Colonial Day and Project Linus at Edgewood School

Colonial Day: Edgewood's 4th graders spent a day in the life of the colonists on May 18th. During the Edgewood PTA sponsored event they stencil, tinsmithed, made candles, played with toys and games from the period, cleaned, spun and wove wool, made butter, attended a Dame School, learned some of the music and dance of the period and enjoyed a delicious "period" lunch prepared by parent volunteers.

Project Linus: Every year Edgewood’s fifth grade class takes part in a community service project to further the tradition of giving back. By volunteering, children learn to make and keep a commitment. They also learn how to work as a team, do their best and to take pride in their efforts. But most importantly they learn that they are responsible for their community. This year’s community service project was Project Linus, a group that provides love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers." Together they have distributed over three million blankets to children in need since their inception in 1995.

Over the course of a month, the Edgewood fifth grade made 34 fleece blankets. Students were paired into groups with kids from other classes. Each week a new group met and completed a blanket in pairs during their lunch period -- only taking the last few minutes to eat their lunch. The children took so much pride in their blankets that once they were done they wanted to make another one. The children understood that one person can make a difference in a child's life and that they are important enough to accomplish it on their own. They also understood that they wouldn’t be able to video chat or visit the kids who received the blankets. The recipients of Edgewood’s blankets are Special Summer Camp for sick children and Foster Care Kids. The Project Linus project was run by Lucy D’Ambrosio, Akiko Leone, Anjani Zen with the help of the fifth grade teachers: Mr. Gluck, Mrs. Huang and Ms. Tyler as well as our parent volunteers. The project was funded by Edgewood’s Fifth Grade Committee on behalf of the PTA.

Photos and text by Tracy McCarthy