Each month students focus on a different moral virtue and core democratic value. Vista teachers and staff monitor character development as well as academics. Students do their part to improve our world through community service projects.
These are real life examples of our character education curriculum and the involvement may include writing letters to the elderly, cleaning up parks, collecting recyclable items for charities, doing food drives for food pantries, visiting retirement homes, collecting backpacks or school supplies for organizations helping children, and many others.
Pennies for Patients
The Vista Charter Academy Student Council raised over $1,300 for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Cancer Foundation. This money will be used to help with research and treatment for kids with these blood cancers. The Student Council did a great job distributing the boxes to the individual classrooms as well as collecting the money. The winning classroom won a catered lunch from “Olive Garden”, who are great sponsors of this activity.
Black History Month:
On February 26th, 2009, Vista was honored to host Senator Bill Hardiman, and local educator/speaker/author Ruth Jones, as the school celebrated Black History Month. The students at Vista thanked them for their extraordinary contributions to our community, and for their life of service, considering them role models who inspire us to dream and help us to believe nothing is impossible.
Vista created the “Thank You for Leading the Way Awards” to acknowledge people like these local heroes. They were presented with this special award during a ceremony at the school. The students read poems created especially for the honorees, and the Vista Voices choir sang. We were honored to have local radio celebrity Robert S. host the ceremony. After hearing a few inspiring words from Senator Hardiman and Mrs. Jones, the students treated them to a short reception.
Women's History Celebration
In March, which is Women's History Month, Vista celebrated the contributions that women have made in the past, and also acknowledged women in Grand Rapids who are influencing the present.
We honored Mrs. Brenda Brame, the Program Manager of the United Way's Kent County Tax Coalition. She recruits and trains volunteers to provide free tax services to those who need it. Most importantly- she helps the families in our community know that free help is available. The Kent County Tax Coalition and the volunteers have generated over 6 Million dollars in refunds and credits for the families in Grand Rapids. She is a role model for our students, someone who is using her gifts to inspire, encourage, and educate the families in our community!
In a ceremony on Monday, March 30th at 8:00am, the students read poems or essays they had written about why role models are so important, or what service meant to them. They then honored Mrs. Brame with an award for her history of service, and she spoke to the children on what/who inspired her and how she overcame the obstacles in her life in order to leave a legacy of service to community.
Wyoming Library Art Display
Each April, the Vista students are asked to display their art at the local Wyoming Branch of the Kent District Libraries. This is only one of the ways Vista can showcase the talent of our various students.
A sample of the other kinds of community events that Vista has been involved in include:
Jump Rope for Heart
Hoops for Hearts
Hosting the Cinco de Mayo dancers
Thank You for Leading the Way Awards
In February of 2007, students put the virtue in action by presenting the “Thank You for Leading the Way” awards to recognize Grand Rapids community leaders and their extraordinary contributions. Vista Voices performed and students read poetry and tributes to express their gratitude for the heroism demonstrated by the award recipients. Those honored included State Representative Robert Dean, Valerie Simmons, an attorney at Warner Norcross & Judd and Dr. Robert Richard, the medical director of Cherry Street Health Services. A surprise award was given to Mr. Grandy for his outstanding leadership in the school and Grand Rapids community. J.C. Huizenga, founder of National Heritage Academies, was present to support the students and address the audience.
From left to right: J.C. Huizenga, State Representative Robert Dean, Robert S., Joe Grandy
Volunteers from Vista attended several local events in July/August of 2009 as part of our school emphasis on building community. They passed out thousands of school supplies at the Cherry Street Health Fair, donated by National Heritage Academies, and met with Vern Ehlers, who came to read to the children of the families attending.
Another event was the Moises Minds Educational Empowerment Family Fun Day, where volunteers passed out 2500 popsicles to attendees who came to learn more about how to encourage local youth to pursue higher education.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Vista celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in a grand way on Monday October 12th when we hosted the Mexican Tarasco Dancers, local author Juan Trevino (who donated 2 of his published books to our library), and Kent County Deputy Sheriff Mandy Trevino, at our morning assembly!
After the delightful students of folkloric dancing entertained the students, Mr. Trevino shared his story, and challenged the students to never give up on their dreams. Officer Mandy then spoke and let the students ask questions about her life and job. Ms. Lefley's and Mr. Verbeek's 3/4 grade classes sang wonderful Hispanic music led by Ms. Swank; and Ms. Hillary's 5th graders read a poem by famous Cuban poet and revolutionary Jose Martí.
The gym was decorated festively by the 2nd grade students, and Ms. Blair's HATTS students contributed wonderful and well researched projects about famous Hispanic Heroes.
Mr. Grandy closed the morning by encouraging the students to study their ancestry, and to know and be proud of where they came from, as they look forward to their futures!
