Brightmont Academy Students Give Back to the Community Through Monthly Service Projects

By Amy Wolfe

Why do people volunteer? Some do it to give back to an organization that helped them. Some people do it because they have extra time. Some do it to fulfill community service hours. At the Brightmont Academy Plymouth campus, the students and teachers participate in a monthly community outreach program to create an internal connection and give back to their community.

Brightmont Academy is an accredited private school for students in grades 6—12. All instruction is provided using a one-to-one instructional approach, which means educational programs are customized to meet individual student needs. Students have their social needs fulfilled by also being connected to their community. Led by Brightmont Academy Campus Director Jess Bauer, full-time students participate in an outreach program that benefits local charities in the area.

“These projects really bring the students together,” says Bauer, “and it creates a social aspect among students in a one-to-one school.” The program benefits both the charity and also the students who participate. Students get a huge sense of accomplishment, a sense of belonging to a larger group, and the knowledge that they are learning how to be productive members of their community. “We really feel we are teaching the whole student at Brightmont, not just the academic side,” states Bauer.

The Brightmont Academy campus director designs projects to complement the season. For instance, around Valentine’s Day, the students made cards for Summerwood of Plymouth Memory Care Unit. They have also donated handmade blankets to Project Linus, a charity that provides blankets to children in hospitals, shelters, social services, and other places where a blanket can bring a bit of warmth into their lives. In May, they made May Day baskets for hospice workers. During the winter holidays, the focus was Toys for Tots, an organization that gives gifts to children in need. Near Thanksgiving, the students created letters and packages for Operation Gratitude, a non-profit supporting active duty servicemembers. The projects vary from those that collect money or goods to donate, to those where the kids produce an item such as blankets or cards. No matter the cause, the outcome benefits those who undertake the project as well as those that receive it.

Parents of these Brightmont students see the value of the community service projects as well. They know their children are learning a critical life lesson: not everyone is as fortunate as they are. No matter the background of the student, they learn that there is always someone who could use a little hand-up or a word of encouragement. And the charities truly appreciate the donation, especially since it comes from a great group of children.

The learning at Brightmont Academy — Plymouth goes beyond academic programs. Students learn what it means to have empathy for others and to give encouragement. They learn what it feels like when you give, rather than receive. They learn what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves. They learn that we are all connected in this world, and it can take only one person to make a difference in the life of someone else, completely in synch with Brightmont Academy where one teacher instructs one student. The impact is life changing!

About Brightmont Academy

Brightmont Academy is a fully accredited private school that provides one-to-one instruction. One experienced teacher works with one student throughout every learning session. Brightmont Academy has served 3,500 students since 1999 and has 11 campuses located in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington. For more information visit: www.BrightmontAcademy.com or call 1-888-521-0887.