The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
SPRUCING THINGS UP
Students provide landscaping service ahead of Memorial Day
South Amherst Middle School’s eighth-graders spent May 23, landscaping around their campus, 152 W. Main St., and preparing the Evergreen Cemetery, 48487 Telegraph Road for Memorial Day.
“It’s a good thing for the stu- dents to get out here and help out,” said Melissa Mowry, a teacher at South Amherst Middle. “The ground doesn’t get too bad during the winter, but it still needs a nice sprucing up.”
Mowry said the day consists of students doing multiple activities to improve the landscaping.
“It’s a good thing for the students to get out here and help out.”
— Melissa Mowry, a teacher at South Amherst Middle School
“They are out here pulling weeds, spreading mulch, picking up trash and anything else that needs attended to,” she said. “It can be tough work, but these students can get a lot of work done when they work hard and work together.
“The students may not be too into it at the beginning, but they are proud of their work once they are able to see the end result.”
Alyssa Erossy, a teacher at South Amherst Middle, said the work does not go unnoticed.
“The community is very
appreciative of the work these students do,” Erossy said. “We do this every year, and sometimes members of the community have stopped by to thank the students.
“We also have what we call a bridging ceremony for the eighth-graders as they go to high school and the mayor recognizes them for the work they do today.”
The students enjoy the day of community service, she said.
“The students like to put the work in and put forth the effort,” Erossy said. “We have a really good group this year, and I know they will work hard.
“I think they understand the importance of what
they are doing, and that is seen when all the mulch is laid down and the plants are planted.”
Stephanie Coultrip, a teacher at South Amherst Middle, led a group that worked at the Evergreen Cemetery.
“They will be preparing the cemetery by cleaning off the tombstones, taking care of the weeds and planting flags for veterans,” Coultrip said. “It’s really important to make things look their best here before the holiday, and I know the students understand that.”
Olivia Ridenour, 15, a South Amherst Middle School eighth-grader, said the community service is the least she could do.
“The folks buried here deserve the respect of fixing up the cemetery,” Olivia said. “I feel brushing the tombstones and planting flowers shows respect for those who have served in the military and those who lived great lives helping the community.”
Kate Bartlow, 15, said improving the cemetery is the right thing to do.
“I make sure to put the work in, because the people here deserve it,” Kate said. “People are coming back here to visit their loved ones and we need to improve that experience as much as possible.
“I might need to get a new brush when I’m done, but I can afford it.”