Norton Student to Take Part in Project 351

A Norton student will participate in a community service initiative organized by Governor Deval Patrick.

A Norton Middle School student will be joining Governor Deval Patrick this Saturday as part of the governor's Project 351 initiative. Hannah John, an eighth grader, will join other students from across the Commonwealth Saturday, Jan. 26 for the day of service. If weather doesn't cooperate, however, the event could be postponed for the following weekend. Hannah was selected for Project 351 by principal Michael O'Rourke and vice principal Ronnie Goldstein because of her academic and leadership qualities.  "We thought that Hannah would be a good choice to sort of follow in the mold of the student we had last year," Goldstein said. The student chosen last year was Ryan DiGregorio. Chaired by Governor Deval Patrick, the non-profit organization …

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Women's Basketball Continues Tradition of Service in Norton

Outreach to middle schoolers is latest in a series of community projects.

The Wheaton College women's basketball team has earned a reputation for being as active in the community as they are on the court, engaging in service projects that range from food drives to coaching and mentoring the Heller's Angels Special Olympics basketball team. The latter effort has put them in the running for an award from the NCAA. Most recently, the Wheaton women worked this semester with the eighth grade girls' basketball team from Norton Middle School, helping them grow athletically and personally. The Lyons began their collaboration with the middle school team by hosting weekly basketball clinics throughout September. Beyond sharpening the girls' skills on the court, the clinics were also designed as a sisterly mentoring …

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Wheaton's Best Buds Wins Community Award

Student-run group received a Community Excellence Award for 2012 from The Arc of Bristol County.

The Wheaton College student-run group Best Buds was recently honored with an award for outstanding community service for its work with people who have developmental disabilities. The campus club, which has been active for several years, received a Community Excellence Award for 2012 from The Arc of Bristol County, a non-profit organization that serves individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The award was presented to the Wheaton club during The Arc's 53rd anniversary celebration on June 13, 2012. Each semester, the leaders of the college's Best Buds club have recruited between as many as 60 students who are willing to volunteer time to become a buddy to…

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Community Service Requirement at NHS Should be Praised

Letter to the editor from NHS student Alli Brennan as a journalism assignment.

Dear Editor, An positive issue in my school that I think deserves praise is the requirement for fifty hours of community service needed in order to graduate. I think this deserves praise most high school students wouldn't go out to do service otherwise. Community service develops morals and helps people realize what they can do for not only their community, but the world. Sometimes it can seem tedious but when it is put into perspective, people can see the positive aspects that come with it. Community service also improves college applications. Most colleges require a certain amount of community service hours, and the hours that we need in order to graduate is helping us meet the requirement. It can help make a well-rounded person. …

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Wheaton Commemorates 9/11 in a Different Way

Staff, students work to make 9/11 a more positive date with help of widow.

While many of us remember the events of 9/11 like they were yesterday, it may have felt like a bad dream for younger generations. Either way, the date of Sept. 11 holds grave connotations.   On Friday, Sept. 9 at Wheaton College, Cindy McGinty, whose husband was killed while attending a meeting in the World Trade Center that day, will discuss how she’s been working to transform the focus of Sept. 11 from a national day of mourning to one of community building through service. She will speak at 12:30 p.m. in the courtyard outside of Watson Fine Arts during the college’s 9/11 Service of Remembrance.  According to the Wheaton College website, McGinty, along with Wheaton students and staff, will work with 12 agencies, including five area Head …

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