Fourth and fifth graders participating in Shine Bright completed community service projects this month by raising money or providing specific items for non-profit organizations. Shine Bright teaches and empowers kids to put empathy into action. Students are paired with a mentor from the school and given curriculum to identify their passions and who they want to help and create an actionable plan with start-up money to give back to the non-profit of their choice. Students are selected based on an application process in the fall and spring.

Mentors helped students connect with non-profits, but the students themselves contacted the groups, created a plan and did the work to help the group.

Students presented their work to grades 1-5 assembled on Friday. After each student talked about his or her project, Mr. Morgan said, "Think of the amazing impact these students have had on the whole community by helping hungry people, sick people, our rivers and animals."

Here are this year’s projects:

Carlos: sold reusable grocery bags to reduce the number of plastic bags used. Donating money to Rainforest Alliance & Amazon Aid Foundation

Brodi: put together bags for people helped at the Community Kitchen

Tessa: hosted a bake sale to benefit the Alice Fund 

Catherine: sold baked goods and hot chocolate to purchase tools for the Tennessee River Gorge Trust 

Christopher: sold homemade dog biscuits and collecting dog & cat food for the Dalton Humane Society 

Harriet: created and sold Stump the Opossum shirts to "adopt" an opossum at Reflection Riding 

Katie Grace and Maria: put together welcome bags for the MacClellan Shelter for Families

Grey: donated a basket to the auction at the Epilepsy Foundation event

Mia: partnered with Austin Hatcher and participated in the trimming the tree party to decorate the office 

Gabby: sold baked goods to benefit the Hart Gallery 

Lela Kate: sold blankets & collected donations for the Humane Society 

Nina: organized a river clean up for Tennessee River Rescue 

Shine Bright Projects 2019