After a morning of building-wide testing, 180 Cuyahoga Heights High School (CHHS) students split into 11 teams and spent three hours picking up, sprucing up, and otherwise cleaning up in Cuyahoga Heights, Valley View, Brooklyn Heights and the Cleveland Metroparks during the inaugural school-wide Community Impact Day on October 11.
“Performing community service is a graduation requirement for every Cuyahoga Heights student,” said CHHS Principal Scott DeTray. “The purpose of this requirement is to help develop students’ attitudes, values, philosophy, and character as it relates to service to others. “These experiences help them make a positive and conscientious contribution toward people, the environment, and to develop a healthy mental attitude and lifestyle.”
Among the projects on which students spent three hours of their time:
- Removing invasive plants at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights and at the Garfield Heights Reservation.
- Picking up litter and cleaning up the grounds at the Brookside Reservation Meadow Ridge Picnic Area.
- Painting fire hydrants along streets in Brooklyn Heights.
- Cleaning up the shelter, picnic tables, and surrounds at Woods Park in Valley View.
- Raking leaves and cleaning up the grounds at Miller Park in Valley View.
- Raking leaves and cleaning up the grounds at the Valley View Community Center.
- Cleaning out storage areas and cleaning up the stage at the Paul L. Baumgardner Auditorium and the Flip Gymnasium bleachers.
- Cleaning up the grounds surrounding CHHS and interacting with elementary students during recess at Cuyahoga Heights Elementary School.
“Many students expressed how much they enjoyed going into the community and doing something that makes a difference for others,” added DeTray. “Our students continue to prove that they are not just the future of our community but active contributors to its present well-being. We are proud of their willingness to undertake a variety of tasks that illustrate their commitment to making a positive impact, hence the name ‘Community Impact Day.’” DeTray said the intention is to make the day of volunteering an annual event.