Parker Middle School seeks to Be the Change
in News
December service project empowers Chelmsford students to make a positive impact on the world
CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts (Jan. 8, 2025) – Inspired by the Mahatma Gandhi quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Parker Middle School students and staff embarked on a service-learning project to make a positive impact on the world around them.
The Be the Change Project served as an opportunity to empower students to make a difference in their school, community, or on an even larger scale.
“Every staff member and student are involved in the Parker Be the Change Project,” said Principal Josh Blagg. “We endeavor to provide our students and faculty with ways to make a difference in the world now.”
An example of a goodie bag that was created by students in Shannon Merrill’s fifth grade class at Parker Middle School.
Numerous teams were established, and each had the three-week period from Dec. 2-20 to make a positive impact locally, nationally or globally. The teams were tasked with identifying a problem that needs changing, then planning and executing a strategy to make that change.
“It is our hope that this project kindles a love of service and the benefits it gives not only to those who receive the service but for the students performing the service,” Blagg said. “We seek to empower our kids to see the impact they can have on their community. I am so proud of their efforts under the guidance of our amazing staff.”
A banner proclaiming “Be the Change you wish to see in the world” was displayed proudly in the main lobby of Parker Middle School throughout the month of December.
Parker art teacher Ashley Norman and her students also created a mural of Anne Frank out of individual panels that formed a larger visage.
Fifth grade teacher Shannon Merrill helped lead one of the groups, the Team 5A Explorers, in creating goodie bags for nursing home residents.
“They’ve had fun,” she said of the students. “All of the kids are really having a good time.”
In addition to filling them with treats, each student was tasked with selecting a message that would accompany their goodie bags.
“They really thought about the messages and what they wanted to say,” she said. “We wanted them to be upbeat and positive and they really did a great job with it.”
Merrill said she has enjoyed seeing her students get excited about helping others.
“Sometimes, we forget that you can always do something nice for someone else,” she said. “And it’s as simple as making someone smile or making someone happy.”
Though nothing has been decided as of yet, Merrill said she anticipates Be the Change will evolve and grow in the coming years.
Parker Middle School teacher Ashley Norman and her art students made a mural for the Be the Change Project featuring Anne Frank. It was created by different students making one of the panels to create the larger visage.
The following were the projects teams committed to during Be the Change:
- Creating welcome folders containing helpful information about the school and community for new students
- Assembling goodie bags with kind messages for the elderly and hospitalized
- Making holiday cards to deliver to local nursing homes in town, as well as placing messages of kindness on lockers of fellow students
- Putting together pediatric comfort care bags with motivational cards to be delivered to Emerson Hospital
- Conducting a food drive and making cards for the less fortunate to be delivered to the Chelmsford Food Pantry
- Creating bracelets/placemats/crafts for the elderly who visit Table of Plenty
- Raising money to dig wells in Africa, as well as raising awareness regarding use of water locally
- Holding a children’s book drive and making bookmarks to be donated to a local organization
About Chelmsford Public Schools
The Chelmsford Public School District provides all students with multiple pathways to optimize their own potential for academic excellence, leadership, and social and emotional wellness. The mission of the Chelmsford Public Schools is to educate, engage, prepare, and empower well-rounded and knowledgeable learners to PERSEVERE through challenges, demonstrate RESPECT and INTEGRITY in their words and actions, are DEDICATED to their community, and display EMPATHY as global citizens while discovering and pursuing their full potential. This PRIDE-driven culture enables all members of the school community to support the growth and development of students. For more information, please visit www.chelmsfordschools.org.
