This spring, Sophomore Honors students in Ms. Foley-Procko's class explored themes of poverty, resilience, and homelessness through their study of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. The memoir, a powerful and often heartbreaking account of Walls’ turbulent upbringing, prompted deep discussions about the challenges faced by families living in instability. To connect these themes to real-world issues, the Director of Development from North Star, a local organization that supports families experiencing homelessness, visited their class, and what began as a classroom discussion turned into real-world action.
As part of the district’s Portrait of a Graduate initiative, which emphasizes Empathy and Global Citizenship, students extended their learning through a Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience. Students began their work by establishing their own hobbies, skills and interests and then connected them to fundraising and project ideas to help those in the community. Students ran book drives (and filled a full bookshelf to donate!), raised over $600 through bake sales, and volunteered their time by planting vegetables in North Star's garden beds!