Tyrone High School Community Service Day Planned for April 13

The event will be held in the morning before the Spring Fling

Tyrone High School Community Service Day Planned for April 13

Tyrone is about to get a little bit cleaner this spring thanks to a generous group of Tyrone Area High School juniors and seniors.

On the morning of Thursday, April 13, student volunteers from the high school will spread out across Tyrone to complete a wide range of spring cleanup projects for Tyrone High School’s first Community Service Day.

“When we developed the Spring Fling for the day before Easter we thought it was the perfect time to also do community service. We felt it was the best use of this time,” said event coordinator and TAHS teacher Cummins McNitt.

Part of the duty of every citizen should be to serve the community and to put others first. Learning how to be contributing members of society is a lesson we all need to learn, and for older citizens sometimes we need to relearn

— High School Principal Tom Yoder

According to High School Principal Tom Yoder, having a community service day is something that the high school has been working toward for a long time.

“Part of the duty of every citizen should be to serve the community and to put others first. Learning how to be contributing members of society is a lesson we all need to learn, and for older citizens sometimes we need to relearn,” said Yoder.

While the school would like to include all students, it was not possible to provide work and supervision for everyone in grades 9-12. As a result, this opportunity will be open to only juniors and seniors, at least for this year.  In order to participate, students are required to get signed parent permission.

Students will be assigned to projects based on their personal preferences. Sign ups are on Friday, April 7 for the seniors and Monday, April 10 for the juniors.

Among the volunteer projects available for students to choose from are spring clean-up of borough parks, including Reservoir Park, Park Avenue Park, Soldier’s Park, and City Hotel Park. Student volunteers at the community parks will gather downed branches, spread mulch, pick up litter, and rake leaves. Students at the parks will be supervised by TAHS teachers and administrators. Tools will be provided by the Borough of Tyrone.

Another group of students, under the direction of TASD School Board Vice President Brian Bressler, will remove downed branches, litter, and holiday decorations from Grandview Cemetery.

Ten other students will assist the Tyrone Borough Police in washing police cars and other borough vehicles.

The Neptune Fire Department will provide volunteer opportunities to ten students to help clean litter from the field adjacent to the firehouse and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Students will also have the option to volunteer on the TASD campus, where they work in teams to rake stone from the grass in front of the high school, paint the guardrail between the elementary and high school, clean school district vehicles, or assist in the power washing of the bleachers at Gray Field.

It’s not required, but we hope all our students will choose to participate. In many respects a community is merely an extension of our families. If we love our families we try to help them whenever the chance arises. We often want to do the same for our small town. Even if we aren’t fond of our families or town, if we want to see change then we should make the effort to help improve and/or change it

— TAHS Teacher Cummins McNitt

In the true spirit of volunteerism, participation in the Community Service Day is not required. Students who do not wish to participate will report to a supervised study hall and given time to complete school work and/or read.

“While it is not required, we hope all our juniors and seniors will choose to participate.  In many respects a community is merely an extension of our families. If we love our families we try to help them whenever the chance arises. We often want to do the same for our small town. Even if we aren’t fond of our families or town, if we want to see change then we should make the effort to help improve and/or change it,” said McNitt.

The event is a collaboration between the High School Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Committee and several organizations within the borough of Tyrone.

“I spoke with Kim Gurekovich, Borough Secretary and temporary Borough Manager, about our idea. After a number of emails and many conversations with the borough employees, she came back to us with a list of things that would help the borough. We also asked TASD Physical Plant Supervisor Tom Muir for input on things that could be of help to the district,” said McNitt.

Before leaving the school building, all students will receive safety vests, gloves, and litter bags.

Students will depart from the high school to their assigned areas at 8:30 am. They will walk to the work sites and return to the school no later than 11:15. The Spring Fling is scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm.

Students who choose to participate are asked to do the following:

  • Wear comfortable walking/work shoes. No flip-flops or open toed shoes.
  • Please dress appropriately.  Wear work clothes, students may get dirty and/or wet depending on their assignment.
  • Students who wish may bring a change of clothes for the Spring Fling activities in the afternoon.
  • Students are encouraged to bring bottled water.
  • If necessary, bring hats. sunglasses and sunscreen.
  • Students will return to the school in time for their lunch periods.

Seniors can sign up on Friday by clicking the link below. On Monday, Juniors will be given the opportunity to sign up as well. Students will be asked to rank their choices and will be assigned based on preference and availability.

Beginning on Friday during advisory period, seniors who have returned a signed parent permission form can click HERE to sign up for a project. Juniors will be allowed to sign up on Monday during advisory period.