The grade five students at Mendell have had the awesome opportunity of studying several rich topics this school year. During a recent unit of study our students were surprised to learn about the many issues surrounding the topic of water; such as the impact of plastic water bottles on our environment, the supply of water available for all the world to share and the limited access to clean water for people in many underdeveloped countries.

While all of these issues sparked a huge discussion, the latter truly tugged at the hearts of our students. As a result, we were inspired to do something about it. As a school community we pledge daily “to be a mighty small force for good in our own neighborhood” and we understand that our community is much larger than Boston. We recognize that we are part of a worldwide community where each person has a responsibility to help those in need. Therefore, we have decided to support the Water Project, an organization based in New Hampshire, who works in sub-Saharan Africa helping communities. This organization dig wells, constructs small sub-surface dams, protect fresh-water springs, filter surface water, and maintain proper sanitation and hygiene practices.

The fifth grade class of 2015 would like to raise a minimum of five hundred dollars. With $500 we will be able to maintain a water project for a full year. Our fifth grade students hope to leave their mark on the Mendell community by engaging our peers and the larger community in this act of service.