The Bee Cave Bee

 

Lake Travis Middle School in Spicewood, Texas sits on the cusp between suburban Austin and rural Texas. While our district has many resources, we are surrounded by many who do not have this luxury.

 

 

Our school has decided to use its resources to give back to the community and teach our students that it is a gift in itself to be able to help others.  For one day each school year, Lake Travis Middle School sends every student out into the community for a Day of Service.  It is a year long process that culminates in each student and staff member volunteering for various organizations in our area.  

 

 

Plans start early in the year to secure sites for over 1500 volunteers.  Sponsors are identified, surveys are created, our school videography program creates videos highlighting volunteer locations, and much more.  In January, students and adult staff members are given the choices of serve sites, and students are paired according to their choices.  Finally, on March 8, every bus in our district is dispatched to carry our students and staff to the serve sites for the Day of Service throughout the greater Austin area.  

 

 

This year our day of service is March 8, and we would love for you to follow along for a day in the life.  Last year students cleared brush, cleaned parks, painted fingernails of women in a nursing home, and sorted food in a food bank to name a few.  This year 38 serve sites will host 1470 kids and 200 parent/teacher volunteers from Lake Travis Middle.  The day ends with a celebration of the kids’ efforts that involves a video production of clips from the day’s activitites and a visit from our superintendent.