Powder Mill Middle School sixth-grade students, left-right,Molly McGrath, Cameron DiSanto, Liz Methe, Emily Giancola, Andrew Lachtara, Victoria Podmore, Matt Keenan, John Westcott and Allison Hauff, all members of the “Youth Assisting Seniors” volunteer program, gather in front of a school mural after competing in a state-wide school Community Problem Solving contest. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Two groups of students from Powder Mill Middle School will head to Indiana this June for an international competition of problem solving.
A sixth grade group and an eighth grade group earned top honors in the state community problem solving competition, earning them a trip to compete internationally.
Teacher Sue Pac said she was proud of the students, who created their own problem solving project.
“Community Problem Solving is part of the Future Problem Solvers and is focused on helping young people learn the six steps to problem solving and how to apply it to real life,” said Pac.
The eighth grade team, called ART for Art Rescue Team, includes three members of the sixth grade team that also went to the international competition two years ago.
Pac said the group brainstormed numerous ideas before deciding on one that would keep art from heading to a trash bin during the upcoming school renovation.
“They wanted to know what would happen to the art (tiles) throughout the building with the building project,” said Pac.
Ceiling tiles throughout Powder Mill have been artistically enhanced throughout the years by students. The team wanted to find a way to preserve the original artwork. They first took an inventory and discovered there are 250 painted tiles at the school. Each piece was photographed digitally and the artist identified as often as possible.
The digital images – along with the names of the artist – are being posted online and any of the original artists can claim their tiles at the school.
What’s left will be offered to Baystate Children’s Hospital. Remaining art will be put in a gallery and auctioned, and anything left after that will be recycled into new art.
“The sixth grade team, called Youth Assisting Seniors, partnered with Renaissance Manor, the Southwick Council on Aging and the Tolland Council On Aging,” said Pac.
The students met with seniors to develop a document outlining how students can become involved with seniors, including how they could interact more with them, teach them to use electronic devices, and do projects with them.
“This group has a long list of ways young people can assist seniors with daily tasks,” Pac said. “They are looking to come up with a plan that would involve the schools for six years and would match students with skills with seniors who need those skills.”
