world, by Anne Frank as its theme this year, and the group has been busy doing just that.

Since the beginning of this school year, the group members have organized and advertised for Make a Difference Day to challenge there fellow classmates to do one thing this year that will make a difference at their school, at their homes, or in their community. They have sponsored a coat drive that resulted in over 170 coats being collected and distributed to students in need. And currently they are working with Thermal Belt Outreach and are sponsoring a canned food drive.

On a recent afternoon, the Service Learning members worked with some of the Polk Middle staff to spread mulch around the school.

Tim Edwards donated the mulch and we are very grateful to him for helping us make our school look beautiful, says school counselor and group co-sponsor Langlee Garrett.

The group is also learning about the importance of service in our community and in the world. Students have been challenged to answer the questions: What can I do to improve my school and community and why is service important? During this mini course time students will hear from Lance Smith, coordinator of the Hands of Change service group in the local community, as well as Habitat for Humanity to learn what they do in the community in terms of service and helping others.

The service group will continue through the spring with projects students choose to work on in our school, community or internationally.