7th, 8th Grade Scholars Raise Funds For Children’s Hospital

EAST HAVEN, CT — These middle school students earn high honors, but not just in grades, but in perhaps equal measure for their acts of kindness and selflessness.

The National Junior Honor Society at Joseph Melillo Middle School is made up of 25 seventh and eight graders who, in addition to working hard in their classes to achieve top marks, attend the society’s monthly virtual meetings after school, and they participate in any planned activities or events. But they also raise money, and in this past pandemic year, needed to find very creative ways to do that.

One fundraiser was for the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Toy Closet. Students planned a dress down day, and chose the Toy Closet to send the proceeds to.

Throughout the school year, these students have found ways to raise money, despite the pandemic. Other organizations they donated to this year: East Haven Food Pantry, East Haven Animal Shelter, American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Hope for the Day, an organization focused on mental health education.

Society co-advisor, and near two-decade long eighth grade English teacher at the middle school Lauren Myers and co-chair Kaitlynn Seipold, who also teaches English, work with the students, but they come up with the ideas for fundraisers on their own.

“The great part of being involved in an organization like this is the enthusiasm, school spirit and creativity that come from the students,” Myers told Patch. “All of our fundraising ideas and who will receive the donations are determined by the students. The 8th graders set such a high bar throughout the year, that the incoming 7th graders know how important our organization is to the school and community, and accept the challenge of giving back. Because of COVID restrictions, students really had to think outside the box this year.”

So they held-two door decorating contests, one with a winter/holiday theme, and one to celebrate Read Across America Day, Myers said. The students and teachers from each room vied for top honors, as the National Junior Honor Society members “came with their clipboards to judge the fabulous entries.”

Myers explained that, “Since teachers travel from room to room with carts this year, and students stay in their cohorts, members decided to have a cart decorating contest.”
So students and staff decorated their carts in a Halloween theme, and pushed them into the hallway on judging day, she said.

“To see the dedication and talent was one of the highlights of the year, especially when the cafeteria staff got involved,” Myers said. “Those ladies are competitive!”

The kids also held a basket raffle, and made gift bags for the staff which included secretaries, security, support staff, our nurse, paraprofessionals, and the cafeteria team, thanking them for their efforts this year. And, they decorated ornaments with each person's name on it for an extra touch. For Valentines Day, students set up a COVID friendly table, where students could send a note to their friend or staff member with a lollipop attached.

“The little things truly made a difference this year, especially with all the unknowns and anxiety in our lives,” Myers said. “Our National Junior Honor Society went above and beyond, and made life just a little bit sweeter for so many, and Kaitlynn and I are so honored to be a part of it.”