Grade 7 Changemakers Improve Community

Seventh graders ended the year by designing and engineering Community Action Projects as the culmination of their advisory curriculum. First, they spent the year examining examples of injustice and intolerance and the power of “upstanders” to make a difference. Then, in groups, students chose projects that serve their communities (LJCDS, sports teams, nonprofits, etc.), created a recap and presented it to their peers. These student-driven service projects included bike path and beach cleanups, mentoring younger LJCDS students in Grade 4 on transitioning to Middle School and Grade 6 on sportsmanship, and fundraising for nonprofits like Urban Surf 4 Kids, the ADL and animal shelters. Three are highlighted below.

Asha Patel, Evy Nadi, Harper Tilley and Zach Sherman sought to help bridge the gap between Lower School and Middle School for rising fifth graders. They chose this project based on their own experiences. Now that they had the fifth grade conquered, they wanted to guide and mentor the fourth graders as they made this big leap. Their presentation detailed “What to Expect in Middle School” and allowed time to answer questions. The students shared, “We learned that fourth graders are older than you think… they want to be talked to the same way you would talk to someone your own age.” They are excited to welcome these new students to the Middle School next year. 

A Community Bake Sale for the Frosted Faces Foundation 

Vivienne Fullerton, Annie Verkh-Kent and Charlie Kelly raised money for Frosted Faces, an organization that doesn’t always receive as much recognition for their work with senior animals. Together, they planned and executed a bake sale in which they raised a $350 donation. After the bake sale, they visited the Foundation to volunteer their time and deliver the donation in person. The students realized that “it is fun to give to our community, and we were able to help Frosted Faces with just a small act.”

Harrison Lewis, Kiran She and Cillian O’Shea served San Diego beach communities by designing a project that promoted a better environment for all. They joined the local organization “I Love A Clean San Diego” to help beautify Mission Beach, Barrio Logan, Tidelands Beach and Ocean Beach. The students reflected that “picking up trash on the beach and streets felt satisfying and fulfilling. Doing the work as part of a group greatly simplified the need for tools (bucket, gloves and grabbers) and meant that overall, the area was cleaner by perhaps ten- or twentyfold than if we did it alone.”

The seventh-grade team is proud of all of our students for their efforts to be changemakers in their communities!