We are thrilled to present the four U Projects we had this year and are very proud of their efforts despite COVID Challenges. Read all about their impressive community work…
Senior Season’s Greetings
Dalton Luce, Class of 2022
What was the inspiration for your project?
As the pandemic continued into the summer, my brother and I started sending greeting cards to my grandmother, who lives out-of-state. Although we spoke with her daily, she was so excited to receive the cards. She enjoyed being able to look at them and re-read them. I started realizing how fleeting our calls were and how isolated many senior citizens might be feeling. As I thought about how different the holiday season would look, I created Project Senior Season’s Greetings to bring a smile to a local senior.
What was the highlight of the project?
My little seasonal greeting card project ended up turning into the junior class project since the annual raking day could not take place due to COVID. I really enjoyed working with many members of the high school staff and other student leaders to launch and complete this project and was grateful to receive Danny’s Place support to make it possible!
What was the impact on the community?
In partnership with the Boxborough and Acton Councils on Aging, hundreds of cards were mailed to local senior citizens or included in the Grab and Go lunches during the month of December. I heard that the cards were a pleasant surprise for many in the community.
AB Together Against Hate
Dalton Luce, Class of 2022
What was the inspiration for your project?
After the December racial attack on the two black members of our ABRSD School Committee, I, like so many, wanted to show support for them and denounce hate no matter where it comes from. I contacted my guidance counselor at ABRHS, Linsday Rosenman, who connected me with another community member, Kristin O’Neil. Inspired by the AB Together Against Hate Facebook banner that Ms. Rosenman created, we designed lawn signs with the same message.
What was the highlight of the project?
Securing permission to place lawn signs in public places isn’t always easy, straightforward, or even the same process in different communities depending on the leadership structure. Boxborough has a very strict sign ordinance on town property so I was unsure whether I’d receive permission. I appeared before the Boxborough Select Board and presented the case and got approval. As the Select Board chair said, “the first and probably only permission ever to post signs on Town property.”
What was the impact on the community?
We placed our AB Together Against Hate lawn signs at over 100 homes and public sites in Acton and Boxborough after securing permission from town managers, select boards, and other town committees as needed. The signs are a reminder that we all must do the work to combat hate in all its forms.
Literacy @ Home
Dylan Q., Class of 2022
"First chapter book she's been interested in reading herself!" - Parent
What was the inspiration for your project?
The inspiration from my project came from the project I did in the winter with my mother. For that project, we gift wrapped books for people in affordable housing in Acton. This time however I decided to open up a form that anyone between the ages of 6-13 could fill out to receive 3 handpicked books.
What was the highlight of the project?
The highlight of my project was handing out the books and seeing the excitement on kids faces.
What was the impact on the community?
I felt that my project helped kids increase their exposure to books while the library is hard to get to during the pandemic.
Preschool STEM Learning Kit Design
Daniel Werneburg, Class of 2022
What was the inspiration for your project?
I found inspiration for this project having done online school/quarantining for an extended period of time myself, and remembering having fun outdoors with my brothers as a kid.
What was the highlight of the project?
The highlight of the project for me was getting to meet the kids and the families. It was fun as well as fulfilling to see them getting outside and having some in person social interaction.
What was the impact on the community?
For the community, at least those involved in the program, the kids were able to have fun seeing some people besides their parents and siblings while learning simultaneously. In addition, the parents got to learn through the modeling of the groups how to promote positive interactions with their children, and how to effectively support their social and emotional development.