Riva Sharples | Editor
It was another successful day of caring on Wednesday, May 14, when hundreds of Watchdog students took to the streets to give back to the community. Students in grades 6 through 11 participated in 26 community service projects throughout the town on the special day.
“In the morning, all students in grades 6 through 11 participated in a service project,” explains Kristin Schmeling, Beresford music teacher and one of the coordinators of the Day of Caring project. “They were sent out to 19 places in the morning, and there were quite a number of projects that took all day. In the afternoon, the high school students continued the projects and had a few afternoon-only projects as well.”
Community service projects completed varied from planting at Runner’s Point and pulling weeds at the Senior Center to painting cleaning kennels at the vet and running events at the elementary track and field meet.
“Students also designed and painted a sign for a local business, worked on a mural for downtown Beresford, cleaned up some landscaping at the library, and a LOT more!” said Schmeling.
The Watchdog Day of Caring, held every May toward the end of the school year, was started a few years ago as a service learning day for students.
“Servant Leadership is one of the pillars of Beresford School District,” said Schmeling. “Servant Leadership’s primary goal is to serve and to ask, what can I do to make this place better for everyone?”
Stepping beyond the classroom offers students a chance to connect with the community in a hands-on and impactful way, said Schmeling.
“Through this experience, students learn the value of empathy, civic responsibility, and teamwork,” she said. “They begin to understand that service is not just about giving, but about building relationships, addressing real needs, and reflecting on the difference one person can make. It helps foster a lifelong commitment to community engagement and helps them grow into compassionate, thoughtful leaders.”
Well done, Watchdogs!