Service Day Gives Back to Northwest Academy Students

On March 14, Northwest Academy’s high school participated in a service day.

For the past three years, Northwest Academy takes a day off from academics and helps the community assisting in various projects such as serving food to the homeless and ground work at the Audubon Society.

“(They’re) important to developing a sense of citizenship for our students and they help connect us to the community,” Dan Dunning, a math teacher and high school coordinator, said.

As a requirement for graduating Northwest Academy students must do 30 hours of community service.

“Service days help point out how individuals and how much a group of people can contribute to society,” Mary Folberg, Head of School, said.

It is important for students at the Northwest Academy to understand the significance of community.

“Students gain experience, perspective and hopefully become happier people,” Dunning said. “As the Dalai Lama says: ‘More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other’s well-being, is source of happiness.”

This year some of the options included Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Union Gospel Mission, No Ivy League and many others.

“I really like pulling ivy because you are outside and get to enjoy fresh air and socialize while helping the community and the environment,” Marisol Ceballos, a sophomore, said.

Service days at Northwest Academy give students a chance to interact with their peers outside of the classroom setting.

“The service days are a great way to go out and experience the community with friends,” Jack Weinstein, a freshman, said.

During service days students are able to take their minds off of their school work, and focus it on helping others.

“I liked sorting clothes for children because it gave me a sense of accomplishment and it was relaxing,” Chelsea Batchelor, a freshman, said.

After a full morning of work, the students then got their afternoon off, bonding at the PSU (Portland State University) game room.