JROTC service learning project a ‘win-win’

A recent partnership between Windham Elementary School and the Daleville High School JROTC Cadets was a win-win, according to all involved.

The high school cadets read stories and worked on crafts each weekday with each of the grades in WES, according to WES Principal Dr. Lynn Irwin. “They started in the kindergarten grade and during the week went to every grade level.

The cadets divided into groups because there are multiple units in each grade level, Irwin explained. “They went into each classroom, shared the book and guided the students through the craft which was related to the book.”

The activity was a service learning project, explained Daleville High School JROTC Senior Commander Col. Teresa Townsend. “With a community service project, you are doing something for someone else,” she said. “But the intent and purpose of a service learning project is that you are learning something too. “The cadets are able to apply some of the things that they have learned in the JROTC lessons to the planning and execution of the project,” Townsend said.

“I know the high school kids got a lot out of going over there and working with the elementary school kids,” Daleville High School Principal Josh Robertson told those attending the Daleville Board of Education meeting April 14. “We hope to partner again.

“That event was a big deal,” he added with a smile. “It went phenomenally well.”