Eastside Catholic students serve the community
October 27, 2009
By Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
Of the four Peace and Justice Day community service projects Sammamish resident Kelsey Mikolajewski has participated in, her time spent planting trees along Issaquah Creek Oct. 23 had the most impact, she said.
As the Eastside Catholic senior dug up wet soil and grass with about 30 fellow students to transplant saplings at Lake Sammamish State Park, she said she was glad to be outside, even though it was raining.
“I haven’t really worked in a park before. This (project) is the one that’s going to most affect me,” Mikolajewski said while loosening the root-ball. “It’s nice to get some time off school.”
The students didn’t exactly get time off school, but they did get to spend most of the school day away from their regular classes. The Issaquah Creek group was but one of 36 community service “families” that spread across King County.
The entire Eastside Catholic High School student body — close to 600 people — and their teachers volunteered at local organizations like food banks, retirement communities and parks.
“It gets kids who don’t usually get out, out,” said junior and Sammamish resident Maggie Fearon.
The work counted toward their required annual community service hours and taught them the importance of serving others, said Micah Richardson, a teacher at Eastside Catholic.
“It’s good for them to go out and fulfill our social mission,” Richardson said while working with the students at Lake Sammamish State Park. “(It’s good to) walk the talk. It’s cool to get them doing something they wouldn’t do otherwise.”
After a morning assembly, the students spent about three hours planting fir, snowberry and other varieties of trees for the Mountains to Sound Greenway organization. Organization members had previously laid out 8,000 trees and shrubs along Issaquah Creek.
Eastside Catholic’s Peace and Justice Day group was one of numerous volunteer groups helping the cause throughout the fall.
“The ultimate goal of this project is to restore Issaquah Creek,” said Jenna Goodman, the organization’s volunteer program associate.
The new trees will help better protect salmon habitat, as well as re-introduce native plant species to the park, she said.
It’s important to reduce the prevalence of the park’s invasive species, said Jesse Miller, the organization’s youth volunteer coordinator.
The project also creates a sense of stewardship for the students.
“It’s extremely important,” he said. “Not only to get them out and working, but for them to be able to come back in 40 years and see the trees they planted. We’re all about creating partnerships, especially with local schools.”
While most of her fellow students were volunteering indoors for Peace and Justice Day, Mikolajewski, Fearon and their crewmates seemed OK getting a little dirty for the sake of a good cause.
“This one is good,” Mikolajewski said. “A little rainy, but it’s good to help.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Of the four Peace and Justice Day community service projects Sammamish resident Kelsey Mikolajewski has participated in, her time spent planting trees along Issaquah Creek Oct. 23 had the most impact, she said.
As the Eastside Catholic senior dug up wet soil and grass with about 30 fellow students to transplant saplings at Lake Sammamish State Park, she said she was glad to be outside, even though it was raining.
Eastside Catholic students Maggie Fearon, foreground, and Kelsey Mikolajewski, both Sammamish residents, transplant saplings along Issaquah Creek Oct. 23 as part of the school’s annual Peace and Justice Day of service. Photo by Christopher Huber
“I haven’t really worked in a park before. This (project) is the one that’s going to most affect me,” Mikolajewski said while loosening the root-ball. “It’s nice to get some time off school.”
The students didn’t exactly get time off school, but they did get to spend most of the school day away from their regular classes. The Issaquah Creek group was but one of 36 community service “families” that spread across King County.
The entire Eastside Catholic High School student body — close to 600 people — and their teachers volunteered at local organizations like food banks, retirement communities and parks.
“It gets kids who don’t usually get out, out,” said junior and Sammamish resident Maggie Fearon.
The work counted toward their required annual community service hours and taught them the importance of serving others, said Micah Richardson, a teacher at Eastside Catholic.
“It’s good for them to go out and fulfill our social mission,” Richardson said while working with the students at Lake Sammamish State Park. “(It’s good to) walk the talk. It’s cool to get them doing something they wouldn’t do otherwise.”
After a morning assembly, the students spent about three hours planting fir, snowberry and other varieties of trees for the Mountains to Sound Greenway organization. Organization members had previously laid out 8,000 trees and shrubs along Issaquah Creek.
Eastside Catholic’s Peace and Justice Day group was one of numerous volunteer groups helping the cause throughout the fall.
“The ultimate goal of this project is to restore Issaquah Creek,” said Jenna Goodman, the organization’s volunteer program associate.
The new trees will help better protect salmon habitat, as well as re-introduce native plant species to the park, she said.
It’s important to reduce the prevalence of the park’s invasive species, said Jesse Miller, the organization’s youth volunteer coordinator.
The project also creates a sense of stewardship for the students.
“It’s extremely important,” he said. “Not only to get them out and working, but for them to be able to come back in 40 years and see the trees they planted. We’re all about creating partnerships, especially with local schools.”
While most of her fellow students were volunteering indoors for Peace and Justice Day, Mikolajewski, Fearon and their crewmates seemed OK getting a little dirty for the sake of a good cause.
“This one is good,” Mikolajewski said. “A little rainy, but it’s good to help.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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