By Stefanie Smallhouse
President Mammoth STEM Parent Teacher Organization
One of the requirements for continued enrollment in the Mammoth STEM Elementary School is the completion of three community service projects during the school year. This is a great way to encourage students at a young age to be involved in their communities and teach the importance and impact of time spent towards something greater than oneself.
This past weekend, several students, parents and teachers converged upon the property located just below the school with rakes, hoes and garbage bags in hand to do a little clean up. Thanks to the Town of Mammoth for pruning the trees aligning the walk path ahead of time, the group was able to gather up these branches, hoe weeds, and rake up debris to be hauled away.
This location was chosen as an area of focus because it borders the entrance to the elementary school grounds and the Kids’ Closet building as well as being prominent along Hwy. 77. The SaddleBrooke Community Outreach and their Kids’ Closet program is of great importance to the Tri-Community area and it’s nice to give back a little to those who have given so much to this area. Those passing by or entering the drive will see a well-kept entrance.
The students, parents and teachers also participated in a “Paint the Playground” day earlier in the year as another service project. With what seems like ever more tightening budgets, opportunities abound for people to engage and get involved in an area of community need. On Saturday, those kids learned about hard work, donating their time, team work and taking pride in the community.
Thank you to Ms. Reidhead and the City of Mammoth for helping to organize this effort, Principle Wilkins and Mr. Wilkins for hand tools and donuts and of course to all those students, parents and teachers who showed up ready to work!
For more information about how to get involved in the MSTEM Parent Teacher Organization and other school/PTO sponsored community service projects please contact Tracy Gonzales, Mammoth Elementary School Office (520) 487-2242.