Design by Katrin Bernreiter
(https://at.linkedin.com/in/kbernreiter)

A grassroots community service project providing 8-10 feet of physically-distanced socialization and academic support for children (K-8) in outdoor circles and soothing spaces, while trauma-informed and framed in Executive Function (EF) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). High school youth volunteer as facilitators of the circles and spaces to earn community service hours and join in modeling how to cultivate adaptability and build resiliency through service learning.

CCSR’s goals are (1) to offer revolving mental health breaks during asynchronous virtual lessons and (2) to contribute to the stress reduction of students, parents, and teachers!

*MASKS ARE MANDATORY*

Additionally, we complete monthly service projects:

October – Handmade cards were created and sent to Send A Smile Today, a non-profit that supports cancer patients and mails them monthly ‘uplifting greeting cards: from time of cancer diagnosis – through treatment – to survivorship.’

November – Outdoor games were created to celebrate World Children’s Day in addition to learning about the U.N.’s Convention on the Rights of the Child. Students exchanged ideas about how to protect their well-being and others during the pandemic. Their opinions and collective thoughts were shared in an article published on LinkedIn.

December – Food donations were gathered and given to the Dulles South Food Pantry for distribution during the holidays.

January – Warm clothing for adults and children, blankets, and gently used toys were collected and donated to The Salvation Army of Loudoun County.

February – In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, the children and youth wanted to spread love and gratitude for our essential friends in our community. Sweets and treats were delivered to Liberty Elementary School, J. Michael Lunsford Middle School, Freedom High School, and our South Riding Fire and Police Station.

March – On March 22nd, we had Clean-up Trash Day on Talent Street! We picked up trash near and around the pond, along the bike path, and around our field. There were three waves of garbage collection, and we filled *9* bags of assorted plastics, glass, papers, bottles, cardboard, cans, a pizza box, shower curtain, and even BONES. Yes, indeed, we found bones, which required a call to the sheriff’s office. A deputy drove over and scouted the spot. As suspected, the animal bones probably had belonged to an injured deer.

April – On April 19th, we cleaned up more trash in honor of Earth Day! We were angry and disappointed to see the garbage accumulate in areas we had recently cleaned last month. Our solution was to take action. The children wrote a letter to the board of our proprietary expressing their concerns for our environment and wildlife. We requested consideration for two trash receptacles to be installed along the bike path and near the pond. We included images from Google Earth to show our recommendations for locations. The request for one trash bin was unanimously approved, and it has been ordered with a tentative installation date in May or June!

May – We raised $1,778.48 for the Frontline Families Fund!! The Frontline Families Fund (FFF) provides relief grants to families of healthcare workers who lost their lives to COVID-19 and will provide scholarships to the children of healthcare workers who have lost their lives to COVID-19.

June – We celebrated the end of school with a water balloon fight tempered by ice cream and popsicles! I am grateful for how we supported each other to survive and thrive together during this challenging year.

August – The trash bin that we requested in April was installed! We took a group photo to commemorate how we worked together to write a letter advocating for a cleaner environment in our neighborhood.