BY ALICIA DORSET
Clarkston News Staff Writer
At the Feb. 9 Clarkston school board meeting, Dr. Sharon Devereaux and Tina Verlinden presented members with an update of how the district’s pilot community service program has developed, reflecting the district’s continued dedication to diversity for students.
‘It’s an opportunity for students to meet a variety of people,? Devereaux, principal at Springfield Plains Elementary, said. ‘It builds citizenship and character and benefits the people receiving the help, too.?
Piloted at fifth, sixth and ninth graders throughout the Clarkston district, individual programs were developed for students to participate in service learning.
A model for the program was Students Taking Action and Responsibility in Service, or STARserve, an initiative started at Andersonville Elementary in 2000 by then-principal Bill Potvin.
Fifth graders were encouraged to go out to the community on their own and find ways to help others. All community service hours were recorded in a log. When a student reached 10 hours, they received a star by their name in a school display and were honored at the end of the year by the principal.
STARserve is still an active force at Andersonville and is the basis for many similar projects in the district.
‘Each building is spearheading their own efforts,? Devereaux said.
By allowing students to work on an individual basis, students could tailor their interests to the needs of the community. Often students found avenues through scouting, church activities or even family connections.
‘It gives students an appreciation for diverse people and to engage with them,? Devereaux said. ‘It’s one thing to read a story about something, but it’s another to actually meet and greet.?
Helping oversee STARserve at Andersonville are Laura Miller, a special education teacher, and Ann Barkey, the school’s psychologist.
Miller has STARserve students work with her K’nex program. Participating fifth graders help tutor fellow students or just spend time with them, those both in general education courses or in the autistic program.
‘Students get the experience of having the opportunity to work with other people and learning how to work with other people,? Miller said.
The push for community service is in part related to the Diversity Committee set up by the district in 1998. Teachers and administrators looked to better educate students on issues related to diversity such as race, ethnicity, gender, economic status or physical ability.
Next year the district hopes to expand the project to include seventh and tenth graders.