Front row (from left): Dylan Paradise, Benjamin McDannell, Gabby Deighton, Lucy Jefferies, Madison Moses, Avery Nelson, Kes Shallbetter; middle row (from left): Principal Dr. Maureen Marshall, Evan Graves, Logan Condon; back row (from left): Ella Clare Jones, McKenna Crews, Austin Stallings, Lily Campbell, Christopher Djossou, Riley Cooper, Kira Kang, Ginny Nelson, Reese Haggerty, Maliha Joshua, School Counselor Stephanie Kasparek; not pictured: Noah Elshami and Will Friedman. SLES Photo
The sixth grade students of Stratford Landing Elementary joined their families, teachers, administrators and counselors at Sandburg Middle School on Thursday, June 22, to celebrate the 2016 Promotion Ceremony. Featured at this year’s ceremony was the announcement of the Stratford Landing Community Service Recognition Certificate. The 2016-2017 school year marked the beginning of a lifetime of service for sixth grade students. Students throughout the grade participated in service learning opportunities, from Boy Scout and Girl Scout service projects to helping out with service at Stratford Landing and in the greater Alexandria area.
While all students were required to complete five hours of service, one group of students went above and beyond, completing well over 100 combined hours of service. These students chose to complete an essay and were interviewed to be considered for The Stratford Landing Community Service Recognition Certificate. Students’ essays shared many stories of service and fun.
One sixth grade student, McKenna Crews, reflected on her time helping in a nursing home and being able to meet a Tuskegee Airman during the celebration of her birthday and that she wouldn’t have had that opportunity if it wasn’t for the community service hour requirement.
Christopher Djossou shared in his essay that the 18 hours of community service “felt like 18 minutes” and that he thought it was going to be difficult to acquire the five hours, but once he started, he was surprised that the time went so quickly. He also shared that he came to realization that community service didn’t need to be something formal, but that taking time to help organize a classroom library or picking up trash in a local park was community service and making a positive impact.
Other students, Reese Haggerty, Logan Condon and Ella Clare Jones, valued their experiences working in the preschool classrooms at Stratford Landing and enjoyed creating memorable moments with the younger students.
Noah Elshami enjoyed his time at a local retirement home where he got to serve “mocktails” to the residents and see a fun side of that community when they came together to enjoy each other’s company.
All the students who wrote essays and interviewed with staff shared ways they were going to continue their own community service after they have left Stratford Landing Elementary. For their hard work and dedication, all 21 nominees were awarded The Stratford Landing Community Service Recognition Certificate. Recipients received a certificate and will have their names on a plaque at Stratford Landing.