Academics, character, community and wellness are the school district’s four core values. In December, the Freshman Seminar class at Bethlehem Central High School rolled all four into one project supporting a group of four-legged friends in need of a new home.
The students in the Freshman Seminar at BCHS used their research and design skills to make eye-popping posters and flyers to promote pet adoption via the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.
The students researched the organization’s website and gathered facts about each pet available for adoption. With that information and under the direction of their teachers, they used the online app Canva to design posters to highlight each pet in unique and special ways. The posters were shared by the Humane Society and were featured throughout the shelter during the month of December.
Maria Hayes, who teaches the class, said the project helped students with one of the primary goals of the Freshman Seminar which is to make community connections. She said it also fostered bonds between students and brought joy to everyone who worked on the project.
Hayes said she chose the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society based on some special memories of her own.
“Growing up my grandmother would regularly take me and my siblings to the Humane Society to visit the animals,” said Hayes, who rescued her dog Leroy Brown from the same shelter in 2008. “Leroy Brown lived just over 17 years and brought me so much joy and happiness. Many of the students have pets and making this connection as pet parents, adopters, or foster parents helps them to get to know one another better. They were happy to use their time, talents and skills for a good cause.”
View the students’ pet adoption posters here.
Visit the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society website here.
Hayes said the staff at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society were very appreciative of the students’ work. In addition to hanging the posters in their building to attract new families, the organization shared photos of the pets and the posters on social media and with the class.
“It was an honor to work with Lauren Clark and the Humane Society,” said Hayes. It was also a treat for our students to see their hard work and talents showcased in such a meaningful way.”
Thank you to Ms. Hayes and these community-minded students!
- Hailey Banner
- Isabella Bohley
- Grace Bond
- Lilly Brocious-Pliss
- Alijhon Dyllan Castro
- Nevaeh Currie
- Camden Dell
- Antonio Fernandez
- Johnathan Freihofer
- Elijah Hackett
- Quinn Korzatkowski
- Lucas Miller
- Ashton Morreale
- Christian Nace
- Shane Nardolillo
- Paul Paglia
- Landon Perry
- Hazel Rice
- Mathias Romero
- Jacob Scott
- Alex Stapleton
- Payton Summers
- Matthew Toomey
- Shareilys Valentin Cruz