Waynesboro students lend a helping hand in downtown

Waynesboro Area Senior High School students in Heidi Shaull’s learning support classes have been lending a helping hand in the community since the beginning of the school year as part of their curriculum.

Director of Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc., Bill Kohler, is appreciative of the group's hard work and dedication to helping the community.

“Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc. loves working with Mrs. Shaull as well as her students and staff on various jobs around downtown," Kohler said. "Everyone is a joy to work with, and the group has really helped Mainstreet Waynesboro and the Waynesboro Theatre get some very important jobs done."

Tasks the WASHS students have helped in have included decorating the movie theater lobby for Christmas and trash cleanup at Main Street Park, to organizing Boro T-shirts and handing out posters and fliers to downtown businesses.

"I try to find things that we can do to give our students a wide scope of life skills that they can use after their time at WASHS," Shaull said. "It's been kind of hard during COVID to find places that we can go, but we are always open to new opportunities for our students."

Robert Maichle is in his final year at WASHS and recalls some of the things that he will carry with him for years to come. "I've learned how to look both ways when crossing traffic using a crosswalk, and we also talk about taking my time with my work and always trying my best," Maichle said. "I also really like helping Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc., it makes me feel happy."

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Fellow student Kelsey Murray is using the working experience to help her prepare for a job upon graduation. "Helping others makes me happy," Murray said.

As a thank you for their hard work and dedication, Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc. held a special showing of the holiday movie Elf for the students, an event that Murray said she treasured. "It was a funny movie, and I loved being at the theatre with my friends."

Waynesboro Area School District Superintendent Dr. Tod Kline said of the commitment to education that, "Mrs. Shaull is doing a great job instilling a service and community-minded heart in our students."

"That's a big part of what our students do, giving back to the community; I love seeing the kids out doing things in the community. It's great experience for them, and it's great for the community to see them out and about; all around it builds a better person."

Shull said that they are looking for opportunities for two days a week.  Organizations interested in providing on-site learning experiences can email heidi_shaull@wasdpa.org.