Margaret Buerkle Middle School Students Star in Service

More than 1,000 stars representing 1,232 service hours are hanging from the ceiling of the Margaret Buerkle Midde School cafeteria. 

Each star represents and hour or more of service that Buerkle students have spent volunteering in the community. 

About 50 percent of students volunteered with the district's character education program, Project ENGAGE (Enriching Neighborhoods through Generous Actions, Growth and Empowerment), which ends Friday. Students all across the district have been participating in service projects with local charities and neighbors. 

"It's been such a fun opportunity for kids to show that they are more than kids at school," Buerkle Assistant Principal Ross Bullington said. "They're a part of the community."

The Buerkle students' good deeds were recorded on stars and hung in the cafeteria. Acts ranged from shoveling snow to volunteering at the crisis nursery and other charity organizations. 

Brittney Rathert volunteered at Kids Enjoy Exercise Now, swimming and playing games with disabled kids. 

Others volunteered by babysitting for free or working on parks. 

Tyler Eck painted lines and measured bases for a baseball field at St. Martin so that kids are now able to play games. 

"I volunteered to babysit and did emergency babysitting when someone was in the hospital," said Emina Spahic, who is in eighth grade. 

Alex Armstong and Andy Dummerth both volunteered at Camp Sunrise, a camp for kids with cancer in DeSoto, MO. 

"We helped kids who needed to get out of the hospital and did arts and crafts and horseback riding," Armstong said. 

Although ENGAGE ends Friday, Deputy Superintendent Eric Knost, who created the movement, hopes students will continue to volunteer in the community.