BUCKLAND — Sophomores are learning more than simply math and science at Mohawk Trail Regional School; they are learning about their own agency.

The students spent the last semester analyzing their own identities and their larger community as part of a Civic Action class, a new requirement. The class culminates in a civic engagement project that the students plan and carry out themselves. They spent the morning of June 16 sharing their projects with each other to show how young people can make a difference in their communities.

“It is teaching kids there are things they can do and change,” said teacher Catherine Glennon.

The Civic Action class, which was piloted last year, begins with students analyzing their own identity. Glennon then directs the students to look at their larger communities and how they fit into those communities. They then write a research paper on a broad issue of their choice and develop a project to help with that problem locally.

Many of last year’s projects included finding needs on campus, like grounds cleanup and clearing closet space for new uses. This year, Glennon said, involved student engagement with the broader community.

For their project, Adison Crawford and Alex Smejkal conducted research to lay the groundwork for construction of a skate park somewhere within the school district’s member towns. The two are both interested in BMX biking and hope to bring a place for recreation to the community.

Crawford and Smejkal developed 3-D models for a possible park, located potential funding sources and spoke with a skate park company to discuss the feasibility of their project. The students hope to continue the project for their senior capstone.

Another project involved raising money to purchase care kits to donate to shelters in Greenfield. Jacob Calhoun and Logan Pelletier said they felt disheartened by the people they saw experiencing homelessness at Greenfield’s Energy Park and designed their project to help.

After Ashleigh Billiel and Alexia Bowers spent the semester researching issues of poverty, they used their project to create a brochure of compiled resources for people experiencing poverty. Their project directs people to services in three areas: food, housing and employment.

Inspired by the refugee crisis, Mayzie Whitaker, Kristen Sevoian and Avery Johnston organized a clothing and furniture drive to benefit newly arrived immigrants in Springfield.

Global citizens

In addition to teaching students how they are part of their local communities, the class also used the opportunity to show students how they are global citizens.

Student teacher from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Ana Schantz, who has worked at the school for the past three semesters, connected the sophomores with a class of students the same age from her home country of Brazil. The students were able to meet virtually and discuss their projects together.

“It gets them seeing the conditions are different, but we are all dealing with similar big issues,” Glennon said. “It gets them thinking of themselves as a global community of young people.”

The teachers argued that meeting people from different parts of the world encourages students to see how issues like climate change and poverty are seen across the board.

“It has been a wonderful program,” Glennon said. “We are super excited to keep doing it.”

Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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