Eatontown Summer Program Students Mix Fun With Community Service

By Christopher Sheldon

Eatontown's Memorial School gives its students a chance to enjoy summer and mix in a little community service along the way.

Memorial School Science Teacher Jill Wetzel said incoming seventh and eighth grade students chosen for the Summer Program Education Alliance Kids (SPEAK) Program get together during July to participate in a variety of activities.

"Our camp is funded through the Eatontown Drug Alliance and donations," Wetzel said. "Students learn and build upon the six pillars of character; trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship."

The students are selected for the program by a group of teachers and participate in field trips and local community service projects.

On July 25, they gathered at the Eatontown Fire House and helped out the department by washing one of its fire trucks. 

"Projects like these give the students a sense of community," sixth grade teacher Dawn Ryan said. "I get to see the benefits of the program in the students the following school year."

The students wrapped up the summer program last by recording a music video about making good choices and staying away from drugs and alcohol called "The Choices Last a Lifetime."

The video can be viewed by clicking here.