The Millstone Times

KIDS MILLSTONE MIDDLE SCHOOL 7 th and 8 th Graders Help to Solve Community Problems By Pam Teel

The 7th and 8th graders in the Community Problem Solving club are actively trying to fix prob- lems that they feel are high in their community. According to sixth grade Social Studies teacher, Kevin Norris, and sixth grade Science teacher, Dan Kazanjian, the kids are given multiple topics to choose from. These are two of the topics the teachers felt were worth highlighting. The eighth graders decided to help local American Legions. The group calls themselves, VETS (Veterans Everyday Trouble Support). The kids have taken it upon themselves to link up with a local American Legion and raise money for the ‘Commanders Project’, which helps purchase needed items for Veterans Memorial Hospitals across New Jersey. They contacted an American Legion in Hight- stown and told them that they would like to help. The Veteran Commander of the Post, Doug Her- rin, came to the school and spoke to the children about the everyday struggles of Vets and how the children could help them. He told them about the ‘Commanders Project’ where the children could help to raise money for new equipment and other needed items with fundraising events. The chil- dren have already raised about $1,000 dollars, with two events already behind them. One event was a teacher’s Jean Day where teachers would pay five dollars to the fundraiser to wear jeans for the day. This event raised over $850.00. The other event was a bake sale held in front of Vesuvio’s Restaurant. (The owners at Vesuvio’s are always very accommodating when it comes to charity events). The group made over $700.00 from the bake sale. One of their future events that they will be sponsoring for the VETS will be held sometime in April. It will be a 5k run at the Millstone Middle School. They will soon have a registration website up and running for participants. They are also having an upcoming breakfast event called “Pancakes with Patriots” at their school. The seventh graders decided on teaching Autistic Children how to improve on social skills and the

routines of being a student. This group is called CLASS (Children learning Activity Social Skills) They partnered with an autistic school and followed the students around all day gathering notes on what the kids in a routine day struggle with. After reading an article in the Asbury Park Press about the Young Problem Solvers, Fran Hines, who works with the Monmouth County Sheriff ’s Department, reached out to teachers and hooked them up with the Shore Center School. The Millstone kids got to take a day off from their own school and buddy up with the autistic students. They took notes on how they could better help these kids get through a day of school. They observed situations where they felt they could improve on, simple things that we all take for granted, like how to get in a line, make eye contact when people talk to them, brush their hair, etc. The problem solvers made videos of these certain situations, acting out some easy steps that the kids could follow. They eventually will send these videos to the autistic school for the kids to watch and see if the video presentations were helpful to the students. The children in the Future Problem Solving Club sign up for the group voluntarily. They love the hands on experience of learning how they can solve common community problems and help others.The Club is gaining in popularity.The thought behind the Club and the teachers involved have been noth-

ing but positive influences on the children in teaching them innovative ways that take them from behind their desks and puts them in the midst of real world issues at such an early age. These children thus be- come the role models for future generations to come. They have learned that you don’t have to accept what you see. You can go and change it! It’s a great program and a great lesson in humanity for them all!!! Best of Luck to all of you Future Problem Solving Geniuses out there!

(CLASS) group- 7th graders (VETS) group- 8th graders

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The Millstone Times

March 2018