Last week, eighth grade students at Clarendon Hills Middle School participated in two community service projects while other students were taking MAP tests. The activities focused on supporting animal welfare and public safety.
For the first project, students made “no sew” blankets for dogs and cats in local shelters. These blankets are intended to provide warmth and comfort for animals waiting to be adopted.
The second project involved writing letters in support of installing Automated External Defibrillator (AED) systems at Prospect Park. This effort was done with Just One Mike’s charity, which works to raise awareness and funding for AEDs. By advocating for these devices, the students aimed to help improve safety and emergency preparedness in their community.
The school is part of Hinsdale Community Consolidated School District 181, which includes schools across DuPage and Cook counties such as Elm Elementary School, Hinsdale Middle School, Madison Elementary School, Monroe Elementary School, Oak Elementary School, Prospect Elementary School, The Lane Elementary School, and Walker School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to the Illinois State Board of Education, District 181 has 282 teachers with an average salary of $94,227; 90 percent are women and 10 percent are men. No teacher in the district had more than ten absences in a school year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
District demographics show that it is nearly 70 percent White with smaller percentages of Black (1.1 percent), Hispanic (6.8 percent), and Asian (15.4 percent) students (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In 2020, spending per student was $31,308 with total expenditures reaching over $117 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
According to a statement from the school: “The completion of these two service initiatives highlights the 8th grade class’s dedication to making a positive impact, turning a regular school day into an opportunity for meaningful community involvement.”
