COMMUNITY

Back to the Idea Hub

Our COMMUNITY projects task students with solving and improving problems that face our school and local communities. Students will identify the problem facing our community, brainstorm ways to solve these issues, and eventually implement their plan.

Appreciation Days

Overview: In this project, any interested SEVEN can help us celebrate the people in our school that keep our school running! SEVENs can create cards, posters, skits, videos, other design elements, etc. to celebrate our: custodians, nurses, secretaries, crossing guards, lunch staff, and more!

National Principals Month: October 2024
National School Custodian Appreciation Day: October 2, 2024
National School Bus Safety & Bus Driver Appreciation Week: October 21-25, 2024
National School Psychology Week: November 11-15, 2024
School Board Recognition Month: January 2025
National School Counselor Week: February 3-7, 2025
National Crossing Guard Appreciation Day: February 12, 2025
School Resource Officer Appreciation Day: February 15, 2025
School Social Worker Week: March 3-9, 2025
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day: April 3, 2025
Assistant Principal Appreciation Day: April 3, 2025
National Assistant Principals Week: April 8-12, 2025
Administrative Professionals Day: April 23, 2025
Principal Appreciation Day: May 1, 2025
Lunch Staff: May 2, 2025
Teacher Appreciation Week: May 5-9, 2025
National School Nurse Day: May 7, 2025

Courtyard Fencing

Overview: In this project, students will transform the fence around our recess area into a work of art! Students will fundraise for fencing tape and/or cups, discuss and plan out potential designs, and utilize the items to create beautiful pieces of artwork for our playground courtyard. Students preview the space: take notes, draw sketches, brainstorm ideas. Incorporate math by having students find the area of each fencing section. Students can count the spaces in each fence section to make a scale drawing on graph paper using the correct dimensions. Students brainstorm design ideas: cultural, RPMS lion, Rogers Park letters, etc., flowers, geometric design, etc. Students can find new visuals, videos, and articles to upload to this site. (Practice sourcing and finding credible sites.)

Students brainstorm costs related to their design. (Cups, Privacy fence tape). Students can determine how many cups/amount of tape they need, create a budget, and then fundraise. Students implement their plan and design.

Potential Events: Opening of the new fencing design or the Implementation Day (volunteers, professionals, other Sevens)

Courtyard Gardens

Overview: In this project, students would update the garden beds in front of Rogers Park Middle School. Students will research the types of plants/flowers that need little sun to grow, reach out to local landscapers or garden shops for advice and collaboration opportunities, and much more.

Students preview the space: take notes, draw sketches, brainstorm ideas. Incorporate math by having students find the area of the space. Make a to scale drawing on graph paper using the correct dimensions. Students can research plants/flowers that will grow in spaces without a lot of sun and rain. Students can track, during rainy days, how much rain gets to the beds (if any). Students can also track how sun the space receives a day. Students can find new visuals, videos, and articles to upload to this site. (Practice sourcing and finding credible sites.) Students brainstorm costs related to their design. Students create a budget and then fundraise. Students can reach out to local garden shops. Students professionals to their classroom (via Google Meets or in person) to give their opinion and ideas of costs. Students implement their plan and design.

Potential Events: Opening of the gardens or the Implementation Day (volunteers, professionals, other Sevens)

Courtyard Renovation

Overview: In this project, students would design and renovate the courtyard in front of Rogers Park Middle School. The renovation could include updating the garden beds, fundraising for additional picnic tables, creating additional seating, and more.

Students preview the space: take notes, draw sketches, brainstorm ideas. Incorporate math by having students find the area of the space. Make a to scale drawing on graph paper using the correct dimensions. Students brainstorm ideas on how to improve the space. Students search images, sites, videos for inspiration and ideas. Students can collect ideas on a vision board in the classroom. Students brainstorm costs related to their design. Students can Google images of middle school, high school, and college courtyards for inspiration. Students create a budget and then fundraise for these items. Students invite landscapers, masons, etc to their classroom (via Google Meets or in person) for professional opinions and ideas of costs. Students implement their plan and design!

Links

Extreme Collaboration: School Courtyard Edition
A Practical Guide to Planning, Constructing, and Using School Courtyards (Maryland State Department of Education)
Nathan Hale High School Courtyard Renovation Proposal (University of Washington: EHUF 480)

Potential Events: Opening of the courtyard or the Implementation Day (volunteers, professionals, other Sevens)

Fundraising for Local Charities and Causes

Overview: In this project, students would research and learn more about charities and causes that need support in our local communities. These causes could include the Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Ann's Place, Dorothy Day, and more. Students can also research, fundraise, and bring awareness to causes that are close to them and have personal connections.

Students can brainstorm causes that are close to them and/or causes that they would like to support. Students can collaborate on how to best support these causes (financially, spreading the word, hosting an event). Students can research one or more of these charities/causes and can present their findings. Students can organize their fundraiser, PSA, event to engage the rest of the RPMS community.

Field Trip Opportunities: Visit the headquarters or locations of these charities to learn more about the cause.

Guest Speaker Opportunities: Members of local charities

Links

Playground/Blacktop Redesign

Overview: In this project, students would design and renovate the blacktop playground of Rogers Park Middle School. The renovation could include fixing the basketball hoops, painting court lines, painting foursquare spaces, painting cultural and school pride ground murals, painting other games on the ground, fundraising for outdoor games and materials, etc.

Students preview the space: take notes, draw sketches, brainstorm ideas. Students brainstorm ideas on how to improve the space. Students can read articles about the impact renovated courtyards have had on other schools. Students can watch videos of other renovated courtyards. Students can find new visuals, videos, and articles to upload to this site. (Practice sourcing and finding credible sites.) Students can Google images of middle school, high school, and college courtyards for inspiration. Students can create a vision board of their ideas and findings. Students brainstorm costs related to their design (paint, stencils, etc.). Students create a budget and then fundraise. Students can invite professionals to their classroom (via Google Meets or in person) to give their opinion and ideas of costs. Students implement their plan and design with the help of other SEVENs, volunteers, professionals, etc.

Links:

Soccer Mini-Pitch (Field)

Overview: In this project, students will figure out how to create a small soccer field (near our school greenhouse or on the larger back field) to be used during lunch time.

Students preview the space: take notes, draw sketches, brainstorm ideas. Incorporate math by having students find the area of space/field. Students can use graph paper to plan out the field to scale. Students will need to brainstorm what is needed to create a small soccer field. This could include: fencing, small goals (pop-up or more permanent), larger fencing to prevent the ball from entering the wooded area, soccer balls (smaller size), pinnies, paint for the field lines, scoreboard, etc.

Students will need to brainstorm the logistics of the field: teacher supervision during lunch, how many students can play at one time, rules, penalties for misbehavior, schedule for who can use the field on which days, breakdown of the field (so that items are not being ruined/broken by people after hours), how will Parks and Recreation maintain the grass, etc.

Students can then reach out to local businesses (soccer stores, etc.) for ideas and donations. Students can then brainstorm how they will fundraise for the other items needed. Students can discuss the benefits of a small soccer field (alleviate traffic on the blacktop, safety, improve cardiovascular, build relationships, etc.)

Potential Events: Opening/unveiling of the new soccer field and/or a small school-wide tournament on the new soccer field.

Field Trip Opportunities: Local soccer/futsal fields

Guest Speaker Opportunities: Members of Parks and Recreation

Links: https://www.mini-pitch.com/en-US/minipitch/projects

Spelling Bee

Overview: A spelling bee at a middle school offers several valuable benefits for students. First, it enhances vocabulary development by encouraging students to learn new words and their meanings. This expanded vocabulary can improve reading comprehension and writing skills. Additionally, participating in a spelling bee fosters concentration and attention to detail, as students must focus on spelling words accurately under pressure. The event also promotes a sense of achievement and boosts self-confidence. Students who participate gain experience in public speaking and learn to handle competition in a constructive manner. Furthermore, spelling bees can create a sense of community within the school, as students, teachers, and parents come together to support and celebrate the participants. Overall, a spelling bee serves as an engaging educational activity that supports academic growth, personal development, and school spirit.

Field Trip Opportunities: Connecticut Spelling Bee

Guest Speaker Opportunities: Local students who participated in the National Spelling Bee, moderators of spelling bees

Potential Events:

Host a spelling bee at Rogers Park Middle School. The spelling bee can be organized by grade level.
The Connecticut Spelling Bee

Links:

The Connecticut Spelling Bee

Spelling Bee Enrollment Page

Spirit Wear

Overview: In this project, students would design our RPMS spirit wear! Students would choose the types of items we would sell (hoodies, t-shirts, etc.), the colors of the items, and the design of the shirt (location of the logo, other designs). Students could also survey the students and staff to see which designs and products they want to be available. Students would then reach out to the screen printing company, create a marketing program, and finally distribute the products (once they arrive) to the students and staff throughout the school.

Page updated

Report abuse