Roosevelt 8th Graders Create Change Through Community Projects

At Roosevelt, 8th graders are invited to design, complete and present a Community Project (formally known as the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Community Project) designed to help them be active and responsible citizens in their communities at the local, state, national and global levels. Through these Community Projects, students develop critical thinking skills through planning and investigation, strengthen their ability to collaborate and communicate, and build confidence to act as agents for change.

The scope of the Projects varies each year and includes such things as policy changes at the school, district, and city levels, community and charitable rallies, campaigns for public health, environmental restoration, and fundraising for a special interest. This year’s Projects focused on a wide range of topics, including:

• Mental Health

• Ocean Pollution

• Animal Welfare

• Reproductive rights (abortion rights)

• Recycling

• Gun violence

• Climate Change

• Education

• Health Care

• Homelessness

• Period Poverty

One specific health care Project was developed by three students based on their shared passion for women’s reproductive health care, and resulted in a community bake sale at Trolley Barn Park that raised $172 in funds for Planned Parenthood’s public health care services in San Diego. After completing their Project, group members Maia, Hazel, and Penelope were even more passionate about continuing to fund healthcare for our community, stating that “we [8th graders] can fight for the things that we believe in; adults are not the only actors to work on solving problems.”

Each student who completes and presents their Project at the Roosevelt IB Fest, (taking place April 23), will receive formal recognition as an IB Scholar during the 8th grade promotion on May 27.

What would you do if you had 20+ hours to create a Community Project? Share your ideas with us at news@uhsd.org!