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Middle school students showcase NJHS, service-learning, theatre and restoration projects
Summary
Students and staff from Gettysburg Area Middle School presented a range of programs, including a revived eighth-grade service-learning project tied to cemetery memorials, the chartering of a National Junior Honor Society chapter, upcoming theatre performances on Oct. 17–18 and completion of the Steve Litton Memorial Gymnasium signage.
Middle school students and staff presented several programs and updates to the Gettysburg Area School District board, including a revived service-learning project that will link student research to cemetery memorials, the creation of a National Junior Honor Society chapter, an upcoming theatre production and the completion of signage for the Steve Litton Memorial Gymnasium.
Christy Caywood, representing the middle school, said the school is focusing on reigniting student engagement and reimagining success at the middle-school level. The school restarted a "Warrior Way" kickoff and has a positive-attendance incentive that rewards students who have no more than one unexcused absence per quarter.
Caywood described the return of eighth-grade service-learning projects: students will be assigned a soldier buried in a local cemetery and will research and write stories that will be linked to QR codes for visitors to scan next year. “The foundation’s going to give them some research sources and then the students have to do the research themselves and compile a story... that will be hooked up to a QR code,” Caywood said.
Students introduced a new chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. Campbell Thurston, chapter president, said 40 eighth graders applied and all were accepted; membership requires character, citizenship, service, leadership and scholarship and members will complete a minimum of 10 individual and two school service hours each year. “Throughout this year, we will be doing certain services in our community to not only show these qualities, but be a model of what young leaders can do,” Thurston said.
Students Elsie Miller and Nisha (Nishka) Patel described the middle school’s fall theatre production, a comedic adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, and invited the community to attend performances on the 17th and 18th (students corrected earlier misstatements about dates during the presentation). The students said admission is free.
Assistant Principal Matt Lobb highlighted a recent Southwoods Restoration Project in which Conowago Enterprises provided repairs to trails and bridges in the outdoor learning space behind Warrior Stadium. “These repairs are going to allow our students to continue to access this area, and that’s our outdoor classroom,” Lobb said, thanking local partners and volunteers.
Lobb also reported that a fundraising effort to rename the middle-school gymnasium in memory of Steve Litton exceeded its $5,000 goal, raising over $7,000; plaques and new score-table signage are in place and a dedication is planned for Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m. during a boys’ basketball game.
Provenance: Topic intro evidence excerpt: “Okay. Hi. Welcome. I'm Christy Caywood... the middle school, 2 things that we are working on is... reigniting student engagement... reimagining what success looks like especially at the middle school level.” Topic finish evidence excerpt: “So, that is what we've got from the middle school so far. It's been a great year.”
