A student signs up to perform a community service activity.
Among the many changes undertaken because of the pandemic, this year’s sophomore tours will be conducted with each school attending separately over the course of five days, one school in the morning and one school in the afternoon.
Pickaway-Ross students will not be on campus during the tours, which take Place Nov. 9, 10, 12, 13 and 16.
During this time, students can perform community service. Community service opportunities include making Veterans Day cards for veterans at the Chillicothe VA; volunteering at a food pantry; mulching and other upkeep at area gardens; preparing and serving food and assisting golfers at the Annual Turkey Tournament; and Saturday’s Walk for Homeless Veterans.
Machining students made 100 key chains for veterans.
Ahead of the community service events, students in Brent Ebert’s Machining & Manufacturing program made 100 key chains that will be given to veterans at the VA on Veterans Day.
This year’s community service is an expansion of an initiative that took place last year when English teacher Tea McCaulla arranged for 20 students to work at the Veterans Healing Garden at the VA. More students wanted to participate so Jason Vesey, director of Secondary Education, asked McCaulla if that was possible this year, expanding the activity choices.
“Many co-workers came together to get community support,” McCaulla said. “It’s been a team effort.”
In addition to the service activities, students can also sign up to visit a college or take part in job-shadowing. McCaulla is pleased that many students have signed up for more than one community service session
One activity that McCaulla sought to offer is yoga, a session for which several students have signed up.
“The kids are so stressed with everything that is going on and this is beneficial for their mental health,” McCaulla said. “Mental health is so important.”