Head O’ Meadow Sweetens Up Halloween

By Larissa Lytwyn

Even the scowls of ghouls and goblins might sweeten if they met the Student Community Team (SCT).

Most recently, the Head O’ Meadow student volunteer group distributed hand-decorated bags of Halloween candy to Meals on Wheels and an area homeless shelter. Before that they contributed to a national drive collecting almost-new sunglasses and reading glasses for children in need.

“[The SCT] used to be the fifth grade class,” explained librarian Joyce Kuzmick. “Now [with the opening of Reed Intermediate School], the program has moved to fourth grade.” Last year’s 60-odd fourth grade class proved daunting for maximum effectiveness, so this year the fourth grade’s four classes were divided in half.

While 36 students in Patricia Aschauer and Lynn Taylor’s classes have chosen to participate in the September through January session, students taught by Linda Siladi and Patricia Kurz will have the opportunity to be involved in the SCT from February through June.

“We’ve had the program for about seven or eight years now,” estimated music teacher Julie Bastos.

“The fourth graders have really stepped up to the challenge,” said Ms Kuzmick.

Kindergarten teacher Gail Diminico explained that the group often collaborates with schoolwide drives, such as the eyeglasses collection, or with scout troops. In November, SCT will participate in a scout-organized activity making Thanksgiving baskets. Filled with various goodies, the baskets will be delivered to area families in need. The SCT also volunteered their time planning and running the school’s recent Harvest Fair.

“The SCT has been a wonderful tradition here at Head O’ Meadow,” said kindergarten teacher Carol Howard.

“We have a lot of parent representatives, too,” said Ms Diminico. “It’s a real collaborative effort.”