Community Outreach Leadership and Events Class at RPA
Students sort and pack food at the NeighborImpact Food Bank
Last month, teachers Tamara Bremont and Laurel Eberhart embarked on a new educational adventure at RPA. Armed with a desire to provide opportunities for students to experience service learning and the hope to have students take part in event planning, these two teachers created a class called Community Outreach, Leadership, and Events.
“For many years at RPA I brought students around Redmond to volunteer. When the pandemic hit, we had to put volunteering on hold,” said Bremont. “I was so excited to be able to bring service learning back to RPA.”
Students in Eberhart and Bremont’s class had the opportunity to go to Bethlehem Inn, Juniper Springs Senior Living, Learn & Play Daycare, St. Vincent DePaul, and the NeighborImpact Food Bank. Students also got to learn about Every Child Central Oregon and make blankets that were donated.
Maryann Rogers and Meagan Clark play Bunco with residents of Juniper Springs Senior Living
Sophomore Kaylee Fisher said, “This class really opened my eyes to how much people truly need help and that my actions can make a difference”. Junior Shayla Jayne agreed, adding, “This class was one of the best and most rewarding things I have done since starting at RPA!”
Aside from volunteering, students in the Community Outreach, Leadership, and Events class had the opportunity to meet with event planners at both the Deschutes County Fairgrounds and at the Tetherow Resort to learn more about event planning and community involvement.
Cat Chapman and Levi Anderson make a blanket to donate
“I loved that we were able to volunteer, help our community, and plan for the prom” said Junior Aijalon Probst.
Eberhart, the leadership teacher at RPA, has been coordinating proms at RPA for several years and was able to use the event planning part of this class as a springboard for spring event planning at RPA. This year’s prom will be held on April 22 at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds.
