MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa — New Jr high and high school-wide initiative sends students across Missouri Valley for service projects, with district leaders saying they hope to make it an annual first-day tradition.
Missouri Valley students spent part of their first day back to school focused on service, with high school students spreading throughout the community to clean, paint, landscape and lend a hand at locations across town, while junior high students worked closer to home on the school grounds and sports complex.
The community-wide effort was a first for the school, but it had been months in the making.
High school teacher Mrs. Malone said planning for the initiative began in April, with the school working alongside members of the community to identify projects and coordinate the day.
Principal Justin Wardyn said the idea originated with the high school’s teacher leadership team and was intended to accomplish more than completing cleanup projects around town.
“Our leadership team of teachers had a vision and wanted to do something to help our students build relationships, develop a strong sense of civic pride, and take ownership in their community from day one,” Wardyn said.
He said organizing a school-wide effort required cooperation beyond the school itself.
“It took a collaborative effort between our school staff, city leaders, and local organizations to coordinate all the logistics and make it happen,” Wardyn said.
Students could be seen throughout Missouri Valley taking on a wide range of projects. At the Missouri Valley Fire Department, students washed fire department vehicles and equipment while other groups worked outside painting exterior doors, curbs and other areas around the station.
Downtown, groups moved along streets and sidewalks picking up trash, pulling weeds and clearing debris. The work put students directly into some of the most visible areas of the community and gave them an opportunity to contribute to spaces used every day by residents and local businesses.
Students also worked at the Rialto Theatre, where projects included cleaning both inside and around the building.
Other groups took on work at the local food pantry and outdoor work at community recreation areas, including weeding, raking, spreading mulch, mowing and general grounds maintenance. Students worked around the park near Watson Station and at the Willow Dog Park, helping clean up landscaped areas and maintain the grounds.
At the Willow Dog Park, the students’ help was especially meaningful to longtime Missouri Valley resident Jim Long, a former city council member and former mayor who has been closely involved in supporting, building and maintaining the dog park. Long was at the park while students worked and expressed his appreciation for their involvement, noting that the work they completed would be a significant help with maintenance he regularly takes care of himself.
Long’s reaction also highlighted another side of the initiative: students weren’t simply completing assigned projects. Their work was directly helping community members who have volunteered their own time to maintain public spaces throughout Missouri Valley.
Junior High Students Join the Effort
The first-day emphasis on service extended beyond the high school.
While high school students spread throughout Missouri Valley to work at community locations, Missouri Valley junior high students also participated by focusing their efforts closer to home.
Superintendent Christi Gochenour confirmed that junior high students remained on campus, where they worked to clean up the school grounds and sports complex.
Their participation expanded the initiative across both the junior high and high school, giving students an opportunity to begin the school year by taking responsibility for spaces used by their classmates, families and community.
Building Community From Day One
The physical work completed throughout Missouri Valley was only part of the purpose behind the initiative.
A staff member participating in the day said another goal was to help students become more engaged in the community and contribute to a positive change in school culture.
Wardyn echoed that purpose in his comments about building relationships, civic pride and a sense of ownership among students.
Superintendent Christi Gochenour said she was pleased with how the first year turned out.
“I am so pleased with how the day turned out,” Gochenour said, describing it as “a great community effort.”
The district already intends for the initiative to continue.
Wardyn said the school plans to make the community service effort part of its back-to-school activities every year.
Gochenour said district leaders also intend to build on what they learned this year.
“We plan to have this as part of our first day back going forward and will be looking for ways to expand it and improve it,” she said.
For students, the first day offered an opportunity to see their community from a different perspective and contribute directly to places used by their neighbors, families and local organizations.
For Missouri Valley, it meant students and educators were visible throughout town, working alongside the community before the school year had barely begun.
And after approximately four months of planning, Missouri Valley High School began the year not only by welcoming students back into the building, but by giving them an opportunity to take ownership in the community beyond it.
More Photos from the Community Service Day
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