While the students of Washington Montessori Public Charter School may learn all the typical lessons one would expect in a school day (reading, math, science, etc.) they also learn something less academic, but equally important — the value of serving others and being part of a larger community.

This fall, students at the school have engaged in multiple service projects with impacts in Beaufort County and beyond, ranging from something as simple as raking leaves for elderly neighbors to sewing blankets for infants at Vidant Beaufort Hospital. Community service and giving is a vital part of what students learn at the school.

“Each year at this time, we are reminded of the importance of the development of the whole child, character education, and community giving. It is one of the most prominent times of the year when the children become the guides and lead us,” said Darla Prescott, co-head of school.

“Learning about community service and giving to others is just as important as academics in education and we are happy to support our students’ service-learning projects throughout the year,” added co-head of school Austin Smigel

SPECIAL DELIVERIES

For the past 19 years, the school has delivered pies to the residents of The Village apartments in Washington. The WMPCS Tour group delivers pies to residents and plays Christmas carols. Pies are made and donated from every level of the school. Extra care is taken in the high school to make sugar-free and gluten-free pies. Pies not given to the residents at the Village are donated to St. Johns Housing, which is home to seniors who are struggling economically.

BABY BLANKETS

Upper elementary students at WMPCS sewed baby blankets for Vidant Beaufort Hospital. While these blankets are delivered by some of the school’s sixth-year students, they are created in the classrooms by all of the upper elementary students, parent volunteers and guides. This year, students sewed more than 125 blankets for the hospital.

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

Students in the WMPCS lower elementary program collect and deliver canned goods for Eagle’s Wing’s Food Pantry, tirelessly soliciting donations for the local nonprofit. For 30 years, Eagle’s Wing Food Pantry has helped alleviate hunger in Beaufort County, and WMPCS is proud of the support that its students are able to give the organization.

GIVING FOR GOOD

Middle school students donated goods to The Little Pantry in downtown Washington as well as toys for Toys for Tots. In addition to donating toys, they assist in sorting toys at their distribution site.

JOHN’S HOUSING

The WMPCS Children’s House (pre-k and kindergarten students) donated personal care packages for each of the residents of St. John Housing and sang Christmas carols to them.

ACTS OF KINDNESS

Not all projects include gifts of tangible items of food or blankets. WMPCS high school students often choose to give the gift of time, something not typically common among adolescents, according to Smigel. Other random acts of kindness have been noted where students rake leaves for the elderly or in preparation of the holidays, choosing to give gifts to Toys for Tots rather than taking one themselves.

HOLIDAY FUNDRAISING

In addition to the level/building programs, WMPCS also raises funds for one organization each year. This year the whole school holiday giving project was designated to be the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh. GMS is one of the oldest institutions dedicated to providing education for blind students. In addition to classroom instruction, GMS is a boarding school where students also learn the life skills needed for independent living. All funds raised from WMPCS will support GMS’s student services and outing costs. The school is expected to raise approximately $3,000 for GMS.

“These are moments that define our student’s education as much as, if not more than, test scores,” wrote the co-heads of school jointly. “They include learning to be a part of the greater community and understanding the importance of giving to those that may be less fortunate, having troubling times or just sharing a moment with a new acquaintance.“