HCS Day of Caring

Special SHOUT OUT to two HCS teachers - Mrs. Hensler and Mrs. Barefoot - who had an idea, collaborated with numerous colleagues & community partners, and brought a Day of Caring to the Honeoye Central School District. 

 

The first ever HCS Day of Caring was held on September 29 and supported the development of community collaboration and civic engagement to improve the lives of all parties involved in the event.  

 

A Day of Caring ~ Submitted by Honeoye Central School District student, Ashley Thomas 

Honeoye Central School hosted a day of caring on September 29th. This day represented the kindness and helpfulness that the school hopes to spread each and everyday. Tasks students were assigned ranged from painting rocks and painting picnic tables to helping clean out an old cemetery that was overgrown and unkept. Students from grades 6-12 all enjoyed themselves and provided an impactful day for all the areas explored. From what teachers and other students could tell, everybody enjoyed this day and it certainly did provide an opportunity for HCS to help their local communities and leave them better than they found them.

Freshmen students helped at the local library, bus garage, and Saint Mary's Church. Sophomore students helped with a 4 H camp and the Saint Mary's Church. The Junior class traveled to the Richmond Fire department, community garden, and Sandy Bottom. Lastly the Senior class of HCS traveled to Canadice where they helped paint and clean the town hall, as well as sustaining an old cemetery.

This day of caring was a positive experience for everybody involved. When asked how they felt about the day of caring students from grades 9-12 all had nothing negative to say. A response from a student in 12th grade said, “I thought it was pretty cool and surprisingly fun. I feel like it kinda brought our grade together a little bit”. Two students in 11th grade said, “It was amazing! Tons of fun, lots of laughs, a great day to remember!” and the other student, “I thought it was very fun and a cool idea to help our town a little bit. I think almost everyone had fun in what they were doing and helping out with. Definitely a great opportunity for us students to learn outside of a classroom and more hands-on activities. We helped Honeoye look better small pieces at a time and I thought it was a brilliant idea and a great day!”. As well as a student in 10th grade, “I thought the day of caring was just lovely. I quite enjoyed cutting plants and exploring nature. Not only that but I got to bond with my classmates”. Lastly, a student in 9th grade said, “I really enjoyed it. My group went to Saint Mary's Church where we met with a 10th grade group… My group went to the cemetery to clean up branches and leaves and we had a blast. Overall we definitely need to have more and I really enjoyed it”.

In conclusion, the day of caring was truly a success and beneficial for the communities that surround Honeoye. The effect of leaving something better than when you find it truly shows the heart of what Honeoye Central School stands for.

Note: Channel 13 featured the HCS Day of Caring as a "Bright Spot" on Friday, September 29. The link to the online story may be accessed below.