A DAY OF SERVICE: BHCS system reaches out to Sioux City community

Sept. 20, 2007

Bishop Heelan High School freshmen spent the morning of Sept. 12 weeding, planting, washing windows, washing lights and fans in the house and much more at the Clare Guest House in Sioux City.

"They were wonderful young people," said Sister Gwen Hennessey, OSF, house manager. "It meant a lot to us to have this completed and have that many willing hands to get a lot done. This is tremendously valuable."

This was one group - out of 1,560 students and about 180 faculty/staff - from Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools who participated in "PRIDE in our Community, Service Day 2007" during homecoming week.

BHCS students are instilled daily with the important message of helping others as Jesus did. One of the founding philosophies for BHCS is service.

The students spent the morning doing various service projects. Every student, teacher and staff member was given a T-shirt to wear portraying the theme of the day.

"We wanted to do this during Homecoming week because it is a time for community - not only the Heelan community but reaching out to our community," said Alison Benson, director of marketing and public relations for BHCS. "We felt it was important to have it during such a special week to show the community that we take pride in it."

Each homeroom for the middle schools and high school was assigned a location for service.

Mater Dei seventh grader, Clayton Bengford, served the community by picking up trash along Transit Avenue. He said it is good to help the environment and make Sioux City a better place to live.

"If people are looking out of their car, they can see that our community is clean," said Bengford. "It was fun doing it, and we got a lot out of it."

Maggie McDevitt, a sophomore at Heelan High School, helped at Nativity Parish by cleaning in the rectory. She also talked to Father Jerry Feierfiel, pastor at Nativity.

"I really like the idea of having a day of service because it shows how we are giving back. It sets us apart from other schools," she said. "It was nice to have all the schools do it together because it made us seem like one big school and one big family."

The grade school students did service projects at their buildings.

Abby Steen, a second grader at Mater Dei, made a picture of a jungle for a nursing home resident. She said it is good to help the nursing home residents because "we want to make them feel like kids again."

The third through fifth graders at Sacred Heart School packed toothbrushes and toothpaste for families in Honduras.

Sacred Heart fourth grader, Mireya Jiminez, felt the experience had changed her because through it she learned that "you show respect for others through service."

There were a total of 50 projects throughout the system. The projects included helping build a park for the Junior League; helping at St. Thomas Episcopal and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Churches; working on projects for United Way and Goodwill; and doing mailings and assembling food packages at Center for Siouxland.

Holy Cross middle school students helped Walter Peterson at Calvary Cemetery by writing down all the names of the veterans buried in the cemetery.

"We don't have a comprehensive list of all the veterans buried here and that saved us having to do that ourselves," he said. "I think it is good for the kids to get out, help and see what goes on in the world outside of school."

Other middle school students from Holy Cross helped at Angel House - Blessed Sacrament. Half of the students aided the preschool children with their activities, played with them and helped serve them snack. The other half of the students helped make art projects and activities for the preschoolers to use in the upcoming months.

"The children and staff of Angel House felt very special to be selected," said Marla Skadburg, director at Angel House. "It made us feel very appreciated. We enjoyed their service and their kindness. They were all exceptional workers and had big smiles on their faces during the entire time they were with us."

At Angel House - Villa Maria, middle school students from Sacred Heart School pulled weeds, raked and picked up sticks.

"They made our environment look beautiful," said Skadburg. "They did an amazing job and worked very fast."

In the afternoon the students, faculty and staff reflected on how they have grown by serving others.

"Service day was such a wonderful community builder," said Kathy Keane, a sixth grade teacher at Holy Cross. " Everyone was so positive, and all benefited from the experience. What a great way to show our Christian caring and spirit."

Her class responded with a unanimous, "yes," when asked if they wanted to have another service day.

Beth Karpuk, another sixth grade teacher from Holy Cross, said her class had good reflection discussion and the students had a feeling of achievement. Her students couldn't stop talking about their morning at Angel House.

"The Bishop Heelan School System did exactly what Jesus called us to do - we spent the morning in service to others. I am so proud to be a part of it," said Karpuk.