Melrose Elementary is making a difference
While the leaves turn red and the colder weather sets in, the students at Melrose Elementary School are not focused on Halloween costumes and treats, but on having a positive impact on the Wooster community and beyond. The Make-A-Difference Project, which takes place throughout the month of October, gives them the opportunity to do just that.While Melrose has been observing Make-A-Difference Day for many years, the occurrence of Hurricane Katrina four years ago inspired both the students and the faculty to go above and beyond just one day of community service per year. Thus, the Make-A-Difference Project became a school tradition. The project is largely student-driven, as was the selection process. Sixth-grade students submitted the names of charitable organizations and delivered presentations outlining why each organization should be chosen as the beneficiary of this year’s project. “There were about 20 different ideas, and they were all very good,” said sixth-grade teacher Eric Vizzo. “Some were national, some were local, and some were tied to the kids’ life experiences.” The students voted and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was chosen. “The best thing about this is that we actually picked something that the kids thought of and is broader than just us,” said Vizzo.
The Make-A-Difference Project, which officially kicked off Oct. 5, is multifaceted, beginning with the Math-A-Thon. The students received Scholastic math workbooks, which were distributed by St. Jude, in which they will complete as many math problems as they can during the allotted time during the school day. Outside of school, the students will procure financial pledges based upon their number of correctly completed math problems. At the end of the month, pledges will be collected and donated to the hospital. The St. Jude Math-A-Thon is the country’s largest education-based fundraiser. Christine Nolletti, the parent volunteer organizing the Make-A-Difference Project, sees this as an activity that benefits everyone involved. “They are going to enrich their math skills, while at the same time helping a charity”, she observed.
The Melrose Elementary School community continues to make a difference on Oct. 17 with its second annual rummage sale. The sale, which is staffed not just by parent volunteers but also by students, will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During this time, the elementary school gymnasium will be open to those interested in purchasing items donated by the school’s parents and staff. All proceeds from the rummage sale will also be donated to St. Jude.
The week of Oct. 26 will bring a variety of community service activities for the entire school. Groups of sixth-graders will volunteer at the Salvation Army soup kitchen every day that week. Students of all ages will be planting flowers at the Viola Startzman Free Clinic, cleaning cages at the Wayne County Humane Society, and reading to preschoolers at the Gault Family Learning Center. They will also be raking leaves for community members in need of assistance with yard work and singing at nursing homes.
The month’s activities will culminate on October 30 with the Make-A-Difference Project celebration. Each class will have a party, and in place of favors, each student will bring in a canned food donation for People to People Ministries. Nolletti is setting a goal of $2,000 to be donated to St. Jude, of which 84 cents of every dollar goes directly to research and treatment. To donate or participate in any of the Make-A-Difference Project activities, contact Melrose Elementary School at 330-345-6434.