There’s a new decoration, along with the Christmas wreaths, on a block in downtown Shawano.
On Dec. 15, students from Shawano Community Middle School tied yellow ribbons on light posts to show their support and gratitude for local troops and their families. It was part of a class project.
“The Today’s Teen classes at Shawano Community Middle School were challenged to make a positive impact on someone or a group of people,” said Emily Schwartz, family consumer science teacher.
Two classes of 40 students were reading the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey. They were on “Habit 2, Begin with the End in Mind.”
“I am particularly proud of this group,” Schwartz said. “They took ownership of this project and ran with it.”
The students had to call Mayor Lorna Marquardt and talk to Police Chief Mark Kohl to get permission to hang the ribbons.
“They were shaking, but they did it,” Schwartz said.
Other students decided they wanted to support families who might be struggling.
“Some of the families that they want to have a positive impact on are families with a family member who is going through a major medical illness,” Schwartz said.
To raise money for their projects, the students held a Santa Stop and Shop at the school from Dec. 15-17. Staff and students donated new and gently used items to sell.
This is the fourth year for the shop, which also gives students a place where they can get Christmas presents for their family and friends.
Students used the proceeds to prepare care packages to troops overseas and their families here. They also helped a local family battling childhood cancer and a family who recently lost someone to cancer. Money also went to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.
“I hope the students discover that they can make a difference in this world,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz wants the students to know that they can make a difference, and to know how to plan and carry out a project, and how to use those planning skills on anything else in their future.
“I want my students to understand that they can do it now,” Schwartz said. “I want them to live the life they dream and be the person they strive to be now, not waiting until they graduate or until they are grown up. They can do amazing things now.”
For more information, call SCMS at 715-526-2192.
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