Option class ‘Acts of Awesome’ builds joy and community connection for Penhold Elementary students

Penhold Elementary School (PES) students are finishing the year feeling connected to their community. Students involved in the “Acts of Awesome” option have completed a number of community service activities, and are seeing the positive impact.

Students in the class have painted rocks and dropped them off at some local businesses and homes. They created key-chains with younger students from Jessie Duncan School, and were responsible to teach their buddies how to do the craft. Also, students designed cards and flower packets containing seeds that they delivered to a number of homes in the community. 

Mackenzie, a PES student says his favorite activity was painting rocks and delivering them. He painted the word ‘never stop trying” on his, and was happy to connect with a community member when he dropped off the rock. “They said thank you. It made me happy.” 

“I chose to take this option class because I like helping the community and I like the thought of doing something to make people happy,” says Delaney, a PES student. “I’ve noticed that I’ve felt happier when I do our activities, and I know it's for a positive reason.”

Inara, another student, says “I love giving back to the community, because it’s already given me a lot. I have an education, I have parks and schools. I have friends. The feeling I have in this class is joy, and it just makes me so full of kindness and love that I’m giving back to the community. It’s just fun to give back.” 

“This class was Miss Hammer’s idea and I think it was an awesome idea,” says Mackenzie, PES student. 

Jessica Hammer, a teacher at PES, grew up in Olds, where she was a Chinook’s Edge student and graduate. She says, “I had an option class like this that gave me the opportunity to connect with the community, so I wanted to try it here.” 

While Hammer started the class, students in the class helped her select service activities that they wanted to do.  “I’ve noticed the students receive a lot of happiness from the projects they do - and a feeling that they are able to make a change. It helps them feel there is something bigger than themselves, but that they can make a difference,” says Hammer.  “They’ve seen how a small act of kindness can go a long way.”