April 20, 2022

Serve Day on Good Friday has always been the culmination of Missions Week; and is organized by PCS staff.

This year, it was undertaken by 11th grade students as part of their junior service project. 

Caden Schroder and his team, (from left:)  Caden, Jordan Curtis, Kevin Liu, Conall McClelland, Sarah Asaya, worked together planning Missions Week and Serve Day.  Chapel guest speakers focused on missions.  This year, Alan Hotchkiss, executive director of Africa New Life spoke about their ministry in Rwanda.  PCS staff who have served in missions shared in another chapel. 

For six months, Caden and his team planned for Missions Week and Serve Day.  They contacted more than a dozen organizations who had benefitted from previous PCS Serve Days.  Only four organizations responded due to time, COVID and bus rental restrictions.  However, there was no lack of work on this campus and at the elementary campus!  

Junior high students were divided into groups and stayed on-campus.  With teacher and sometimes parent volunteers, they cleared rocks off the baseball and softball fields, cleaned the outside of lockers, cleaned the girls and boys bathrooms, removed gum from (well, imagine where gum might be left!), and cleaned classrooms.

Behind the scenes to get this accomplished, the junior student organizers had their helpers who provided buckets, cleaning supplies, sponges, mops, brooms, paper towels.

In the late morning, the 6th-8th grade groups rotated through three stations. These stations were also 11th grade service projects: writing letters to our OR senators and Portland mayor about different initiatives including environmental change efforts; coloring encouraging cards for residents of a retirement facility; writing letters to our PCS StuCo (Student Council) sponsored Compassion International children, making friendship bags for distribution to the houseless, making bird feeders with pinecones, sunflower butter and bird seed.

The last time Caden participated in Serve Day was two years ago as an 8th grader.  He was part of team who cleaned up some of PCS’ neighbors’ yards.  This year, as missions coordinator for the Executive Student Council, he wanted students to be more engaged during Missions Week and to serve again on Serve Day.  He shared that in the 24 hours before Serve Day, he worked more than 10 hours organizing groups, distributing information, and trouble-shooting questions.  Asked if he would consider doing it again, he said he might!

On Serve Day, as Caden managed and checked in on all the groups, high school students headed out in different directions and began their serve activity.

Others were driven by Mr. Wagner in his church van to Birch Community Services (sorted supplies and cleaned the facility), CherryWood Village Retirement Center (gardening and yardwork), Compassion Connect (weeding and yardwork), and Faithful Savior Lutheran Savior (interior cleaning and yardwork).   

Birch Community Services

CherryWood Village Retirement Center

Compassion Connect

Faithful Savior Lutheran Church

Many students reported a feeling of satisfaction, knowing they had a part in a community effort to serve the school and those around them! 

We serve, because Jesus set the example, kneeling and wiping the feet of His disciples.

END

Written by Grace Dugger