Comments

• Sailaja Shri

  Planning the project was difficult for my group. At first we came up with an idea that we thought would work out, but it was not approved. We wanted to give a senior who did something generous a special scholarship with money donated by other students, but because money was the incentive people would not do it out of kindness. We couldn’t think of any other ideas and started to get stressed out because a lot of ideas were taken and time was running out. We came up with other ideas but did not feel that they would work such as tutoring and making CD’s for others. I also felt that because we were limited to only our school, we could not come up with many ideas since others would be doing things similar to us. We finally came up with the idea to put a board in the front of the school with good deeds for others to follow. We are starting it on Monday and hope it works out. Our group worked together to come up with the ideas and got along well throughout the process. However, I wish that everyone could have put in more of an effort as a whole so we would not be stressed because we were waiting until right before it was due.

  2/28/2009 2:11:18 PM
• Lindsay Wrinn

  Concerning the project, my group is in preparation mode--we are gathering contact information and formulating schedules for each piece of our project, which requires two different aspects of service. Over the next week, we will make appointments with various people to begin the first half of our project, which depends on the NHS administration for scheduling, and finalize the components for the second half, which mainly requires scheduling and monetary management within the group.
  
  We exchanged emails, yet haven't contacted one another to the extent that our project requires, partly because of scheduling conflicts with the main office. The cafeteria staff recently gained a new manager, so once that is situated we can continue with the active steps in our service.
  
  The project itself creates some stress because it requires dependence on different resources--scheduling conflicts with the main office/cafeteria staff leave us with little to do but wait, something that can be frustrating. However, we have faith that the service will ultimately be rewarding and the steps toward its completion will fall into place with monitored organization and enthusiasm.

  2/28/2009 11:12:11 PM
• MIchael Lepoutre

  In the beginning I felt intimidated by the amount of freedom the project provided myself and my group. Typically, I prefer doing projects with stricter guidelines and instructions. My group struggled at first in deciding what group we wanted to target. With some assistance, as to how to track our project's succes, we were able to come up with the idea of providing the service of recycling to the students in the cafeteria. When we were thinking about the different ways we could approach the project, I was glad to see that our freshmas, Pauldine and Carly, were excited about the effects this project could have. Both of them provided great ideas and immediately jumped in as to how they wanted to contribute outside of the cafeteria; making posters, raising awareness in classrooms, etc. We've all been in contact multiple times with each other, and I'm glad that no group memeber is being dragged into this by myself or anyone else in our group. As for actually beginning to implement the project, Eloise deserves a lot of credit. She initailly brought up the idea of walking around the cafeteria and asking kids for their recyclables. Also, she brought our idea to Mr. Mecca for approval and his support, and interestingly enough, she managed to get us a cart that can carry both recycling bins to facilitate our collection process. We've only just begun to collect the recyclables during the lunch shifts, but I've seen much success so far in terms of other students enthusiasm and participation. So far, I've had two kids ask exactly what i was doing and displayed some interest in helping out. Also, Pauldine, Carly, and Eloise all agree that the students seem to be more willing to recycle when the cans are brought to them, like the garbage cans are, rather than having to get up and recycle themselves. Hopefully, after we get some posters up in the cafeteria, and signs of what is recyclable in the lunch room, we will see even more success. I'm glad we're doing this project, and i hope that other students, along with myself, will want to continue it after the class part of the project is finished.

  3/1/2009 7:59:37 AM
• Megan Wrinn

  Our group has gotten the majority of the planning for our project done. We made the survey and passed them out to each house office secretary, housemaster, and guidance counselor. We're collecting them on Monday, and over the next two days we'll get everything organized (in terms of seeing exactly how much of everything we need, the prices, etc.) Basically, now the project is just about organizing and actually going out to do it. I feel that we have a good group-- we're all friendly with each other, willing to work hard, and realize the importance of the project. I had been worried for a little while because we hadn't talked about the project over vacation, but now I think that we're at a good place for planning the project. I'm really excited to do the project and surprise the counselors/housemasters/secretaries, and I think that they'll be really happy about the project. My main concern is making sure that we have all of the orders organized and that we are able to pay for it all. I really think that our project will brighten people's day, and I hope that they will take note of the meaning of the project and pass on the good deed (we're planning on asking the people to pay it forward by buying a coworker a cup of coffee in the morning.) The project is all about random acts of kindness becoming much less random, and I hope that our group's project will contribute to the cause.

  3/1/2009 10:28:11 AM
• Emma L.

  Personally, I feel that this project is much better in theory than in actuality. However, that is a completely subjective and opinion-based statement and I wouldn't want anyone to take that the wrong way. I know that it took my group a long time to come up with a strong idea, which in turn led to a delay in the implementation of our project. I have not really enjoyed the process thus far because of all the stress and pressure that I associate with the project. This in turn makes me unhappy because I feel that this project and idea, if continued, could really make a difference in our school community and the interpersonal relationships at Norwalk High. As for my interactions with my group, I have mixed reactions. As is always the case with group projects, different attitudes, scheduling, and commitment sometimes make collaboration difficult. Overall, though, I can't complain about my group. My personal emotions regarding this project and its progress so far are also mixed. Initially I was skeptical of the effectiveness, and I doubted that two English classes alone could make a difference. But after hearing of other projects and watching them being put into place, I have more confidence-if not complete faith-that we can do something to make a change. At this moment, I am most worried about the strength of the extended contributions connected to my own project-how far will others go to pay it forward?
  

  3/1/2009 12:14:33 PM
• Emily Bonebrake

  Our project is going well, not as well as I planned. Overall, Victor has been through three work out sessions. It's difficult to get the whole entire group together to work out with him, but there isn't anything else to do besides that. I myself have only worked out with him once, for the other two times I was busy or sick. Greg and I are trying to think of other ways to involve the freshman because so far they haven't been able to make one session. Victor seems like he is making progress based on the assessment I got from Greg. Hopefully he is working on is own as well as with us and continues to have an optimistic attitude. We might try to get the group together to just talk about his goals and what we can all do to help him. I'm afraid that he won't reach his goal, and that our presentation for school will be weak. I also feel like our pay it forward isn't strong enough. Hopefully he isn't getting fed up with us and will continue to work out. He is a nice kid, and I would like to help him accomplish his goals.
  
  -Emily

  3/1/2009 12:26:39 PM
• Greg Berger

  Although popular ideas of dispersing candies, recycling, and easing the janitor's work will most likely amount to positive results, our group decided to take another path. Avoiding the "norm," we planned to affect someone's life in a direct, life-changing fashion. Victor, a hefty sophomore, was more than willing to participate in our project. With a goal for him to become healthy, happy, and fit, our group seeks to work out and talk to him on a consistent basis. Although work outs occured and weight has been lost, we still find ourselves with conflict. The group in its entirety fails to be present in most workouts. This week Emily and I plan to meet with the freshmen, to get them more involved. It may pose as difficult to get rides situated for them, but we need them to have an equal role in order to succeed.
  As far as the "Pay it Forward" aspect is concerned, I have no worries. Victor clearly motivates himself to healthy eating and hardwork during physical activities. He has brought up some friends that he desires to work out with in the future.
  Yes, we have some serious work to take part in, but the person we planned to help, loves how we care. After the workout friday he said, "I want to go to the gym everyday man, I feel great." There is nothing as satisfying than to hear those inspiring words in the process of making a peer's life better.
  
  

  3/1/2009 12:44:22 PM
• Eloise L

  I like what has come out of this project so far because, at least in the situation of my group, the people we are reaching in the school seem affected by out actions. Even more, the people in our group seem to be enjoying the process and getting positive feedback, causing us to feel that we are, in fact, making a difference. I think that even though the group was not 100% enthusiastic about pursuing the project at first, the peer response during throughout the process has stimulated growing excitement.
  While we have started executing the main components to this project, we are currently creating posters, etc to further the promotion.

  3/1/2009 12:52:06 PM
• Cameron Fuller

  okay so this whole thing has been a little stressful so far for me and my group and i would think for the other groups as well. i personally think that it is a little ridiculous to force someone to help someone else but whatever back to the project. My group had huge amounts of trouble attempting to come with an idea right from the start.I myseslf when i first the project had no clue what would work. I might have had a bit more trouble because i am a very self centered person so usually its all about me like if this project was find a way to help yourself i would be like A number one plus plus plus and all that but i digress. So actually at first i think the freshmen in my group came up with the two best ideas which wasnt saying much but still good job to them anyways eventually after many days and nights of texting back and forth trying to figure something, anything out we went to Segers who was a little helpful and but kept going on about ugly babies, in fact it was Mr. Pagano who finally sparked our plan which as i think of it now actually is seeming pretty good all we have to do now is put it into action which im sure will go together flawlessly, i hope. Okay done!

  3/1/2009 1:36:07 PM
• Anna Theodoridis

  When this project was first assigned I was a bit worried that at the completion of the processes my group and I wouldn’t be as successful with the “pay it forward” aspect of the project as we wished to be. For this reason, my group and I gathered our thoughts together and choose which idea we thought would give us the best results in the end. My group and I decided that working with the developmentally handicap students in our school would be a great learning experience for us as well as a great way to help someone who needs it and who we also rarely notice around school. With this plan in mind, we scheduled a day with Ms. Morshack to each individually spend a day with our own student. The experience was one of a kind to be in the shoes of a developmentally handicap student. My eyes have opened up to what a student with disability faces with schoolwork as well as people in their surrounding environment. So far the process of the project is going as planned and I am extremely happy with my group’s participation. All of us are taking this seriously and are determined to create a better environment in school by also opening the eyes of other students to realize who is in their surroundings.

  3/1/2009 2:12:41 PM
• Brenna Beluk

  This project really does excite me. I love the concept and well if i had enough money i would do this full out so i could change someone's life and really start the trend that all i really get sad about. But my group and i have been really trying to find a way for us to do it without having to use money. Our idea started with the concept we all believe in, that art has a greater and lasting effect on people. We wanted to do a mural and subliminally show people to be good. We really couldn't see how that would make people pay it forward. So we came up with a new idea. A shrunken version. We now are finding picutres and murals that are meaningful and inspirational and placing pay if forward stories and inspirational things showing kids at the school that it is possible and for them to go out and do it themselves. at this point my group is at the construction point. we are all gathering stories and photos and bringing them together to soon hand out in school as we surrvey the kids we hand them out to. i'm really excited to see the end result because as a group we know a picture tells a thousand words, and that when you see that others can do it, then you can do it too: i have high hopes in people when they see it.

  3/1/2009 2:31:45 PM
• Gina Cunsolo

  Well, let me start off by saying that this project was certainly unlike any other project I have been assigned to do in school. Never before had I had to work with students in grades younger than me. Working with freshmen has caused leadership qualities to surface in me that I was not even aware I owned. It has been a great experience, and I am enjoying watching our freshmen mature and develop into confident, kind people.
  Most of the planning was done by the juniors in the group. We created the idea and discussed certain ways to implement it. The whole picture was crafted by the older students, but many of the details were discussed by the whole group. The freshmen usually abided by our ideas, and offered to help in any way they could. We gave them things to do, such as passing out papers and candy, and printing out quotes at home to bring to school. It is their project too, so no junior should feel bad about giving the youngin's work to do. However, if they seem to be somewhat shy or timid, offer to do it with them, especially if it has to do with interacting with other students. If they see they have your support, they will become much more confident and helpful. On friday, all the juniors in the group had homework to do during lunch, so our freshman Michele walked around handing out free candy and kind words. With our encouragement, she was able to be giving and kind to all of Norwalk High School. Even though I've only known her a few short months, I can honestly say that I was extremely proud to see her understanding the concept of our project and exhibiting her new skills.
  
  

  3/1/2009 2:52:47 PM
• Evan Lester

  While rocky, the process of starting my project has gone quite successful. Our project, starting Walk for a Cause Club, has passed the first and most important test - it has been approved by Norwalk High School, as an official club. We have also picked our first organization to donate to - the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since we could not find a charitable walk to participate in March, we will instead collect money in school for leukemia over the next week. So far, my group has been very cooperative in starting the club and we are looking forward to helping people with an ailment that does not just affect people in Norwalk High School, but in the entire country and world.

  3/1/2009 2:58:46 PM
• Jenny Wilkins

  My group's project can definitly be more organized. Our process of planning was delayed a bit, but we are getting there. Our interaction has been texting and facebook messages. In school, we have chatted about our plans but our progress could be moving faster. Some group members aren't really enhusiastic about the project, and seem to be bringing the group's motivation down. I feel like our project has not really come a long way since the planning which will be a problem this week. We are meeting tomorrow to set everything up so hopefully everything will work out.

  3/1/2009 2:58:54 PM
• Mike Welch

  Well, I hope I'm doing this right... ^^;
  I guess I'll set the standard with 2 2/3 hours left <_<
  
  I think this project started as near impossible. I couldn't think of any way to create a project with as far reaching emotional goals as this one had. Upon planning we sat at the tables thinking what we could do to possibly make something that could emotionally make someone's day better. We knew that to achieve success we had to instill a feeling of happiness in the receiver. We thought of an appreciation bulletin board and handing out supplies like U.N. Aid Workers (the scene of teachers going for supplies may actually resemble a U.N. handout). Eventually Ryan Touger finally came up with a card that continues around to other teachers which would make them feel happy from their peers. It was a way to show inter scholastic care and appreciation amongst it's employees. (Beat that Board of Ed.) Of course it was facilitated by the students, us more specifically, so we encouraged the behavior. The point of the card, we decided, would be to let teachers know they were appreciated and to brighten up their day. Then we would have them "Pay it Forward" to another teacher, continuing the cycle. We then expanded on how to do the card until it became the Big Orange Appreciative card you may find in someone's class today (ok, tomorrow...unless no school 8D).
  
  The next step was a bit more complex. After the creation of the card we sent it out. As of today I only know of Four teachers receiving it. Not to worry though, there's still time. Tick...tick. Tracking it was quite difficult, it seemed to travel under cover of darkness (then again it is a big orange card, bit embarrassing no?). Ryan reported seeing it in a class then it happened to get stuck by a teacher substitute, Ryan set it back on track and we believe it to be moving smoothly.
  
  On a personal level with this project, I feel accomplished. I think I've done something good that will warm the hearts of even the most cold hearted of teachers. Group interactions were limited as with schedule conflicts and parts of the card 'creation' (the making of) were handled by the one with the materials. The tracking was random and the actual implementation of the card into the school was unknown to some of us until the following day. Apart from that the group ran quite smoothly and I enjoyed spending time with my comrades. All in all I think we did an excellent job and
  
  I feel like a did something good for someone out there.
  
  *I Think i did it right. O_o Simo, if I messed up e-mail me. I was confused and so I just went with it. I blogged :D

  3/1/2009 2:59:05 PM
• Ryan Touger

  When first thinking about what kind of service to do for our project, my group was pretty stumped. After we shared thoughts and ideas, we decided on what we were to do. My group devised a large card that would be sent around throughout the staff and faculty members. The card’s purpose is to remind them that they are always being thought of, as well as to unite the staff and get members to talk to one another who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to do so. Our group conversed online and utilized the given class time in order to form our plan of action. We then made the large card out of poster board and on the front, inscribed “Have a Nice Day!”
  Inside of the card is a brief message to the recipient, as well as some instructions for them to follow. The receiver of the card is to write a brief positive message to another teacher. In order to accomplish our goal of connecting teachers who wouldn’t normally talk, we set some criteria as to who the card could be passed along to. They could not pass the card to someone who they have spoken with in the past week, and the receiving teacher has to be someone who they do not know well. In order to track the progress of the card, each teacher was instructed to pen their name beneath their entries, as well as write the date they are passing the card along on.
  I started this card out Tuesday, February 24, and I was astonished at what I found later on that same day. When I went in to my study hall, I saw the card sitting on my teacher’s desk (Also, I had started the card out in the math department, and it was now in the English department). There was a substitute that day so I asked to look at the card; four teachers had already passed the card around. I felt ecstatic to learn that the card had succeeded in its first day, and I was honored to know that I had brightened the day of not only one person, but four. The following day, I entered study hall, and the card was still sitting on the desk, with the same substitute seated behind it. My groups’ card hadn’t traveled in the span of an entire day. Even though this flustered me, I simply asked to have the card, and I delivered it to a nearby teacher that did not receive it yet.
  Taking part in this project has already changed me for the better. I have helped out my teachers by sending around a positive-message filled card. Also, I have worked alongside two freshmen, whom I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to ever meet if it had not been for this project. I really appreciate the opportunity given to me and the rest of my class. Hopefully, this project is inspiration for others to pay good deeds forward in their everyday life.

  3/1/2009 3:03:26 PM
• MrSimonsen

  Good stuff so far. Keep it coming. Where are the freshmen?

  3/1/2009 3:17:11 PM