On Thursday, Oct. 31, Dryden Middle/High School students and staff came together for Service Day, an afternoon of volunteer work with the goal to enhance, support and contribute to Dryden schools and the community.
Classes ran as scheduled on Thursday until 11:00 a.m. when students separated into small groups and reported to designated locations to begin their projects.
On campus, students revitalized the courtyards by trimming trees and spreading fresh soil. Students also crocheted blankets to donate to those in need, as well as made fleece blankets for animals at the SPCA of Tompkins County. Another group aimed to spread positivity around the school by painting rocks adorned with words of encouragement, creating self-help posters and drawing motivational notes. Other students assembled birdhouses and created fall wreaths to give to community residents. Thank-you cards were written for veterans, Dryden bus drivers and first responders.
“When our middle and high school students work together with staff to accomplish service projects, they learn how to give back to both their school and community. More than 30 projects were completed by 700 students,” said Kyle Colunio, Dryden High School Principal.
Students also prepared the school hallways with Halloween decorations for “Trick or Treat Street,” an option for young children in the Dryden area to safely participate in trick-or-treating throughout the building.
In the Dryden community, students volunteered at the Southworth Library, where they organized books and toys. Students also visited a local nursing home, cleaned up Montgomery Park and read to students at Dryden Elementary School and Cassavant Elementary School.
“An all-out effort was needed by students, staff and community members to accomplish this feat. We are proud to be able to offer opportunities for students that go beyond the classroom,” said Colunio.