Dover students paying it forward this holiday season
Schools teach more than academics.
Through extracurricular activities and related lessons in the classroom, Dover Schools is dedicated to developing good citizens. We are proud to say that these efforts come to fruition more than ever this time of year.
In our elementary schools, students have been collecting money from dress-up days, where students donate 50 cents for the opportunity to wear their pajamas or their favorite hat to school, for the purpose of donating their proceeds to local organizations.
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East Elementary supported Friends of the Homeless of Tuscarawas County; South Elementary donated to Share-A-Christmas; and Dover Avenue Elementary assisted their own through the Dover Avenue Christmas Give.
The initiative provides clothing, food and gifts for Dover Avenue students and families who need a little extra support this year. Students are also using the recycled fronts of Christmas cards to create brand new cards for veterans. They will be delivered to the VFW and the Veterans Home in Sandusky just in time for the holidays.
At Dover Middle School, the Student Council sponsors “The Good, The Bad and The Hungry.” Students and staff collect monetary donations in homerooms to aid families in our community. They also coordinate gift giving to specific families in partnership with community members.
And, Mrs. Dunlap’s eighth grade English language arts classes are writing letters of gratitude to local veterans that are delivered to the VFW.
At the high school, our students have taken on several initiatives to help those in need, including our four-legged friends, this season. Our Teen Leadership Corps collected donations for the Humane Society. They are also putting their writing skills to use as they help our favorite holiday celebrities such as Santa, his elves, and even the Grinch respond to letters sent to them by second graders at East Elementary.
Our DHS Key Club’s primary goal is to pay it forward and they are doing just that this year by volunteering with the Salvation Army ringing the bell, painting holiday pictures on residents’ windows at Park Village in Dover, and collecting and purchasing toys for T4C’s Share-A-Christmas program.
Our Interact Club is partnering with the Key Club in collecting and purchasing toys and has volunteered at Dover Rotary’s annual “Breakfast with Santa,” among other events.
Students learn by example, so even our staff have gotten involved by collecting clothes, hygiene products, school supplies and other items students may need for their Care Closet. The items are available to students all year long.
As you take time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for this holiday season, I hope you find as much joy as we do in celebrating the generosity of our young people. I know they inspire us here to give when we can and find a way to pay it forward.
Wishing a happy and healthy end to 2022 to all of our families and community members!
Karie McCrate is the superintendent at Dover City Schools.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Karie McCrate: Dover students paying it forward this holiday season
