Best Day in Education

This is my 25th year in teaching Middle School in Cuyahoga Falls.  One of my best days was during our annual "Bolich Gives Back Day" in which our students go out into the community and volunteer their services. Some of the activities include washing fire trucks, cleaning up neighborhood parks, creating a pollinator garden at Bolich, creating positive messages with a flower and delivering to local homes.  I was fortunate to be able to incorporate my love for animals in my activity.  A colleague and myself have a previous relationship with a local rescue.  We had our group of students collect items to donate to the shelter. We also had them create homemade dog toys to give to the pups at the shelter. Our students were happy to give back in this way. However, they did not know until we got off the bus at the shelter that not only were we not just dropping off our donations, but they were going to get to interact with the animals. Needless to say, they were elated!  We split the students into two groups one went with the cats and kittens and the other with the dogs.  The kittens needed bottle fed and our group was happy to oblige.  The other group went to the play yard outside and were able to play with the pups. The day was filled with gratitude, hard work, and a sense of accomplishment.  When we got back on the bus the students were buzzing with the feeling of excitement the day gave them.  One student told me, "This was the best day of school ever!" I wholeheartedly agreed.  One of the best things to come out of this day was that two of our students went home and told their parents about the shelter and the animals there as a result one kitten and one dog were adopted into their families!