Social Involvement Through Education and Service (SITES)

SITES Students Take the Lead

Leadership Camp at Firelands BSA Reservation and Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation

The SITES Program held its annual Leadership Camp on September 11^th and 12th. The students, parent chaperones, community volunteers, and teachers worked together to learn valuable lessons in team-building, service, addressing community needs, and goal-setting. The Sunday portion was held at Firelands Scout Reservation in Lorain County. After initial orientations, the teams conducted ecology and service projects and joined in special initiative games.

On the following day, the SITES students reconvened at the Rocky River Nature Center in North Olmsted to learn about leaders, anti-bullying strategies, and goal-setting. Students read children’s story books about anti-bullying and designed skits to be used at local schools this year.  By helping to create safer school environments, the SITES students will motivate the younger students to thrive academically.

Salute to Veterans at North Olmsted High School

Salute to Veterans 2011

The SITES Service-Learning Program recently hosted the Salute to Veterans program on November 3^rd at North Olmsted High School. Local combat veterans convened  for a three hour event involving hundreds of students from various classes. The Creative Foods classes cooked a delicious egg strata and homemade muffin breakfast, which was served by volunteers from the SITES classes. The Art classes sponsored a Veterans Art contest. The first and second place students presented their first and second place winning works to the veterans. A digital media work will be permanently displayed in the Veterans Memorial Eagles Room, alongside winners from previous years.

Over 400 people participated in the recognition ceremony in the cafeteria. The NOHS Orchestra performed inspirational patriotic pieces including the Armed Forces Medley and God Bless America.  Our principal and school board president asked the students and guests to remember the individual sacrifices of our fighting men and women. The main program this year reflected on personal experiences from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, the War in Afghanistan, and the War in Iraq. SITES students interviewed veterans from each war, and and fellow students presented their stories to the assembly. Each veteran was presented with a gift to thank him for serving our country during wartime. NOHS Alumnus, Navy Veteran and VFW Commander Jeff Richie thanked the student body for its respect and recognition. Mr. Richie also reminded everyone present that the U.S. is currently fighting two wars and that the current servicemen and women will need our support when they return home from very long tours of duty. A local retired  history teacher provided a temporary display of Army uniforms representing soldiers from the Civil War to the present. One of the students is currently displaying memorabilia from his grandfather’s experience in the Second World War in the Atrium Showcase.

After the formal ceremony, 3^rd period World History and U.S. History classes met with veterans to hear about their contributions to our nation’s history. Thanks go out to all students and faculty who participated, the custodial and kitchen staffs for their support, the SITES moms and administration for their behind the scenes work, and of course, to our brave men and women who have fought and are fighting for our liberties.

Swinging Seniors Cut a Rug!

Seniorfest 2011 at Springvale Ballroom

The Seniorfest was held on October 12, 2011 at Springvale Ballroom. Over 325 senior citizens, SITES students, city officials, parents, teachers, and community leaders convened for an inter-generational jubilee. The Seniorfest’s autumn theme was brightened by great music, ballroom dancing, delicious food, and smiles all around. A special 1960s cultural trivia contest was held. SITES students acquired donations from dozens of local merchants for door prizes. The students also baked all the desserts and prizes for the trivia contest. Ed and Mitzi Waring trained the students in dance steps and then took charge of judging the senior and youth dance contest. In their social studies classes, the students studied aging and the role of elderly in our society. Empathy for and understanding of people from different generations will foster a more committed sense of citizenship in these young community members. 

Making Waves from Cleveland to Uganda

 

Have you ever carried 40 pounds of water for 4 miles?

On Wednesday, November 16, Erin Huber, the director of Drink Local Drink Tap, presented to the SITES Program classes. Erin is a local non-profit leader who has, among other projects, led the effort to create the Huber-Westfall Garden, an eco-friendly rooftop environment atop the new CSU Rec Center. She is currently connecting Clevelanders to a project at St. Bonaventure School, an orphanage in Mullajji Village, Uganda. The East African children there now carry water cans up to 4 miles twice each day in order to cook and bathe. The DLDT project is raising funds to build a bore hole water access point at the school. The Ohio connection is education to help us move away from bottled water, clean Lake Erie beaches, and to conserve our own natural resources as a means to share with those in a drought-stricken equatorial village. Watch for an opportunity for you to help with this project. Learn more at: www.drinklocaldrinktap.org

 

Adopt-a-Family Community Christmas

SITES students raised money and purchased toys, clothes, and household products for 2 families in North Olmsted, Ohio. They participated in the annual program through the city's Youth and Family Services program. Our classmates at North Olmsted High School "adopted" another 20 families to help alleviate the stress on economically disadvantaged members of our town. 

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Second Quarter Project Review 2011 2012 

Reported by Angel J, SITES Student
During the second quarter, each individual SITES student is given an open assignment to create his/her own service project. The projects are based on meeting and addressing community needs, while also developing responsibility, independence, and leadership skills in the students. Through these personal service projects, the community can better appreciate the efforts of the upcoming generation of young adults to make our world a better place. All of the projects reflect the dedication and hard work of the SITES students.
• Many SITES students partnered with Barnes & Noble to do holiday gift wrapping to get donations for Drink Local Drink Tap. The money that was raised was donated to this organization to help build a new water borehole for orphans in Uganda.
• Students at Meals on Wheels collected toiletries for less fortunate and homebound senior citizens and delivered these to the elderly clients before the holidays.
• Two students paired with North Olmsted police officer Jim Carbone in the annual creation of the “Day of Giving” at the high school.  The main event was the mocktail party. Multiple groups and sports teams paired up to raise money for Lighthouse, Shop-with-a-Cop, and Drink Local Drink Tap.
• High school volunteers helped students at Chestnut Intermediate School make cheerful holiday cards for patients at St. John’s Medical Center.  Two SITES students then delivered the cards to patients who were hospitalized during the holidays.
• SITES students who volunteer at Forest Primary School partnered with students who volunteer at Fairview Hospital to collect books for sick children. The 250 books that were collected will give the ill children comfort and happiness.
• A student at Southwest General Hospital wanted to give back to former volunteers. She created a project where she made cookies for the volunteers and showed her appreciation for their many years of service.
• Two SITES students who volunteer at Birch Primary School spearheaded a letter writing activity to soldiers who are serving overseas. The children wanted to show their appreciation and support for all that the soldiers do for our country. The young students learned a greater sense of citizenship at such a young age.

• Much needed winter apparel was collected for the recipients of food and services at the North Olmsted Oxcart Food Pantry.
• Comfy blankets and towels were collected by a SITES student to help comfort the animals at Northview Animal Clinic.
• Students at St. John Medical Center delivered artwork that was created by 4th graders at Pine Intermediate School to patients’ rooms in the hospital. The patients felt less gloomy when facing such hard times in their lives.

• Children’s coats were collected and given to the Nueva Luz Community Center. This non-profit organization needed the coats to help impoverished children stay warm in the winter.
• One SITES student set up toy drives in several area churches and youth groups. The toys that were collected were given to the Homeless Standdown in Cleveland.
• North Olmsted Middle School students donated toys in exchange for a fun filled assembly. Each student needed a toy in order to attend the assembly. The donations went to Toys for Tots.
• Several SITES students created a “Fun Day” experience at St. Brendan’s Elementary School to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Many children attended this Saturday afternoon event.  The students raised an amazing $300 for St. Jude’s, just by providing games and prizes for the kids!
• Some SITES students worked on creating decorated file folders that contained learning activities.  These were given to children with learning disabilities at Butternut Primary School to help the children get organized and master various academic skills.
• Appreciation was shown to volunteers at the Rocky River Nature Center with candy bags and thank you notes.
• Stuffed animals are always a good idea to cheer up the patients at Fairview Hospital. One SITES student collected 85 stuffed animals that were donated to parents of babies at the hospital.  These animals brought smiles to many faces.

• A few SITES students created a comforting gift basket filled with activities that was shared with women with problem pregnancies at Fairview Hospital because they have to stay at the hospital for long periods of time. This project helped to make these mothers’ time in the hospital more enjoyable.
• The little ones at Pine Preschool made ornaments to give to senior citizens at Olmsted Manor. The SITES students who volunteered at Olmsted Manor made and decorated holiday stockings and then filled the stockings with homemade cookies and the ornaments that were made by the preschoolers.  A stocking was hung on every resident’s door at this assisted living facility.
• The Holidays at Frostville was promoted by students to encourage more people to attend this event hosted by the North Olmsted Historical Society.
• School supplies are a necessity to many inner city Cleveland school children who cannot afford them. Unfortunately, there are many areas where schools rely on donations to educate their students. Several SITES students collected school supplies to assist these needy children.

So many wonderful projects made a difference in the lives of people in our community -- all thanks to the caring efforts of the SITES students!  These are the thoughts of some of the SITES students on their projects:

• I learned that little things can make a huge difference.  I will continue to do little things for people that will make their lives better.

• I have an optimistic view of helping people.

• By working with others, I gained stronger communication skills and more respect for others.  I learned that everyone in the community is very kind.

• I learned that I could accept big responsibilities, and I especially learned that working with kids is a wonderful thing.

• My project helped me understand how to be more compassionate towards others and how to put the needs of others before my own needs.

• I will think of other people more often and show people that I appreciate them.

• I have learned that every person counts.  The people in my community need me as much as I need them.
• I learned that I am happier when I give back to the community.  Working with others is easy with good communication skills.  I will use what I learned in this experience by taking service to the next level. Now, I know how to start my own service project.

• During my project, I learned that when given a challenge, I will try my best to achieve my goals and be successful.  I have a much better understanding now of people who don’t have much.

• I learned that I am a very caring person and want to keep helping others.

• I learned that I like being a leader and taking charge, especially if I know that the outcome will help people who appreciate what t I’ve done.  I’ll take the leadership skills that I have developed and use them to my advantage in college and beyond. 

• Through my project, I learned that I have more initiative than I thought.  I also learned how willing people are to help those in need.

• I learned that the little things can produce the biggest smiles.

• I learned that I am really good at getting along and working together with other people.  Also, I learned that my way isn’t always the right way.  I will use what I learned through this experience by always working hard.  I will communicate and get to know the people I am working with and always have a good time and a positive attitude.

• I learned that I am very patient and a very good team member.

• I can make a difference through the smallest actions.

• My project taught me to give back as much as possible and how much I love helping others in need.

• This opened my eyes to service.  I learned that service isn’t a job.  It’s a fun task that, with the help from others, can be quick and easy, as well as life-changing for me and others.

• My project really helped me understand that one action can cause a ripple effect and create something bigger.  I have learned that if I work hard and give a huge effort, then I will succeed. 

 

A Day in the Life of a SITES student

Sammy is helping Tyler perfect his reading skills by learning about birds of prey. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning Sammy partners with teachers and students at Chestnut Intermediate School to help students. During first semester Sammy served physical therapy patients at the Cleveland Clinic unit at the Fairview Park Gemini Center. 

Each week, the entire SITES Program Class volunteers at dozens of agencies in and near North Olmsted, Ohio.

SITES Students Share Dream of Respect and Kindness in Anti-Bullying Assemblies

Chestnut Intermediate School in North Olmsted, Ohio is leading the way in promoting mutual respect among students. The school community's goal is to have every member practice "The Chestnut Way" encouraging all to play nice and learn in a positive environment. 

The SITES senior students conducted a series of assemblies and class activities to bolster The Chestnut Way. The gatherings consisted of explanations of types of bullying, skits, discussions, and reading of  Trudy Ludwig's Confessions of a Former Bully.

In small groups, the students wrote down admirable qualities about each other and confidentially shared them. They also suggested ways to prevent bullying in their school community. It was a transformative moment for these 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in suburban Cleveland.

Thanks go out to all the SITES volunteers and Chestnut staff. Big kudos to student Sammy Ibrahim for spearheading the project and to librarian Debbie Incorvaia and principal Scott Moore for sponsoring the event.

Students Study Intolerance to Prepare to Serve Others

In English class, SITES students read novels pertaining to various minority groups. Topics included: Native Americans, African-Americans, Afghani Women, Jewish Holocaust Victims, and Chinese Women. The students were able to connect the ideas in their novels to the social studies intolerance unit. They gained empathy and understanding of various social groups that will prepare them for their weekly service and for the concentrated service they will do in April in  Appalachian and urban areas in Ohio.

The students shared their insights of the novels and the minority groups they studied through visual and oral presentations.

WE ARE CLEVELAND
By Tessa Stenger and Nick Hohmann

During Outreach Week, twenty-three SITES students volunteered at various agencies in the greater Cleveland area. Each morning, the students gathered at Springvale Ballroom in North Olmsted for breakfast and discussed situations of importance, while sharing stories of their experiences. After breakfast, they traveled in mini vans to different locations each day with current and former North Olmsted High School teachers who volunteered their time to the cause. The sites where they volunteered varied in location from the Hospice of Western Reserve on the east side to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Lorain, Ohio. At their sites, their tasks included cleaning furniture; serving hot lunches; working in the garden; and helping the less fortunate find clothes, household items, and toys for their families. The SITES students also helped clean churches while they were closed and even worked with a former SITES student at the Nueva Luz organization. There, they did a lot of community gardening and neighborhood cleanup. The Redeemer Crisis Center involved spring cleaning, food and clothing distribution, and community gardening. In historical Ohio City, students spruced up vacant lots with local volunteer and deacon Bill Merriman. The SITES students did not see thugs on street corners but witnessed fellow Clevelanders trying to better their lives or people who just needed a little help. For all of you who travel on the highways and never take a Cleveland exit, you will never enter our closest neighborhoods of poverty. When the question is asked “Where are you from?” most of us say, without hesitating, one short word -- “Cleveland.” It is truly important to become closer with the roots of our city by visiting the streets where our ancestors once lived and seeing how much they have changed. Nobody knows a better story about Cleveland than the citizens who work to make it better everyday. We claim Cleveland as our home town, and the least we can do is give back to the community. The SITES students who participated in the Cleveland Outreach Week didn’t travel far, but they traveled deep into the hearts of others.

MOO, MOO MARIETTA
By John Madison and Ted Haas

Marietta, Ohio is three hours south of Cleveland.  Thirty-two SITES students traveled there for their Outreach Week experience, with the help of parents, teachers, and North Olmsted School Board member, Tom Herbster.  While in Marietta, the warm winds blew across the lush hills and fields.  The smell of farm animals and Appalachian pride filled the air.  “The people were so friendly and inviting,” says senior student Lauren Phillips.  The SITES students traveled to several locations over their four day trip to spread humanitarianism and lend a helping hand to those who live in this southern part of our state.  One of the sites where the students volunteered was a dairy farm, where they fed calves and cows, mixed feed for the cows, and repaired fences.  At Meal on Wheels, students helped to deliver meals to needy, elderly people.  For some of these people, the Meals on Wheels volunteer is their only human contact each day. At Wayne National Forest, students helped to build a boardwalk/bridge that will be used by many people who visit the forest in the future.  Volunteering at other sites, students rolled up their sleeves and used their muscles to paint, clean, do yard work, clean up brush, and spread mulch. Working with disabled adults at WASCO, disabled children at Ewing School, and impoverished adults and children at the County Home and Head Start gave the students an insight into the importance of caring for others.   The SITES students worked very hard to help all they could, while also appreciating the warm hospitality of the people of southern Ohio.  Jordan Nuendorfer feels that “It will most definitely be a trip to remember forever.”  After working hard each day, the students enjoyed swimming, exploring museums, visiting an old plantation house, and square dancing. The trip was successful and all around a lot of fun!