Brooks Elementary School Projects
Medford Slavery Memorial
Students Jenny Lu and Joseph Schmidt paired up with students Liam and Jasmine at the Brooks Elementary School in order to help them with their project, In Honor of Slaves. Many slaves were buried in the Salem Street Burying Ground without a proper grave marker to remember them by. The team put up a commemorative marker and held a memorial service for the forgotten slaves, during which poems were read to commemorate the slaves.
3D Illusion Crosswalk
Brooks School 4th grader Eric Dobson and his 3rd grade partner are student leaders and members of the Brooks Center of Citizenship and Social Responsibility. They proposed the idea of painting a 3D optical illusion crosswalk near the Brooks Elementary School to Mayor Muccini Burke. The crosswalk painting would appear three dimensional. The striped lines would look like floating blocks in the middle of the road. The painted illusion has been successful at lowing speeds in many other locations. The mayor loved the idea and scheduled them to speak at the February 13th Traffic Commission meeting. The commissions gave them their support and are now in the process of scheduling a meeting with Brooks School’s Principal Galusi to move forward with the project.
Hope for the Homeless
Fifth graders Kaitlyn Alves and Lila Armi organized a fundraiser to benefit a local homeless shelter. The girls held a bake sale at the Running of the Leprechauns 5K Road Race. They sold delicious homemade cupcakes and cookies. This was the second year the girls sold baked goods for a worthy cause.
Cookies for Cancer
Third graders Audrey Adkins and Nadia Aquil baked homemade cookies for a bake sale. The money they raised went to the LUNGevity Foundation to help people with lung cancer.
I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends
Second grader Lorcan Grehan and third grader Patrick Waldron focused on entertaining the elderly. They performed magic, plays, games, and jokes at local nursing homes for the residents. They entertain the elderly as well as bringing a little extra happiness into their lives.
Screen Strike
Fifth graders Mia Armit and Anna Schlenker shared recent research on the dangers of too much screen time to the Brooks population. The project’s aim was to lower the amount of student screen time.
Friendship Garden
Fourth graders Grace McLaughlin, Norah Berson, and Evelyn Yeh made flower boxes for the Buddy Coholan Center for Alzheimer's in Medford. They donated the boxes in spring when the flowers were best. They did this so people that can’t remember things could look at something pretty and hopefully be a little happier.
Words of Kindness
Second grader Isabella Putnam Bagley and her fifth grade sister Delilah Putnam Bagley took on the Words of Kindness project. Words of Kindness was made to help everyone, the kind and the not so kind. They had a positive effect on people and made them think about their actions. They made posters and wrote kind words on them. Isabella and Delilah went to stores, like Michaels Crafts and asked for donations of picture frames. In the end, they hung the inspirational words throughout the school.