NEWS

NHS students clean up Newark parks, bike path

Emily Maddern
emaddern@newarkadvocate.com

NEWARK – Baron Smith is of the philosophy that not all learning happens in a classroom.

The 10th-grade history teacher at Newark High School and many of his students spent their Friday outside, cleaning up community parks and learning about taking pride in their community during the school's third annual NHS Community Clean-Up Day.

About 120 students volunteered to participate in the cleanup, a huge increase from the roughly 30 whom Smith was able to round up the first year.

"It just keeps getting bigger every year," Smith said of the event. "It's great because we're working with the parks people and they said we're able to help out with things they don't have time to do."

Students visited Levin Park, the Evans Athletic Complex, Hollander pool, T.J. Evans Pond, Everett Park and stretches of the city's bike path to pick up trash, clear debris and spread mulch.

Sophomore Drew Miller, 16, was happy to get a chance to spend the day outside and give back to the community.

"I think it's really fun. I'd rather be out here helping the community than be in a classroom," he said.

Miller is one of the students in the Academic Opportunities for Success class, formerly known as the C-TAG program. Linkage coordinator Terrell White, who heads the program, decided to team up with Smith for this year's cleanup, bringing an additional 25 students out to volunteer.

Students in AOS are required to complete 60 hours of community service each year, so it was a great opportunity for them to get their hours in and help their community, White said.

"I think it's our community's call to do this," he said. "If we can get more students and more youths involved early, they're more likely to do it when they're older. ... I just want these kids to do great things."

Sixty hours of community service might seem like a lot, but students Atlanta Thomas, 15, and Morganne Norris, 16, have met and exceeded that number for the year.

Although they didn't need the extra hours, the girls volunteered to help with the cleanup. The best friends said they enjoy volunteering together, and they have logged hours at the Salvation Army, local car washes and the YMCA car show.

"If no one does it, then no one else is going to want to do it," Atlanta said about cleaning the park. "I have four siblings that look up to me, and I want to set a good example for them."

The Newark City School District has been very supportive of the community cleanup, and Smith is hopeful it will continue to grow in the coming years.

"I've had kids do it all three years and even more asking if they can participate next year," he said. "I feel very happy for the community for what we've been able to do. As a group, we've been able to accomplish a lot, and it's great to see the kids out here smiling and doing some hard work."

emaddern@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8513

Twitter: @emmaddern