The committee recognized Highlands Elementary School staff and volunteers for ongoing community-service work, and presented John Beasley, an 8th grader, as Danvers’ Project 351 representative.

Nut graf: Highlands Elementary staff described monthly community-service efforts, longstanding Toys for Tots partnerships with local firefighters, and emergency-assistance drives; the committee congratulated the school and the student ambassador selected for Project 351, a statewide youth-leadership program.

Highlands staff and administrators said the school runs monthly meetings to coordinate support for families, holiday drives (Toys for Tots) and ongoing emergency-assistance donations. Staff credited long-term volunteers and firefighters who collect and distribute toys and praised Kelly Boudreaux (social worker) and Edu Gasanowski (28-year volunteer) for leading the effort.

Principal Calantoni introduced John Beasley as the district’s Project 351 nominee; Project 351 nominates an 8th-grade ambassador from each city and town in Massachusetts for a year of leadership and service. Beasley said he is “really excited for this opportunity” and plans to pursue IT as a career. Committee members congratulated the student and his family.