Set the Tone!

After completing the initial assessment, the Martha Washington students decided they wanted to work on the beautification of their school. Since this group would be transitioning to high school the following year, they decided to create a toolkit to help the next generation of students continue their work. The class divided themselves into three subgroups, each focusing on creating resources for a specific group of stakeholders at the school: faculty and staff, administration, or students. The goals of the toolkits were to inspire stakeholders to make a change, using examples, goals, and suggestions, as well as to assist all members of the community in working together to support positive change. Overlapping topics encouraged the student groups to work together to incorporate their materials into toolkits. 

At our last session, each group took turns presenting their section to the class, and the audience was able to ask questions. The students agreed that presenting their materials was the hardest part of the project, but also learned how important it is to practice public speaking and giving presentations. The class also shared their toolkit with the 8th grade teachers to pass along to future students to work on in years to come. 

YPAR offers a supportive environment in which students take skills they learn in class, such as persuasive writing, public speaking, and conducting research, and apply them to real-life scenarios. If you have a motivated class that’s ready to make positive changes in their community, reach out to your Nutrition Coordinator to learn more about implementing YPAR at your school.