Spanish service project adds 100 students and two schools
The Spanish classes’ community outreach program at Ypsilanti’s Perry Child Development Center (Perry CDC) expanded this year to include 100 more Greenhills students and two additional Ypsilanti schools.
Last spring 37 upper school students read original books to ESL students at Perry CDC. This past April, upper school students returned to Perry CDC, while 6th, 7th and 8th grade students visited Estabrook and Adams Schools.
“The community outreach program with Perry CDC has been so rewarding for students over the past three years that we wanted to expand the program to include even more students on both ends,” explained Spanish teacher Elaine Moffat.
At Estabrook School on April 19, Greenhills 6th and 7th grade Spanish students sang a medley of Spanish songs and then read to ESL students. A week later, on April 26, eighth grade Spanish students visited Adams School and read Spanish storybooks to ESL buddies,while upper school students returned to Perry CDC in Ypsilanti and read storybooks and played games with kindergarten and first grade students. Each of the Ypsilanti schools visited received a donation of children’s books from Greenhills students.
“The reason we learn Spanish is to communicate and form bonds with other Spanish speakers, which is exactly why the Estabrook/Adams/Perry trips are such a valuable experience,” said Moffat. “Greenhills Spanish students don’t simply study Spanish in order to earn a good grade in class. Rather, they study Spanish because it’s fun, valuable and practical.”
“Being able to connect with kids through a second language was a very fulfilling experience,” said Peter Michaelides ’15. “I can’t wait to go back next year.”
