Most teenagers cross their arms and protest when someone asks them to help clean. But that’s not the case for L.E. White Middle School Level 2 teacher Julie Ziemelis’s students. They’re more than happy to lend a helping hand.
Mrs. Ziemelis believes she knows the reason why. “I really think it comes back to being a part of the school,” she said. “It gives them ownership and pride.”
Several weeks ago, Mrs. Ziemelis’s class reached out to middle school custodian Juliann Alexander to ask whether she would be willing to have them help her. “They basically just adopted me,” Ms. Alexander said. “Now they know just what to do. They wash windows, sweep the floors, vacuum, and disinfect the tables. I don’t even have to tell them what to do. It helps our custodial staff very much.”
Their contributions haven’t gone unnoticed. A social media post prompted a community member to donate $200 in gift cards to the Grocery Outlet for class cooking supplies. “We’re still using the gift cards,” Mrs. Ziemelis said
Mrs. Ziemelis suspects that there is another reason why her students are so eager to help. “They keep talking about that they get to go where other kids don’t,” she says with a smile. “They get to go into the teacher’s lounge and the office. The kids absolutely love it.”
Pictured above: Seventh grader Angel Mason helps clean the media center’s windows.