Seventh Grade advocates, "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile".
By Sue Hagedorn
April 22, 2010
On Thursday, April 15, 2010, the seventh graders of the Hanover Attendance Center exemplified their volunteer services at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station and Visitors Center. Students assisted Mr. Duane Durst in a variety of benevolent gestures of labor. Members of the Seventh Grade English class attending were Destiny Backus, Stuart Graff, Tyler Horst, Brittany Maples, Ryan Meyer, Hunter Nicholson, Gabriel Rodriguez, Brent Scheele, Caitlyn Simoncic, Marissa Simoncic, and Ramona Weber. Students were accompanied by their instructor, Sue Hagedorn, and Kelli Diederich, teaching assistant. Student testimonials of this memorable, authentic service learning experience reflected unbridled excitement and a genuine desire to extend ongoing services.
This mission of this class project was to create an authentic experiential avenue to increase the development of civic awareness. Sue Hagedorn summed up the linking of the curriculum to community involvement, “It was a joy to witness these students amplifying their attitudes and desires to be more proactive in their commitment in making a positive difference and impact for their school and community. Expanding the understanding of the life-long journey these youth are solidifying in becoming engaging, conscientious, contributing citizens is profoundly significant.”
Seventh Grade English is a comprehensive course incorporating all aspects of the English curriculum. The overarching aim encompasses the development of authentic experience and expertise in reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. In addition, other key objectives include the intensification of character excellence through intra-personal and interpersonal skills; the striving to effectively develop and incorporate curricular standards through academic coursework opportunities and beyond; and the enhancement of the realization of the importance of short-term, intermediate, and long-range goal setting.
