Portage Middle School Students Engage in Community Service Day to Give Back

Portage area students from Wayne E. Bartels Middle School recently participated in a day of service learning, showing their commitment to helping the community.
Community Outreach:
A group of about 200 students took part in various activities, including painting picnic tables at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, cleaning up the Ice Age State Trail, and assisting with tasks at the Historic Indian Agency House. Principal Kasey Podoll emphasized the importance of instilling a sense of volunteerism in students from a young age.
Service Projects:
While some students worked outside the school, others stayed on campus to complete projects for community organizations. These tasks ranged from creating holiday cards for retirement homes to making care packages for Habitat for Humanity.
Educational Benefits:
Podoll highlighted the educational benefits of service learning, noting that students show significant growth when applying classroom knowledge to real-world situations. Interacting with community members also helps students build important connections and resources for the future.
Fostering a Culture of Volunteerism:
By introducing students to volunteerism early on, the school hopes to create a culture where giving back to the community is a norm. The service learning event is set to be an annual tradition during homecoming week, with the possibility of additional service days throughout the school year.
Future Plans:
Looking ahead, the school plans to organize a service learning event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to further educate students on important values and tie in service lessons. Overall, the day of service learning was a success, with students showing enthusiasm and dedication to making a positive impact in their community.