St Rose of Lima School students have been completing service projects throughout the school year.

"I want St Rose to be known for its service in the communi ty," said St Rose of Lima School Principal Sister Colleen Therese Smith on Thursday, January 28.

The bolstered focus on community service, Sr Colleen said, began last school year with teachers spending a day discussing community service and brainstorming ideas.

This year each class was asked to complete different service projects.

"Every class has jumped into it," said Sr Colleen, "and we have everything from the eighth grade Turkey Club to our kindergarten class who adopted another kindergarten class in an inner city school in Bridgeport [at the Catholic Academies of Bridgeport] at the St Raphael Campus."

The Turkey Club makes turkey sandwiches that are sent to Waterbury's St Vincent DePaul Mission homeless shelter. The St Rose kindergarten students sent hats, mittens, and gloves to the kindergarten students in Bridgeport this winter, and the Bridgeport kindergarten students responded with a photograph of them wearing the warm accessories, according to Sr Colleen. Cards were also exchanged between the kindergarten classes.

Other classes have also adopted deployed troops and veterans, and a drive is being held at the school to collect items for deployed troops.

St Rose of Lima School Director of Mission Advancement Paula Spellman explained that older grade levels have partnered with younger grade levels to execute some service projects.

"That's a good thing for our kids to be exposed to, because it is teaching them that everyone does this," said Mrs Spellman. "When they see an older kid doing this when they are younger, it gives them something to look up to."

Sr Colleen said third and seventh grade students teamed up to create blankets to donate to Waterbury's Carolyn's Place Pregnancy Care Center the first week in January.

While this year initiated the effort of "a year of service," Sr Colleen said the efforts across the school will not stop.

"For me it is about creating a culture of service and creating the habit of service in our children so they grow up knowing the importance of giving back to the community and beyond," said Sr Colleen. "And really that is the secret to joy and happiness."

Within the school Sr Colleen said she has noted ways of reaching out between the grade levels. When the sixth graders recently completed midterms, the kindergarten students made them cards to congratulate them.

"And they surprised them with it," Sr Colleen said. "The sixth graders were just so thrilled."

The idea to heightened the importance of community service projects this year, Sr Colleen said, came from observing the school community last year, her first year with the school.

"I see what a wonderful community St Rose is, I see how blessed we are, but I felt that we weren't doing enough share that and to be of service," said Sr Colleen.

There were community service projects already in place, like a Thanksgiving food drive and an annual effort to adopt a family for Christmas. Those efforts are continuing along with the new efforts.

"I want them to have the hands-on experience," said Sr Colleen, noting the school's mission statement, which she said is founded on gospel values.

Sr Colleen said she is already thinking of ideas and inspiration for next year's community service efforts.

"I'd like to give them different experiences, so I think we will continue to do different focuses for each school level," said Sr Colleen. "This is who we are, so it is not a one-year program. It's creating a habit of giving."

Mrs Spellman said the students are excited about the programs and the school will listen to student ideas for next year's efforts.

"This is about creating a habit for life, because that is what we are called to do," Sr Colleen said.