8th Grade Community Project

IB Community Project 2026-27

Parent Q&A night - details coming soon - Will be in early September.

Students will have access to their Community Project Process Journal on Aug. 27th - the Launch Day for the project.

Please reach out to me with any questions. maranda.thornburg@cms.k12.nc.us

Timeline for Community Project 2027

Students may only pair up with or partner with students from their homeroom group. Students may work alone if they choose to do so.

Our 8th grade classes are divided into PODS with the homeroom teacher being the anchor. See the chart for the teachers that are connected to each pod. The pods are driven by subject so If the 8th grade homeroom teacher is a Math teacher, the she is joined by a 7th grade Math teacher, a 6th grade Math teacher, and then at least two other staff members to support the homeroom.

Each 8th grade student will be paired with an adult that will support the student on the community project journey and the paired adult will also give the final grade on the project.

Mrs. Thornburg will run a club during first semester "Community Project Support" please encourage your students to tap into this resources when needed, or sign up for the whole semester.

The Community Project will be completed by the end of first semester. The showcase this year is on Thursday, February 4th (in the morning). Mark your calendars for this important date.

Community Project Pods Overview

8th Grade Community Project Overview

The MYP Community Project is a Piedmont expectation and an IB Continuation requirement for all 8th grade students. After being introduced to the project in 6th grade and revisiting it in 7th grade, students begin the process in September of their 8th grade year. They will complete a semester-long project with teacher and supervisor support. All components as seen in the infographic above are documented in their Community Project Process Journal. The Journal is the most important piece and it will be graded along the way on an 8 point scale with the final grade on a 1-7 scale. The experience culminates with the

Community Project Showcase on Thursday February 4th.

Important Reminders

Students are encouraged to complete their Action within their own communities of interest, such as neighborhoods, faith communities, athletic teams, scouting organizations, or other community groups.
School space and time are limited. Students wishing to host an Action on campus must follow the established request and approval process.
Not all projects can be hosted on campus, and students should plan accordingly.
All Action activities must be completed before students return from Winter Break.

Mrs. Thornburg (The IB Coordinator) will host an 8th Grade parent Q&A session details to come. This will happen early September, but in the meantime, reach out with any questions.

Possible topics when considering the 8th grade project.

Your idea may not be on this list.... no worries! When you complete the student survey make sure you are describing what you want to work on.

REMEMBER You CANNOT RAISE / COLLECT MONEY for your project.

International Day of peace (Jocelyn Torres is working on this project)

Belmont Neighborhood Food Drive/Blessing Boxes

Veteran's Day Breakfast Autism Speaks Event

Tree Charlotte The Middle School Tool Kit

Clean Campus Media Center Organization

Diwali Celebration The Messages in the front of the school Marquee

International Festival Nutrition

Advocates for Street Clean up (Keep Charlotte Beautiful)

Music focus Block Love (feeding the homeless)

sports focus A Roof Above (Welcome Home Kit)

Alexander Street Park Clean-Up Preschool support (Near Piedmont)

Catawba River Keepers American Heart Association

Fall Campus Clean-up Cancer Awareness / Support

Piedmont Community Pantry Bicycle Drive/ ReCyclery support

Steve's Coats for Kids Turn the Lights off Campaign

Friendship Garden/Community Garden Supporting the Animal Shelter / Advocacy

Front Beds and Planters around the school Bike/Pedestrian Safety Campaign

Light the Night Leukemia/Lymphoma Foundation Walk

Support / advocacy for disabilities Anti-Bullying

theater focus Innovation Barn

Mental Health The Public Library

Nursing home/Elder Care The Charlotte Humane Society

IN RED - someone has already requested to do that project. If you are still interested add it to your survey form and I can put you on a wait list in case someone changes their mind.

This is last year's information, but you can see many of the questions are still applicable.

The community project is an IB continuation requirement and a Piedmont expectation. Please reach out to Mrs. Thornburg, the IB Coordinator, at maranda.thornburg@cms.k12.nc.us with any questions.

FAQ about the Community Project

When is the Community Project Due? Objective D is due in January (the written component "Reflection"), but the "Action" Should be completed before returning after winter break.
When is the actual Showcase? The 2026 Showcase will be Thursday February 4th 9:35am
How does my child know about this project? The community project is introduced to students in sixth and seventh grade after they visit the 8th grade showcase. Students are asked to create a Google Document in their IB Portfolios for Community Project brainstorming.

Then in 8th grade Mrs. Thornburg and the 8th grade teachers and staff will Launch the project with information for students and parents. This year it will be the first week of school for the students. Parents can refer to these resources and reach out to Mrs. Thornburg at any time.

How does my child know who his/her supervisor is? Students will be paired with adults in their PODS - they are formed with the homeroom teacher being the Anchor adult. There is support provided from teachers within that pod.
Does my child have to work alone on this project? Students may work alone, with a partner, or with two other teammates. No more than 3 students should be working together on this project. Choose partners within the homeroom group only. Students may not work outside of their homeroom.
What if we have a plan, but we change our mind and want to do something else? Communication is Key. To change a topic students must get approval from their Community Project Supervisor. If a topic changes - all students must re-do the work to reflect the change and they must still adhere to deadlines. I changed my topic cannot be an excuse for late submissions. Think carefully before making the final decision about your topic of choice.
What happens if my supervisor does not respond to my emails and I do not have the supervisor as a teacher this year? If a student is having difficulty communicating with the supervisor please reach out to your homeroom teacher first - then to another adult in your POD, then you Mrs. Thornburg.
Does my community project have to be done at school? No, the community project can be completed in a broader community (with adult supervision) . The project could be done completely in the student's neighborhood, place of worship, or with an organization that does not include exclusively Piedmont students and families.
What if I can't think of a project idea? No worries. This is the first time students have had an assignment on this kind of scale. Adults are here to help you. Please read through the ideas posted on this site and reach out to your homeroom teacher and Mrs. Thornburg. Our community has so many opportunities. This does not have to be a complicated task.

C.P. Showcase Slidshow

Check out Holden Vallimont's Community Project. He hosted a soccer clinic for young people in his neighborhood. Go to the last slide to see his video. This is an example of an excellent project.

Great Job Holden!

Communication is the Key to Success. If you have a question - talk to the homeroom teacher, talk to your supervisor, talk to parents and talk to Mrs. Thornburg. Do not overthink it. Keep it simple - make it impactful - and choose something you are passionate about.

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8th Grade Community Project

IB Community Project 2026-27

Students may only pair up with or partner with students from their homeroom group. Students may work alone if they choose to do so.

8th Grade Community Project Overview

Possible topics when considering the 8th grade project.

This is last year's information, but you can see many of the questions are still applicable.

FAQ about the Community Project

When is the Community Project Due? Objective D is due in January (the written component "Reflection"), but the "Action" Should be completed before returning after winter break.

When is the actual Showcase? The 2026 Showcase will be Thursday February 4th 9:35am

How does my child know about this project? The community project is introduced to students in sixth and seventh grade after they visit the 8th grade showcase. Students are asked to create a Google Document in their IB Portfolios for Community Project brainstorming.

Then in 8th grade Mrs. Thornburg and the 8th grade teachers and staff will Launch the project with information for students and parents. This year it will be the first week of school for the students. Parents can refer to these resources and reach out to Mrs. Thornburg at any time.

How does my child know who his/her supervisor is? Students will be paired with adults in their PODS - they are formed with the homeroom teacher being the Anchor adult. There is support provided from teachers within that pod.

Does my child have to work alone on this project? Students may work alone, with a partner, or with two other teammates. No more than 3 students should be working together on this project. Choose partners within the homeroom group only. Students may not work outside of their homeroom.

What happens if my supervisor does not respond to my emails and I do not have the supervisor as a teacher this year? If a student is having difficulty communicating with the supervisor please reach out to your homeroom teacher first - then to another adult in your POD, then you Mrs. Thornburg.

Communication is the Key to Success. If you have a question - talk to the homeroom teacher, talk to your supervisor, talk to parents and talk to Mrs. Thornburg. Do not overthink it. Keep it simple - make it impactful - and choose something you are passionate about.