Feb. 18, 2014: GORDON HINTZ, RON JOHNSON

COMMUNITIES 2 STUDENTS PRESENTED TO BY WISCONSIN STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER, WISCONSIN SENATOR

State Assembly Member Gordon Hintz, Senator Ron Johnson speak to students and answer questions regarding poverty in the US

OSHKOSH, Wis. (February 18, 2014) Students in the Communities 2 program had the opportunity to hear from and have their questions answered by two different government representatives; Wisconsin State Representative Gordon Hintz and US Senator Ron Johnson; as a part of their current project regarding poverty in the US. Representative Hintz and Senator Johnson spoke to students regarding the state of America’s economy, the heavily debated issue of poverty, and what the government’s role is in responding to the issue. Communities 2 students will use the valuable information provided by Representative Hintz and Senator Johnson, along with information from other sources, to compose a letter to a local representative or member of congress addressing the issue of poverty in their community.

Communities 2 is a school program at Oshkosh North High School that offers students a unique way to learn literacy, business, and social studies while covering all required district standards.  The Communities program collaborates with businesses, organizations, and members of the community in an effort to provide an authentic learning experience while improving the community.

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Media Release Composed by TJ Kohl, Communities 2

Community Enrichment Opportunity - A Communities 2 Student Reflection

The holiday season is full of joy and anticipation for children all around the world.  Children count down the days until Santa Claus visits their home dropping off toys and presents that they have been hoping for throughout the year.  For most, Santa does show up on Christmas Eve, but for the less fortunate children in the world Santa somehow misses their homes.  

My CEO was to help find the houses Santa might miss.  The Oshkosh Police and Fire Departments partnered with the Salvation Army to collect gifts from generous community members for the less fortunate children in our community.  The week before Christmas, throughout the neighborhoods of Oshkosh, there were sounds of Christmas music intertwined with sirens of an old fire truck.  Traveling through the neighborhoods with the old fire truck were other emergency and service vehicles along with a Salvation Army truck loaded with donated canned goods and presents.   Perched on the old fire truck was Santa Claus welcoming and greeting the people in the neighborhoods.  Once people heard these sounds, they ran out of their homes to give canned goods and presents.  The many volunteers, who were walking down the streets next to the trucks, greeted, thanked, and took the donations of the neighbors to the Salvation Army truck.  On the Salvation Army truck, there were several volunteers organizing the presents and canned goods making sure the children’s Christmas lists would be fulfilled.  

I felt an atmosphere full of joy and excitement and saw how this project impacted our community.  I saw love and compassion in the firefighters’ and volunteers’ eyes.  It amazed me how generous the people were who gave donations, and I saw that same love and compassion in their eyes, too.  This project impacted everyone who was associated with it.  Those who donated understood the true meaning of Christmas is giving and to appreciate what they have, and those who received felt the love of the season knowing that people actually do care.  As a volunteer on this project, I was glad I could be one of Santa’s elves so that no houses would be missed on Christmas Eve.

-- Nick Bauer, Communities 2 Student

 

Photo includes Zac Hassman, Ben Leib, Santa Claus, and Nick Bauer