Six seniors from the yearbook and newspaper staffs completed a two-part service project to fulfill the requirements for the Fine Arts Diploma with Distinction in Literary Arts.
To earn the Fine Arts Diploma, students need three fine arts credits, a cumulative GPA greater than a 3.0, and a 10-hour community service project. For their service project, seniors Addison Biscoe, Caroline Bomboy, Mia Castellano, Natalie Gotzmann, Nelia Kelleher, and Mia Romano organized a book drive and read to elementary school students.
The students collected 1226 books over the span of one week and delivered them to Maryland Book Bank in Baltimore.
Natalie said, “For all of us, it was truly an exciting service project to not only plan but see the results from. I don’t think any of us thought we would receive the total number of books we ended up with, but it was truly amazing to see our John Carroll community pitch in. I believe I can speak for all of us when I say that this project meant a great deal to us.”
The gently used books collected from students and teachers throughout the JC community will benefit schools, libraries, and families in the Baltimore area who are in need of new books.
Mia said, “I thoroughly enjoyed being part of this service project. The people at the Maryland Book Bank were extremely grateful for our help, and I am so proud that my friends and I were able to collect over 1,200 books.”
The books were collected the week of March 17 and delivered to the book bank on March 26.
In addition to the book drive, the students went to Harford Day on March 31 to read to students ages pre-K through third grade. They were there for about two hours reading to three different classrooms each.
Natalie said, “It was an honor being able to return to my old school and read to students who sat in the same chairs that I once did. Harford Day School was the start of my education and being able to complete one last thing for my high school career, there was a full circle moment. The administration at Harford Day was very welcoming and excited that we wanted to share a little part of our day with their students.”
The students and teachers at Harford Day were very appreciative of the guest readers.
Mia said, “Getting to see all of their faces light up as I read to them felt so rewarding and is something I’ll never forget. I loved how many of the kids were participating in the reading as well.”
The Fine Arts Diploma requirements are a great way for students to use what they have learned in their literary arts classes and give back to the community.
Nelia said, “This project was very meaningful to me because I got to give back to the community in a way that connects with everything I have done with Literary Fine Arts at JC. It was exciting to be able to collect gently used books so that they can inspire young readers instead of just sitting on a shelf somewhere.”