Seniors performed acts of services at more than 15 locations throughout town
Approximately 500 seniors dispersed throughout Washington Township on Friday to give back to the community and school district through acts of service for the high school’s annual Senior Service Day. Approximately 750 elementary students also did their part by creating handmade lanterns, sold to raise funds for five local children in need.
Seniors were at more than 15 locations throughout Washington Township, including inside and outside almost every school in the district, the police department, fire department, Washington Lake Park and Cardinal Village. Most students were landscaping and beautifying lawns and gardens, while others were lending a hand to teachers in preparation for the end of the school year or washing fire trucks. At Cardinal Village, members of the dance team performed a show for seniors.
“It’s a great day for the class to come together and leave one of their final marks on the town in a real, positive way,” said Jonathan Strout, 11/12 executive assistant principal.
According to Fire Chief Patrick Dolgos, students who were working at the fire department were treated with a homemade breakfast, prepared by the firemen as a way of thanking them and showing appreciation for their service.
“Each year, we look forward to them coming here,” Dolgos said. “It’s a great opportunity for the fire department and seniors to get together and do something creative and functional to support the community.”
According to Strout, about 90 percent of the graduating class volunteered for the annual event, a day that was created in 2001 as a way to strengthen the relationship between high school students and the community.
It feels really special because I’m leaving my last mark on the township before going off to college,” said senior Chris Reistle, a student leader. “To have one of my last marks be something the whole community can benefit from, and doing something I’ve been doing since freshman year, feels really good.”
This year, the district launched its second annual “Spring in Service” event during Senior Service Day, where seniors and first- through fifth-grade students worked together on a service project. This year, approximately 750 elementary students participated in the Lantern Project.
The Lantern Project, created by senior and student leader Lyndsey Ferraino, aimed to raise money for families in need from Washington Township. Sponsored by Kennedy Health and the Changing Our World Project, students decorated mason jars with colored paper around the sides. Each lantern includes a tea light inside and a ribbon around the top.
“The Lantern Project started as a scholarship idea,” Ferraino said. “It was a bittersweet moment. We are leaving, but we’re going to leave something even better behind.”
Lanterns were sold for $10 apiece, with each student purchasing and creating at least one to take home. According to board member Tiffany Orihel at a recent Board of Education meeting, recipients of the proceeds included three children who lost both of their parents within weeks of each other, due to drug-related causes, as well as two children who are battling heart conditions.
Extra lanterns will be sold at a candlelight vigil on June 19 in Washington Lake Park, as well as donated to charity and children’s hospitals. For additional information on the Lantern Project, visit www.thecowproject.org.
At the end of the day, seniors celebrated with a class picnic at the high school featuring food, prizes, music, dunk tanks, a photo booth and more. Each group awarded an MVP member for their hard work and dedication to the community service efforts.
“Senior year, it’s all about the seniors, all of the activities — homecoming, prom, the senior trip — by doing Senior Service Day, not only is it fun for us, but as seniors it’s our way to thank the people who have given us so many opportunities to do so many fun things and make our senior year one of the most memorable years of our lives,” Reistle said.
For more photos of Senior Service Day and the Lantern Project, visit The Washington Township Sun Facebook page here.
