In May, Medway Middle School students shared their Civics Action projects with the Medway community. 

 In response to the [former] Gov. Charlie Baker administration signing into law An Act to Promote and Enhance Civic Engagement, which made civics projects required for all students in Massachusetts, Medway Middle School 8th grade students must complete a civics project by the end of the school year. 

Throughout the school year, students learned about the branches of government at the federal, state and local levels. Once students became familiarized with the operations of government at the community level, they were tasked with carrying out a Civics Action project. The project is designed to be a student-led, process-focused and inquiry-based action project that empowers students to work towards making a positive change in their communities. 

 “We look forward to hearing feedback from students on what challenges they notice in their communities, and encourage them to problem-solve solutions,” Medway Public Schools Superintendent Armand Pires said.

 Students were guided through the process of selecting a community issue that was meaningful to them and had to complete six stages as they worked to try to improve the issue they had identified. 

Student project topics varied across many issues, including road improvement, wetlands preservation, recycling, adding a study block to the school day and free bussing to school.

In May, students met with a Community Advisory Panel of local leaders and government officials to discuss potential roadblocks and the best method of implementing their proposed changes. Advisory Panel members included School Committee members, State Representatives, Parks and Recreation Directors and Highway Supervisors, amongst other leaders.

Once students designed their plans, they presented their topics at Medway Middle School on May 28 and invited the Community Advisory Panel and family members to view their work. 

“Change starts at the local level,” said Humanities Curriculum Instruction Leader Rachael Barton. “It’s incredible to watch students transform into active participants working towards improving their communities during this project.”

On June 3, the top two student projects were presented at the Massachusetts Civics Project Showcase at the DCU Center in Worcester with other student projects from across the region. The first-place winners at Medway Middle School, Natalie Anderson and Sofia Cooperman, presented their topic, “A Healthy Choice,” about creating outdoor classrooms at Medway Middle School to help support student mental health. The second-place winner, Kathryn Bao, shared her project, “Radical Recycling,” about increasing recycling practices and awareness at Medway Middle School. 

Submitted by Medway Public Schools