Freshman seminar classes were given the responsibility to create community service projects to benefit local organizations, younger students and the community itself. 

Drama teacher Ben Cossitor’s students are raising money for the Humane Society with a bake sale. 

“I’m just helping to organize the project because they have really done the bulk of the work,” Cossitor said. “They’re getting the packaging ready right now, and we’re going to bake cookies April 26 and April 27.” 

Students are working as a class to achieve the goal. They have until the beginning of May. 

English teacher Alyssa Hetrick’s class is working to create dog and cat toys for the pets in the Humane Society. 

“We’re doing a drive to collect things,” Hetrick said. “We’re making dog toys with old T-shirts and the dogs from Mending Hearts are going to be coming in next Friday. It’ll be nice to interact with them.” 

Many of Hetrick’s students have pets themselves and feel as though they are giving back. 

“We really like dogs, and we hope for the dogs to be happier in the future,” freshman Taylor Yeagar and Sophia Pierannunzio said. 

Hetrick’s students are also constructing inspirational bags for sixth graders next year. 

“We’re going to put together inspirational bags for sixth graders to keep in the guidance office, in case someone’s having a bad day or having trouble adjusting,” Hetrick said. “It’ll have an inspirational sticker, candy, pencil and eraser.” 

Hetrick’s students are planned to be finished by the middle of May. 

Giving back and teaching the students how to be a good citizen is one of the main goals. 

“The projects foster an important part of what we’re trying to teach which is good character, being a good citizen in your community and part of that is giving back,” Cossitor said.