CTC STUDENTS COLLECT NEARLY 300 TOYS FOR LOCAL CHILDREN
Holland, MI- For over 10 years, students in the Software and Game Development (S&G) program at Careerline Tech Center, a service of Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, organize and facilitate a Toys for Tots campaign as a community service project for the S&G program.
“Every Tech Center program participates in a Career Technical Service Oriented (CTSO) project and in my first year at Tech Center I was thrilled to continue this popular event as our CTSO project,” Emmanuel Martinez, Software and Game Development Instructor for Careerline Tech Center said. “Walking around with the students to collect toys from other classrooms and offices knowing we were helping others was a great way to get into the holiday spirit.”
The S&G Student Leadership Team placed toy collection boxes in Tech Center classrooms as well as the front office and nearby OAISD Educational Services Building. Students are responsible for crafting and delivering motivational announcements over the PA, collecting and counting the toys, and then carrying the boxes of toys out to the Lakeshore Toys for Tots pickup truck.
Through facilitating the Toys for Tots campaign, students practice key employability and leadership skills such as organization, professionalism, and communication while making an impact on their community.
All Tech Center programs are welcome to participate in the S&G-led Toys for Tots CTSO.
Lee Hoeksema, Public Safety and Security Services (PSSS) Instructor for CTC, said the majority of students in the PSSS program would describe themselves as service oriented. “We challenge them to do just that with Toys for Tots,” Hoeksema said “It’s in their hearts.”
To help purchase the most toys possible, the PSSS Student Leadership Teams organized a returnable can drive in November.
Ashley Seeley, Zeeland West High School senior and afternoon Student Leadership Team member said, ”We do service projects like this because this is what we do-we help others!”.
Careerline Tech Center
Operated by Ottawa Area ISD, Careerline Tech Center prepares high school juniors and seniors for tomorrow's workforce by providing career and technical education in more than 25 career areas. CTC serves students from public and private high schools, as well as those who are homeschooled, within the following local school districts: Allendale, Coopersville, Grand Haven, Hamilton, Holland, Hudsonville, Jenison, Saugatuck, Spring Lake, West Ottawa, and Zeeland.
Ottawa Area Intermediate School District
Ottawa Area Intermediate School District works collaboratively with schools and communities to meet the educational needs of students of all ages in the Ottawa area. By pooling resources and providing services regionally, Ottawa Area ISD provides important programs and services to local K‐12 school districts, charter, parochial and private schools and adults in the most cost‐effective ways possible. To learn more about Ottawa Area ISD visit www.oaisd.org
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