You helped kids create change on Do More 24!

UPDATE: Thank you to all of our donors for helping us raise $11,046 during Do More 24! Scroll to the bottom to see our high five list of everyone that contributed!

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Today is Do More 24, the biggest day of giving in the DC area for more than 700 local nonprofits. This is a day to celebrate and support the hundreds of incredibly important causes in the region, and we hope you'll support DC SCORES to help us achieve our goal of $10,000 raised during 24 hours!

We're so inspired by the desire to help create change in the community from all of our DC SCORES participants. During the spring SCORES season, we've witnessed a wide variety of service-learning projects including toy making for local animal shelters, educational skits for parents, healthy lifestyle awareness campaigns, Barnard Elementary School holding a march for immigrants' rights, and many, many more! 

Please help kids create change with a gift today, Thursday, June 8!

As with each giving day we participate in, we understand the impact of every single donation. To show this, we will track and update the list of donor High Fives below during the 24 hours! We will also give shout-outs on Twitter and Facebook throughout the day! You can CLICK TO TWEET, too.

High Fives List!, time
Dahna Goldstein, 11:48pm
Heather Copeland, 11:31pm
Melanie Fineman, 11:31pm
John Lloyd, 11:28pm
Martin Palacios, 11:23pm
Emily Schulman, 11:12pm
Anonymous, 11:10pm
Heidi Hochstetler, 11:06pm
James Armold, 11:02pm
Maryann Jacobsen, 10:45pm
John Guzman, 10:22pm
Kelsi Moran, 10:16pm
Emma Peterson, 10:04pm
Phillip Knight, 10:00pm
Carlos Fonseca, 9:47pm
Aleta Greer, 9:31pm
Katherine Makris, 9:30pm
Madeline Harrington, 9:14pm
Cal Klausner, 9:09pm
Stanley Kober, 9:04pm
Ryan Kelley, 8:56pm
Simon Landau, 8:42pm
Nick DiMarco, 8:39pm
Launa Hochstetler, 8:35pm
Leah Hochstetler, 8:34pm
Mary and Terry Fairbanks, 8:25pm
John Kemp, 8:24pm
Felix Lloyd, 8:22pm
Christina Tunison, 8:21pm
Sharon Plonsker, 8:19pm
Judith Kemp, 8:14pm
Jessica Rosen, 8:08pm
Shayna Tivona, 8:06pm
Jesse B. Rauch, 8:05pm
Martha Kirk Richardson, 8:03pm
Greg Sisson, 8:02pm
Chester Pennock, 7:55pm
Anonymous, 7:51pm
Jacqui Kemp, 7:50pm
Andrea Custis, 7:48pm
Dimi Venkov, 7:47pm
Mary Kusler, 7:46pm
Anonymous, 7:40pm
Angel Horacek, 7:38pm
Beth Hofer, 7:30pm
Greg James, 7:26pm
Daniel Henderson, 7:24pm
Lucas Eckman, 7:21pm
Anonymous, 7:16pm
David Owens, 7:13pm
Zach Warren, 6:48pm
Kemba Ford, 6:43pm
Sharyn Sutton, 6:41pm
Ignacio Stearns, 6:38pm
Aya Takeuchi, 6:28pm
Anonymous, 6:04pm
Charlie Davis, 6:00pm
Nigel Stacey, 5:59pm
Jacqui Kemp, 5:59pm
Jeremy Rupp, 5:58pm
Sara Kushma, 5:56pm
John Lingerfelt, 5:54pm
Lily Goldstein, 5:53pm
Kelly Sheehan, 5:51pm
Jeffrey Koung, 5:47pm
David Sheon, 5:39pm
Chloe Doto, 5:33pm
Rob Freeman, 5:27pm
Marisa Joelson, 5:27pm
Will Sutton, 5:19pm
Sunithi Hindagolla, 5:14pm
Brian Sanker, 5:13pm
Anonymous, 5:05pm
Karen Sutton, 5:03pm
Anne Copeland, 5:03pm
Nicholas Poitras, 5:02pm
David Goodwin, 5:00pm
James Frison, 4:58pm
Bob and Patty Watkins, 4:46pm
Lauren Bateman, 4:45pm
Chris Richardson, 4:43pm
Sean Hinkle, 4:36pm
Joshua McGee, 4:33pm
Samuel Healy, 4:26pm
Elizabeth Watkins, 4:25pm
Tony Francavilla, 4:24pm
Jess Trevelyan, 4:21pm
Deeana Klepper, 4:19pm
Traci Lee, 4:19pm
Michael Riggins, 4:17pm
CJ Trevelyan, 4:17pm
Peña Madridista, 4:13pm
Ella Trevelyan, 4:13pm
Anonymous, 4:13pm
Emma Okpych, 4:12pm
Christine Okpych, 4:10pm
Stu Trevelyan, 4:09pm
Geoffrey Okpych, 4:09pm
Laura Straus, 4:07pm
Tim and Kathy Hinkle, 4:07pm
Marie Okpych, 4:07pm
Walter Okpych IV, 4:05pm
Rachel Klepper, 4:01pm
Ronya Corey, 4:00pm
Alyson Blair, 3:59pm
Noelle Gires, 3:44pm
Carl Cohen, 3:32pm
Julie Anne Rogers, 3:13pm
Barbara Penzner, 3:03pm
Alyssa Sheinbaum, 2:49pm

Stephanie Dencik, 2:25pm
Julia Thayer, 2:31pm
Sara Sutton, 2:18pm
Dahlia Chaudhury, 2:12pm
Adam Rubinfield, 2:07pm
Anonymous, 2:04pm
Tim Swartzendruber, 1:59pm
Christopher Verbeck, 1:57pm
Jason Finney, 1:57pm
Alexandra Tilsley, 1:25pm
Elaine Lu, 1:25pm
Anthony Piccari, 1:05pm
Jack Reagan, 1:04pm
Jessica Scheer, 12:38pm
Melani Robinson, 12:23pm
Emily Kruger, 11:57am
Chris Bellmyer, 11:48am
Jocelyn Potts, 11:48am
Dori Hazan, 11:47am
Susana Hill, 11:38am
Allison Brown, 11:37am
Jessica Trevelyan, 11:33am
Holly O'Donnell, 11:22pm
Sarah Helinek, 11:16am
Anonymous, 11:16am
Lee Goldstein, 11:14am
Alex Collins, 11:07am
Cheryl Gregory, 10:51am
Ed Lohmeyer, 10:44am
Gerald Andriole, 10:42am
Joseph Heilman, 10:33am
Hafid Dumet, 10:30am
Amy Nakamoto, 10:22am
Dawn Loper, 10:10am
Faisal AlBanna, MD, 10:01am
Steve Petros, 10:00am
Andrew Guild, 9:56am
Gerald Prado, 9:41am
Rachel Storey, 9:35am
Anonymous, 9:34am
Anonymous, 9:33am
Courtney Smith, 9:26am
Elaine Walizer, 9:19am
Michael McRae, 9:18am
Gabby Albanna, 9:17am
Perry Smith, 9:14am
Sandy Jumonville Brown, 9:10am
Robert Warshaw, 9:02am
Mary Kennedy, 9:00am
Kristin Foti, 8:44am
Casey Forgey, 8:17am
Joshua Freedholm, 8:17am
Erich Walizer, 8:08am
Joshua Coolidge, 8:00am
Tim Preotle, 7:59am
Kelly Harley, 7:58am
David Crespo, 7:45am
Lorena Palacios, 7:38am
Karen Lovitch, 7:23am
David Eli Owens, 7:18am
Kuang Li, 7:18am
Kenneth Owens, 7:17am
Katrina Owens, 7:15am
Jennifer Oxley, 7:07am
Deb Buch, 7:02am
Anne H. Woodworth, 6:54am
Bethany Henderson, 6:54am
Patricia Zebrowski, 6:45am
Stevie Smith, 6:44am
Brian Wright, 6:44am
Mary Ann Badavi, 6:18am
Zach Straus, 6:00am
Steph Wolfram, 6:00am
Jake Lloyd, 6:00am
Alexandra Hyman, 6:00am
Melissa Surette, 4:01pm (6/5)
Anya and Mike Ruben, 5:25pm (6/1)
Jake Lloyd, 2:45pm (5/30)

Spring SCORES means service-learning across Washington, DC

Written By Dahlia Chaudhury 
Communications Intern

Service-learning is a integral part of the DC SCORES curriculum, and we're always excited when spring rolls around and students begin their projects. To kick off the new season we've compiled some of our best service-learning stories and videos to give you an idea of what students will be tackling this spring.

“We don’t just play soccer. We can help other people in our community, too.”

-William P., H.D. Cooke

1. Imagine Hope creates a school garden out of recycled soda bottles

Last spring, Imagine Hope Tolson took advantage of their school-wide recycling program by saving bottles and creating a garden out of them. Students cut the bottles and filled them with soil and flowers to add some greenery to their school which is surrounded by asphalt. They also walked around the community and cleaned up several blocks. Imagine Hope students were joined in service by, among others,  sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade alumni who had stayed connected to the program through coach Jerome Clemons and the Classroom Champions nonprofit that he also ran at the school; Steve Mesler, the head of Classroom Champions, and dozens of Olympic athletes from the Team USA Athletes Advisory Council; James Cole Jr., the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education; and a U.S. Senator, Adrian Smith of Nebraska.

“Literally, you can turn any space or any item possibly into a little green outside garden,” Clemons said.

You can read the full story here.


2. Raymond Education Campus plans a Healthy Living Carnival



In 2014 the Raymond Tigers successfully held a Healthy Living Carnival for their peers. The students split into committees, each of which planned and executed a booth. Committees taught students to work as a team to complete their project. The carnival was a success and students had a great time running their own booths.

You can read the full story here.

3. Truesdell cleans up their school community



The Truesdell Trojans took on cleaning up the trash in their school buildings for their 2015 service project. Like Raymond, they used the committee method to approach their project. They also made their project into a school-wide competition by offering a prize to whichever class picked up the most trash in their hallway.

There is an entire blog/video series on Truesdell's project. Check it out here.

4. Thomson addresses hunger in their community

Thomson Elementary School students used the research portion of service-learning to find out about hunger in Washington D.C. When they realized that 1 in 3 kids in D.C. doesn't have enough food, they decided to try and help solve this problem. Students created bags of trail mix to donate to D.C. Central Kitchen to give hungry children the right nutrients to help them succeed. They didn't stop there, though. Thomson students also wrote letters to DC councilmembers about the issue.

Read the full story here.

5. H.D. Cooke fights homelessness



H.D. Cooke began its service-learning process by looking at what would be beneficial to their community. Some students wrote down trash, while others saw homelessness as an issue plaguing their community. The Bulls visited Martha's Table to learn more about their issue and to get ideas on how they could tackle it. The students were able to reflect on the experience after, and many felt empowered by being able to help people.

6. Lincoln Middle School cleans the Anacostia River



Watch this major throwback video from 2011 of Lincoln Middle School's service-learning project to clean the Anacostia River. Students created a campaign to spread awareness about how dirty the river was and then took action to address the problem.

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At the end of the spring season as part of the reflection phase of service-learning, students create a poster to be displayed at Jamboree! that shows their service project. These are just a few examples of the awesome posters.

DC SCORES service-learning: Imagine Hope creates school garden out of recycled soda bottles

Written by Jake Lloyd
Communications Manager

Ever since Jerome Clemons arrived at Imagine Hope Community Charter School’s Tolson campus four years ago and began coaching DC SCORES in the fall of 2013, he and his teams of Soaring Eagles — the school’s mascot — have had to improvise.

The school, which sits on Edgewood Street NE nearly on top of the train tracks that head south downtown and north to Silver Spring, Md., has no green space. Literally, nothing. When walking out the doors on either the south or north side of the building, a visitor is greeted with asphalt.

Now what can kids do on a plot of hard ground that basically resembles a parking lot? Well, you should have been at the school the afternoon of Friday, May 20, for the culmination of Imagine Hope’s DC SCORES service-learning project.

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There, on that blacktop, were dozens of third- through fifth-grade DC SCORES kids creating a garden of recycled bottles. They’d poke holes in every bottle — 2-liters, 20-ouncers, larger jugs, you name it — then fill them with soil and flowers. The portable plants would then be passed on to receive water before finally being set down with the others along a fence.

Over the course of a couple hours, an innovative, soda bottle garden was born.

How popular was this event? Well, the Imagine Hope students were joined in service by, among others: sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade alumni who have stayed connected to the program through Clemons and the Classroom Champions nonprofit that he also runs at the school; Steve Mesler, the head of Classroom Champions, and dozens of Olympic athletes from the Team USA Athletes Advisory Council; James Cole Jr., the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education; and a U.S. Senator, Adrian Smith of Nebraska.

During two hours of after-school time, the mix of people from various backgrounds worked as if they’d been teambuilding for years to create a garden and also clean up several blocks of the surrounding neighborhood. Teams were color-coded, with the orange, purple and red clean squads returning to the school with heavy bags of trash.

This was all after the kids got a chance to network with the Olympians, asking various athletes all about their distinguished careers and receiving loads of advice. And it was after the kids, with Cole Jr. and Smith’s assistance, raised and affixed a United States flag for the first time outside their school building and sang God Bless America.

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Imagine Hope has come a long way in Clemons’ three years coaching DC SCORES. First, the program brought a soccer team to the K-8 school; now, led by athletic director Jason Knecht, there are several sports team that keep the majority of the student body active once the final school bell rings.

The first couple years, the DC SCORES team walked several blocks to the closest parks to practice soccer. Now, while it’s not ideal, they play on mini goals that they set up on the blacktop.

The Soaring Eagles have taken great pride in becoming a poetry powerhouse within DC SCORES, with fifth-grader Leron representing the school at the America SCORES National Poetry SLAM! (and on the local NBC station) in 2015 and the team performing well at the DC Slam! every fall.



Through DC SCORES, kids both currently in the program and now still engaged as middle schoolers have recognized that they don’t have to be limited by their facilities and location.

“I think it just gives them, it shows them that they have the ability to make change happen,” Clemons said. “They don’t have to watch somebody else do it; you don’t have to be an adult.

“You literally can be a 3rd through 5th grader or middle schooler and literally within minutes or an hour, make change occur.”

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During the past couple years, Clemons showed his DC SCORES teams examples of how around the world, kids play soccer in all places imaginable — making balls out of rags and goals out of trash cans. The kids gained an appreciation for using what they have and making the most of their situation.

And when it came time for service-learning this spring, the team took advantage of a school-wide recycling effort to collect bottles and keep them from ending up in the trash.

“We saw some images online of hey, how can you create a garden out of recycled goods,” Clemons said, referring to the researching stage of DC SCORES’ service-learning season. “So we got some palettes that we worked on, had folks donate small water bottles, large 2-liters, any bottle — bring it in — and let’s see what we can turn that into.”

Partnering with the Olympic athletes and having Cole Jr. and Smith help made the big day, named “Hope Helps,” even more enjoyable and rewarding for the kids — the culmination of months of examining the community’s needs and researching what could be done.

“It means that you take pride in your neighborhood, your community,” said Brandon, an Imagine Hope student, as he returned from one of the clean zones with a bag of trash slung over his shoulder. “We don’t want to go to school in a dirty hood.”

The afternoon expanded kids’ minds in more ways than one. First, they learned about new sports that were, yes, Olympic events! Curling. Archery. Rugby. Ping-pong. They gathered around table tennis champion Han Xiao as he showed them video of the sport on his phone; they grilled former U.S. Rugby captain James Gillenwater about the sport (“I learned that rugby is a combination between soccer and football,” said student Israellee); and they were introduced to curling and archery.

Then they learned that they don’t need green grass to beautify their school grounds. Bottles. Soil. A couple tools. Some seeds. And water.

A garden of recycled bottles was born.

“What my idea for them to understand was, You can do it,” Clemons said afterward. “Just because you might not have the resources, it just gives you the opportunity. You can do it with a little bit of seeds, some water, a bottle — literally.

“It might not look the best, but at least (you got) to get something off the ground; this is something you can do at home.

“Literally, you can turn any space or any item possibly into a little green outside garden”

Creating change at Truesdell EC, part VIII: Reflecting on success

During the DC SCORES spring season, each of our 44 teams go through a four-step service-learning process that involves A) Identifying problems that need addressing in their community; B) Researching one issue; C) Implementing a project to make a difference in the community; and D) Reflecting on the impact they made.

This spring, DC SCORES intern Kristen Miano is following the Truesdell Education Campus (elementary school) Trojans as they go through the service-learning process. Read below and watch each week’s video to learn how DC SCORES empowers youth to create change around them. You can also view photos from Truesdell HERE and follow Kristen's Tweets HERE.

Previous Series posts:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII

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Written by Kristen Miano
Digital Media Intern

The winner of the Truesdell Trojans “DC SCORES: Pick it Up!” trash cleanup competition was the third-grade class. The team kicked off their final lesson of the season delivering the prizes and goody bags to the third-grade classrooms before settling back in to reflect on all they had accomplished this spring.

“We picked up all the trash in the school and cleaned up the bathrooms,” said Kerwin V., age 10. “By picking up the trash, we made the school better.”

Kerwin’s sentiments were echoed by nearly all the students, who felt they had created real change at Truesdell by putting up posters and encouraging other students to pick up after themselves.

“I learned that it’s fun to pick up trash and that we can ask other people to help improve our community,” said Daniela P., age 9.

With such success from their service-learning project, the Trojans took the time to discuss not only what they learned this season but also what some of their favorite parts of the spring were.

“I liked when (janitor) Ms. Duckett came in and gave her presentation,” Daniela said.

Yocelyn M., age 10, said that her favorite memory was when everyone worked together to assemble prizes..

“I learned that it’s really important to start cleaning because it’s very important to take care of our school,” Yocelyn said.

The team spent their last day together answering reflection questions to help prompt discussion, and decorating the poster board they proudly displayed at the DC SCORES Jamboree! to show the other schools what their project was.

Overall, the Trojans put in a lot of hard work and effort into their project. They learned how to research a topic, make a plan and work together as a group to accomplish their goals. Their efforts not only taught them how to develop an action plan, but also left their school a cleaner and brighter place for everyone.

Creating change at Truesdell EC, part VII: Get to know the coaches

During the DC SCORES spring season, each of our 44 teams go through a four-step service-learning process that involves A) Identifying problems that need addressing in their community; B) Researching one issue; C) Implementing a project to make a difference in the community; and D) Reflecting on the impact they made.

This spring, DC SCORES intern Kristen Miano is following the Truesdell Education Campus (elementary school) Trojans as they go through the service-learning process. Read below and watch each week’s video to learn how DC SCORES empowers youth to create change around them. You can also view photos from Truesdell HERE and follow Kristen's Tweets HERE.

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Written by Kristen Miano
Digital Media Intern

Just as DC SCORES soccer coaches help kids build their confidence on the field, DC SCORES writing coaches help kids become confident putting forth their thoughts on paper and then expressing them to others. Writing coaches teach their poet-athletes how their own words and efforts, especially when combined with their peers,' can create real change around them.

Truesdell Education Campus elementary writing coaches Cailin Eisele and Emily Adams are the guidance behind the Trojans’ schoolwide trash pickup service-learning project. Since late March, Cailin and Emily have let the Trojans take charge of the service-learning project, stepping in and providing guidance when necessary.

Cailin, who has been a writing coach for two years, says she loves watching the kids get motivated to work on their writing projects during the fall and spring seasons. Emily, who is just finishing up her first year as a coach, says she likes that DC SCORES gives kids an outlet they may not have otherwise. Both Cailin and Emily are incredible teachers and coaches and have done an amazing job leading the Trojans to success.

Watch the videos to learn more about their DC SCORES stories.

Creating change at Truesdell EC, part VI: Committee work!

During the DC SCORES spring season, each of our 44 teams go through a four-step service-learning process that involves A) Identifying problems that need addressing in their community; B) Researching one issue; C) Implementing a project to make a difference in the community; and D) Reflecting on the impact they made.

This spring, DC SCORES intern Kristen Miano is following the Truesdell Education Campus (elementary school) Trojans as they go through the service-learning process. Read below and watch each week’s video to learn how DC SCORES empowers youth to create change around them. You can also view photos from Truesdell HERE and follow Kristen's Tweets HERE.

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Written by Kristen Miano
Digital Media Intern

The Truesdell Trojans are putting the finishing touches on their committee tasks and looking ahead to their final project.

“I’m excited,” said Ashtyn H. of the advertising committee. “We’re going to encourage people to clean up behind themselves.”

The classroom was a flurry of activity as each committee focused on its own projects. The advertising committee spent their time designing posters and slogans to promote the trash pick up competition.

“I’m want to make a poster of a person picking up trash and putting it in the trash can,” Ashtyn said.

The speaking committee clustered around a computer, typing up the speech they are going to deliver in the coming weeks to convince their fellow students to get on board with the competition.

“We’re writing this letter to let teachers know that we’ve decided to start picking up trash,” Carlos T. of the speaking committee said.

Noticeably absent for most of the meeting was the contest committee, as their task for the day was to count the number of trash cans in each bathroom on every floor. When the committee wasn’t walking up and down flights of stairs shouting how many trash bins they found, they spent their time discussing some final rules and the grand prize for their cleaning competition.

“I’m excited to see which class wins the contest,” said Steve H. of the contest committee. “The prize will probably be a goodie bag with Skittles and Hershey’s.”

The contest is all set to kick off soon and the Trojans are getting pumped to make their school a better place. After all their hard work, the competition is bound to not only create a great change at Truesdell Elementary, but also united the student body as the spring semester comes to a close.

Creating change at Truesdell EC, part V: Working in committees

During the DC SCORES spring season, each of our 44 teams go through a four-step service-learning process that involves A) Identifying problems that need addressing in their community; B) Researching one issue; C) Implementing a project to make a difference in the community; and D) Reflecting on the impact they made.

This spring, DC SCORES intern Kristen Miano is following the Truesdell Education Campus (elementary school) Trojans as they go through the service-learning process. Read below and watch each week’s video to learn how DC SCORES empowers youth to create change around them. You can also view photos from Truesdell HERE and follow Kristen's Tweets HERE.

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Written by Kristen Miano 
Digital Media Intern

With committees assigned and goals in mind, the Truesdell Trojans last week came together to hammer out the details of their trash pick up competition. As each committee clustered together around tables, the classroom was abuzz with ideas and brainstorming.

“We’re the contest committee,” said Robin C., age 10, “and we’re working on the rules for the contest that we’re going to have and deciding who is going to participate.”

The contest committee is tasked with not only designing the rules for the competition, but also deciding how long the competition will run for, how the team will decide the winner, and what the final prize will be.

Blessing T. of the advertising committee said her group is in charge of developing a plan to spread the word about the competition and reminding everyone to participate by picking up trash.

“We have to make a poster of people picking up trash,” Blessing said. “And we’re going to write a slogan so that people remember that when they throw trash, they should pick it up.”

The permission committee has already accomplished one of their goals —  getting permission from Truesdell principal Mary Ann Stinson to host the contest. Now, they are working on their strategies to get permission from individual classrooms and teachers to work with them to get the school cleaned up.

The final committee, the speaking committee, has a singular but tough goal — to write the speech that will explain what the competition is and why the team is holding it. The speaking committee will also deliver this speech in classrooms throughout the school, so they are busy practicing their public speaking skills as well.

With just five weeks before the end of the DC SCORES session, the Trojans still have a lot of work to do but are making great strides. The kids are getting excited to hold the competition and can see the completion of the project's goal at the end of the tunnel!

Creating change at Truesdell EC, Part III: Developing an action plan

During the DC SCORES spring season, each of our 44 teams go through a four-step service-learning process that involves A) Identifying problems that need addressing in their community; B) Researching one issue; C) Implementing a project to make a difference in the community; and D) Reflecting on the impact they made.

This spring, DC SCORES intern Kristen Miano is following the Truesdell Education Campus (elementary school) Trojans as they go through the service-learning process. Read below and watch each week’s video to learn how DC SCORES empowers youth to create change around them. You can also view photos from Truesdell HERE and follow Kristen's Tweets HERE.

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Written by Kristen Miano
Digital Media Intern

With their project chosen and their research done, the Truesdell Trojans moved onto the next phase of their spring SCORES service-learning endeavor—developing an action plan.

“We defined what a task is and then the students brainstormed what tasks we would need in order to reach our goal,” said writing coach Cailin Eisle.

The kids broke off into discussion groups to lay out what they think they would need to do before they could get down to the business of cleaning the trash around their school. They received some hints and tips from looking over action plans developed for other service-learning projects that had seen successful.

“We’re discussing what tasks we need to do and what job each person needs to do,” explained Blessing T., age 10. “We’re just trying to sort out stuff.”

Ideas for the team’s plan of action included asking the school for permission to begin a trash pickup campaign, going to classrooms to talk to other students about the importance of cleaning up after themselves, and to begin fundraising to purchase the supplies needed achieve their goal.

By the end of their brainstorming session, the Trojans had created a long list of tasks they would need to do before their project was over. The students expressed concern over getting everything accomplished by their deadline, especially considering they had done so much work on the project already and still had so much to do.

“Sometimes, time passes fast and we may not get to finish our project,” said Nelson F., age 8.

Overwhelmingly, the students agreed that not finishing the project was not an option and they would need to work hard to make sure they kept to the schedule.

“I would feel angry because we started something and didn’t finish it,” said Antonio M, age 10.

To avoid missing the project’s deadline, the team reiterated the importance of staying focused and on task for the duration of the spring season.

With each student’s tasks in hand and a renewed commitment to their goals, the Truesdell Trojans are ready and set to get to work and clean up their school.

Creating change at Truesdell EC, Part II: Choosing the project!

During the DC SCORES spring season, each of our 44 teams go through a four-step service-learning process that involves A) Identifying problems that need addressing in their community; B) Researching one issue; C) Implementing a project to make a difference in the community; and D) Reflecting on the impact they made.

This spring, DC SCORES intern Kristen Miano is following the Truesdell Education Campus (elementary school) Trojans as they go through the service-learning process. Read below and watch each week’s video to learn how DC SCORES empowers youth to create change around them. You can also view photos from Truesdell HERE and follow Kristen's Tweets HERE. 

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Written by Kristen Miano
Digital Media Intern

The votes are in: The Truesdell Trojans will be cleaning up their school and encouraging others to do the same for their spring SCORES service-learning project.

“The overall project goal is to reduce the amount of trash in the building,” said Cailin Eisle, one of the Truesdell writing coaches.

Now that the team has an issue to tackle, the next phase of the project is to conduct research and construct a plan in order to achieve their goal.

To jump start the planning process, the Trojans were treated to a special guest speaker last week — Ms. Duckett of the Truesdell custodial staff.

“The students were able to brainstorm questions and ask [Ms. Duckett] questions,” Cailin said. “That will hopefully keep them engaged in their project.”

Ms. Duckett has seen the trash problem first hand at Truesdell, and had some great ideas for where the team could target their efforts as they begin working toward a cleaner school.

“The classrooms and the lunch room are the two areas with the most need for trash clean up,” Ms. Duckett said. “And paper trash is the biggest problem. School papers, homework papers, paper towels — all kinds of paper creates the most trash.”

The kids made sure to take notes about all the information Ms. Duckett provided, including what tools they can use to pick up trash, how to keep track of what work has already been done, and the best ways to motivate other students to be diligent about cleaning up.

“Ask them nicely to pick up their trash,” Ms. Duckett advised. “Also, posters that say ‘Keep your school clean’ or ‘Clean up after yourself’ could be helpful.”

After the discussion was over, the students spent some time making thank you cards for Ms. Duckett and reflecting on what they had learned.

“I learned that picking up trash doesn’t need to take too much time,” said Yocelyn M., age 10.

Bryan M. also thought Ms. Duckett had some greats bits of advice and came away from the lesson with an idea of how to move their project forward.

“We can put signs in hallways and bathrooms,” he said, “to tell [people] they don’t need to leave trash on the floor.”

The Trojans learned a great deal from Ms. Duckett’s experience and are charging ahead into their school-cleaning project armed with excellent information and some grand plans and ideas.