ITMS service-learning students introduce projects at festival

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Indian Trails Middle School service-learning students introduced this year’s community projects Saturday, Oct. 29, at the VerdeGo Fall Festival.

Teen depression, obesity, sea mammal awareness and building a positive social environment for Exceptional Student Education students are the issues being addressed by the ambitious Mustang scholars at ITMS. In hopes of generating awareness for their causes, each service-learning group created game booths for the scores of children who attended the family event.

Chuck the Duck, Pumpkin Bowling, a Witch Wheel and cookie decorating were among the activities that the seventh and eighth-graders offered to youth, who each received candy for participating.

However, there was no candy to be found at the obesity booth. Instead, children were challenged to celebrate a healthy Halloween by running through an obstacle course in exchange for prizes.

Beyond the Fall Festival and with the support of a Dell Trayer Grant, provided by the Flagler County Education Foundation, ITMS service-learning students will write grants to help finance their year-long projects. Each group will compete for a share of the $1,400 available to them by providing a clear project description that uses SMART Goals (specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, timely), a plan for dissemination aligned with scoring guidelines, and an itemized budget.

Students may request funding for field trips, project supplies and publication costs. ITMS service-learning teacher Dana Hausen believes that the grant-writing experience will engage students by not only promoting ownership of their projects but also by providing them with real-world mathematical experience in financing and budgeting for their projects.