Sixth Grade Service Day: Conservation, Care, and Comradery

Much of this takes place during a two-day stretch in early September known as Service and Belonging Days. For the new middle-schoolers, these two days are dedicated to a variety of service projects, as well as conversations and activities centered around belonging.

 

One of those two days is Sixth Grade Service Day. This time is set aside to immerse students in a service mindset -- a a value that Severn strives to instill in all students. “It teaches students they can give back, even at this age,” said Middle School Dean of Students Kathleen Donovan. “It’s one of the best lessons we can give kids. It can start a trend of giving back.”

 

"In the Middle School, we perennially ask how we can make the School Mission relevant to our work with students," added Dan Keller, Middle School Head. "As a school, our mission says we challenge our students to contribute to the world around them, and Service Day is a path to do that effectively with young adolescents."

 

For the 2024-2025 Middle School Service Day, Severn School's sixth graders partnered with the Coastal Conservation Association and Sarah's House.

 

Students attended presentations on Chesapeake Bay conservation efforts, the value of helping those less fortunate than themselves, and the importance of a clean community. They participated in activities, such as building reef balls and putting together blankets for an emergency family shelter.

 

David Sikorski, executive director of the Maryland chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association, was one of the morning presenters. Sikorski spoke in depth about the challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay. Sikorski detailed the challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay, including low oxygen levels, rising water temperatures, and toxic algae blooms. He highlighted the crucial role of oysters in maintaining the bay's health.

 

Students learned that oysters are vital cleaners and filters for the bay. Due to their declining numbers, large low-oxygen dead zones overtaken by algae have emerged. Reef balls, or artificial reefs, are now a significant tool in combating these dead zones.

 

"The reef balls  contribute to the growth of thousands of oysters in the Chesapeake Watershed," said Sikorski. "They are a physical product that will go into the Bay, be a vital piece of the ecosystem, and live there forever."

 

Students were split into small groups and tasked with building a reef ball from scratch. This meant working together to build the mold, secure it, mix concrete, and fill the mold while ensuring the reef's structural integrity wasn't compromised. 

 

"The most important thing is having students work as a team, doing something challenging they've never done before," Sikorski said. "They'll be working with tools, working in a process, and be developing a deeper connection to the Bay.

 

Students took to their task like an oyster to algae.  The communication, effort, and enthusiasm for this effort were indicative of the mindset students at Severn hold. Though faculty and CCA staff were present, they had little to do but provide minor assistance and watch the progress. 

"We worked with concrete, and it went really well," said Grant Grisette '31. "It was the highlight of my day. I learned how important it is to be aware of sea animals and their environment."

 

Students who felt particularly inspired by the work of building reef balls have many opportunities to stay involved with CCA and its' Living Reef Action Campaign.

 

"There's lots of diverse ways for students to be involved after today. Watershed groups and community groups have volunteer opportunities," said Sikorski. "I encourage students to understand that they can be impactful even at a young age."

 

"Students are a mouthpiece for our conservation efforts. They may not have funds, but they can spread the word, and any little amount a student can potentially raise is impactful overall."

 

After spending the morning outside with concrete, sixth graders assembled no-sew fleece blankets for Sarah's House, a Fort Meade-based charity that provides emergency shelter, meals, and other services to families experiencing homelessness in Anne Arundel County.

 

Working in their groups, students carefully twisting the fabric to make hardy and warm covers for the shelter. During the activity, they reflected on the importance of gratitude and giving back.

 

The service day ended with a group cleanup of the B&A Trail, which runs alongside the Severn campus. Students split into two groups, each going in the opposite direction along the trail. They picked up trash, brainstormed ways to keep the trail clean, and received platitudes from passersby. 

 

Severn’s sixth graders experienced firsthand the impact of service. The demanding work that goes into building things is both tangible and ideological. Their reef balls will be placed in the Magothy River at a point called Noah's Reef, with a live stream available for viewing.

 

By the end of Service Day, students reported a newfound energy for conservation, gratitude for their blessings, and an appreciation of the world around them--from their backyard to the open bay.

 

"We learned to care about what you have," said Ryann Hanley '31. "To just be thankful for what you have in your life and take nothing for granted."

 

Middle School Head Dan Keller summarized the day's significance, "It is both our belief and our observation that middle school students begin to cultivate greater empathy when they experience serving and contributing to the broader community. That’s why setting the tone with Service Day at the outset is so important."

 

Severn’s Sixth Grade Service Day embodies Severn's mission to instill a sense of responsibility, empathy, and community in its students, making it a meaningful start to the school year.