Middle School Students Participate in Service Learning Alternative Meeting for Worship
Alternative MFW is an opportunity for students to experience MFW outside of the Meeting House and explore the idea that worship can happen in different spaces and activities. We provide a space for students to engage with various activities worshipfully while learning about themselves,” states Chester Reagan Chair for Religious and Quaker Studies, Dan Zemaitis.
The theme of this Alternative Meeting for Worship centered around service learning to coincide with Middle School students’ Intensive Learning programs that will be happening at the end of the month.
Fifth and seventh grade students had the opportunity to meet with Mark Pensiero, Save the Environment of Moorestown, and delve into the service learning theme of environmental stewardship. Students had the choice to analyze different plant species in our community as well as participate in a mindfulness walk where they were able to reflect on what harvesting a native plant garden means to nature and our MFS community.
“Seventh grade students could choose to create posters to spread awareness on the NexTrex collection of plastics,” quotes Coding Teacher and ESC Clerk Rachel Kaplan. The posters are designed to help the MFS community understand how to correctly sort their waste. Students are currently collecting plastic bags through a school wide challenge, Bundle of the Bags, run by Rachel Kaplan, and recycling them through NexTrex.
Sixth grade students crafted cards and gifts for residents of local community partner, Cambridge Rehabilitation Healthcare Center, as part of their service learning theme of an inclusive community.
Eighth grade students could choose to design placements for donation at the Cathedral Kitchen or write “Notes of Sunshine” to spread joy for Philabundance.
“The activities were truly loved by the kids. In checking in with all the Middle School grade levels, all the kids have universally said how fantastic today was,” said Middle School Dean of Students Maxwell Bogaert. Middle School students will be able to follow up on their service learning activities from today’s Alternative Meeting for Worship and meet with their community partners again during their Day of Service on March 22.