or each student at Sashabaw Middle School’more than 1,200’a less fortunate child or senior citizen will have a Christmas stocking this year.
The school-wide academic service learning project, in its second year, gave SMS students the opportunity to make and stuff 1,229 stockings through partnerships with teachers, staff, local businesses and other members of the Clarkston community.
‘The kids wrote letters to business owners, and when they got a response it was a very positive message,? said Sue Wilson, a SMS Language Arts teacher who also serves as the district’s Learn and Serve Grant Coordinator. ‘They said ‘Wow, other people really care about this, it must be important.??
During the project, which began in October, students connected lessons in math, language arts, global studies and art to the project as they learned about Oakland County’s economy, the costs of supporting a family, maintaining a home and related issues.
About 70 SMS teachers and staff also took part in the project, and each decorated a stocking to donate, as well.
Parents, seniors recruited from the Independence Township Senior Center and many others also stepped up to help sew stockings, Wilson explained.
‘My mother in Toledo sewed some,? she said. ‘The grandpa of one of our teachers came in and sewed. Once people heard what we were doing they said ‘Oh, I can do that,? and they came in to help out.?
Friday, when the stockings were stuffed and ready for distribution through Lighthouse, students, staff and others from the community celebrated with a school-wide assembly.
Connie Stapleton of Lighthouse North in Clarkston talked to the students about the project.
‘We never had stockings to give before,? she said later, noting the organization has had a 30 percent increase in the families they’re helping, just since 2007. ‘Last year, parents were so appreciative to get the stockings, and this year they’re getting them again,? she said. ‘A Christmas stocking is like icing on the cake.?
Some of the stockings, stuffed with small toys, mittens, hats, school supplies and personal care items, were also shared with Lighthouse in Pontiac.
‘When we took them over, the volunteers were very surprised,? Stapleton said. ‘They said ‘These are wonderful, where did you get these???
Stapleton said she was happy to tell them the stockings were made, stuffed and sent by students at Sashabaw Middle School.