Bluebird Project Update

From the Pontiac Daily Leader

By Luke Smucker 

Posted Jan 17, 2018 at 9:54 AM 

After years of community exposure to Pontiac Township High School’s “Spread The Word To End The Word” campaign, today’s Life Skills students have more opportunities than ever before. This will be the high school’s ninth year organizing activities for “Spread The Word To End The Word”, but each year brings new opportunities thanks in-part to grants written by students taking part in the high school’s Youth Activation Committee and Peers in Action programs. “They are constantly thinking outside the box to figure out new ways to involve the student body,” Life Skills teacher Laura Baumgardner said. “They write the grants and find ways to bring more activities to our high school and community.” Students helped the high school receive five grants this year. One of the grants was used to start a new Unified Basketball program coached by Buck Casson and Pam Sawyer, similar to the school’s established Unified Soccer program. Another grant was used to purchase new uniforms for the team. Students are also hoping to organize a new event called the Fish For Respect. Life Skills students already participate in the Unified Bass Fishing program, so Baumgardner said they are hoping to connect with Livingston County Anglers to start a Fish For Respect event. There are also plans to hold a mini summit for junior high students. “We want to get them to come to the high school on Saturday, March 3, to learn about inclusive youth leadership, social justice, ‘Spread The Word to End The Word’ and respect,” Baumgardner said. “We have also been invited to meet with the Livingston County Board again. During their February meeting, we are going to ask for a resolution to proclaim ‘Respect Week.’ Last year, the Livingston County Board recognized and proclaimed March 4 and 5 as ‘Respect Days.’” Life Skills students are also planning to work with offers from the Pontiac Correctional Center, and possibly Pontiac Police, on another Chili Cook-Off: Torch Run fundraiser, scheduled for March 11. The high school will also host the sixth annual Run For Respect 5K/Fun Run and Walk on April 21, as well as the fifth annual virtual run. Baumgardner’s students will be taking their annual Life Skills Play to the Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center. This year, the students are performing “Jack and the Bean Stalk” at the high school on the morning of March 21. That evening, thanks to help from Vermillion Players Board President Liz Vincent, the students will also have an evening show at the Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center for the community. “It is really amazing to me to see just how everything continues to grow,” Baumgardner said. “I think Principal Eric Bohm said it best, ‘the program has become a tradition and is something that is expected within our high school.’ It’s really become a part of our school’s culture.” “If you think about it, this is the fifth or sixth year we’ve organized the “Spread The Word To End The Word” poster contest. So, all of the students currently attending Pontiac Township High School right now have all been a part of the poster contest at the grade school. Knowing that they have been exposed to our message of self respect for all makes working together much more fun for all students.” While a lot of activities are being organized for the community, a few new project are going on in the classroom, too. “We read a book called ‘Seedfolks’ in the first semester with Elizabeth Hatfield’s PTHS English Essentials class,” Baumgardner said. “Then, Jesse Faber came in and worked with our students to create a tower garden. He helped them plant the seeds and we have harvested about 2½ pounds of lettuce.” The students are also continuing to take part in the Bluebird Project. Baumgardner said the Bluebird Project has been one of the best projects that the students have been involved in because it has brought together not just schools, but the whole county. It started in Chatsworth, home of the Chatsworth High School Bluebirds. Chatsworth Mayor Richard Runyon initially contacted PTHS Earth Science teacher Paul Ritter, who contacted Baumgardner about the project in 2015. “That year, Mitch Kelly and a couple of Paul Ritter’s students went over to Chatsworth and presented what we knew about Bluebirds,” Baumgardner said. “We started installing bluebird houses in Chatsworth that spring. “Last year, Paul Ritter and a few of his students, along with me and a few of my students, went to Cullom and teamed up with the National Honor Society Advisor Allison Buckley and some of her students to install even more bluebird houses in the Cullom/Kempton/Piper City area. “We also went to Springfield last year with Mayor Richard Runyon. We met with Sen. Jason Barickman and Gov. Bruce Rauner to make a proclamation declaring May 4, 2017, as Bluebird Project Day in Illinois.” Ritter, Baumgardner and two Life Skills students — Austin Vanover and Nick Ellis — went to Dominy Memorial Library in Fairbury on Jan. 14 to speak to the Friends of Dominy Library Book Club about Bluebird program. “It just so happens that two students were in attendance because they had heard about what we were doing and wanted to do something similar in their community. So, Nick and Austin are inspiring students outside of Livingston County — this project has been a really great thing.”