Service learning

Jeremy Simmonds (right) and Amy Beckenhauer read to West Ward students

Seventh grade students in Colleen Olson's Service Learning class are learning lessons for life.

The students visit Hillcrest Nursing Home and West Ward Elementary school two times each week to visit residents and students.

At Hillcrest, the students spend time visiting with the residents. Each student adopts a resident for the six-week class period and spends time with that person each time the class visits.

Chris Sandman (left) visits with Clifford Ruppert

At West Ward, the students act as aides to the teachers, which includes tutoring. The fifth day of the week, students work on a recycling program, along with activities designed to help build assets in the students.

Olson said she implemented the program, which is in its first session, to help link the school to the community. By the end of the school year, every seventh grade student at McCook Junior High will have participated in the Service Learning class.