Chapelle students pitch in from multiple angles

by Kim Roberts

By Kim Roberts
Clarion Herald

Each year, the entire student body of Archbishop Chapelle High School participates in “Chapelle Makes a Difference Day” by going out into the community and working side by side with various agencies. Each student lends a hand where she is needed, and those volunteer tasks include restoring coral reefs, assisting senior citizens with everyday tasks or aiding elementary school teachers with their daily lessons.

On Oct. 15, students spent the day working with the following agencies around the metropolitan area: Chateau Estates Elementary School, Covenant Nursing Home, Gigi’s Playhouse New Orleans, Good Shepherd Nativity School, Grace at the Green Light, Hotel Hope, Lantern Light, Magnolia Community Services, the oyster shell recycling program of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), Ozanam Inn, St. Edward the Confessor School, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School, St. Jude’s Nursing Facility, St. Margaret’s at Mercy, St. Michael Special School, St. Thérèse Academy, The Blake at Colonial Club and Tom Benson Elementary School.

Entire school involved

“We used to have ‘Juniors Make A Difference Day,’ which went on for several years, but this is only our second year doing it with the entire student body, eighth through 12th grades,” said Jamie Hanzo, director of marketing and public relations. “The students actually requested that we do it this way.”

Students participated this year in a wide variety of activities. At St. Margaret’s Nursing Home, they made trick-or-treat bags with the residents using paint pens and stickers and delivered treats to the residents’ rooms.

At St. Michael Special School, they hosted a karaoke party for the students, painted their nails and did arts and crafts.

At Good Shepherd Nativity School, the Chapelle students assisted teachers with their lesson plans, which included reading a story and doing arts and crafts.

One of the coordinators at Gigi’s Playhouse offered various tips to the students on how to change the way the world views Down Syndrome.

Coastal restoration

Chapelle’s eighth graders dug and shoveled oyster shells into large bags to help the CRCL strengthen Louisiana’s coast against future storms.

“The students genuinely enjoy going out into the community and making these connections,” Hanzo said. “Oftentimes, they return saying how they wish they could have stayed at the agencies longer. Our faculty and staff look forward to this day as well.”

A face to homelessness

Senior Katie Morel said her day at Grace at the Green Light, which provides homeless persons with basic necessities such as water, food, clothing and social interaction, taught her how to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

“I got to see a more personal viewpoint of what homeless people go through and how they are living every day,” Morel said. “The way that our guide was so kind and personable with every person she saw showed me how it can brighten up someone’s day and put a smile on their face just by being nice.”

“I like ‘Chapelle Makes a Difference Day’ because it is genuinely just a day to do something good for other people,” said senior Molly Thornton. “Most people don’t have the time to go and volunteer on their own, so this is such a good way to dedicate the day to it. This impacted me because it opened my eyes to the world around me and the fact that not everyone goes to a good school and has the proper resources to thrive in life. It shows how many people can use a hand from people who may be more blessed, and it inspired me to be kind to people I may not know, as I never know what is going on in their lives.”

Calmed nerves

Ninth-grader Lauren de la Gardelle was nervous at first about the day, but that quickly changed.

“In the time spent volunteering, we learned so much from the ladies at the retirement home,” she said. “We learned patience, gratefulness and so much more. They gave really great advice that I will carry with me into the future. It was truly an amazing experience, and I am so grateful that Chapelle gives me opportunities to go out into the community and help others.”

[email protected]