ACC Joins with St. John’s Academy for Earth Day 2009 Project

Students from the Anne Carlsen Center (ACC) and St. John’s Academy found friendship and common ground in keeping their planet sparkling. The students celebrated the 39th Earth Day with a cooperative cleaning effort.

ACC students have been living at the Zebedee Center since early April. The Anne Carlsen Center relocated its students on March 23 due to the threat of overland flooding near its Jamestown campus. Four locations throughout Jamestown welcomed the students.

“One of the things that has come out of this spring is that you never want to take for granted what you have,” explained St. John’s Academy principal Charles Stastny. “And you want to be willing to share what you have – be willing to do with less.”

Living at the Zebedee Center temporarily has created new opportunities for friendship with students at St. John’s Academy.

“We talked with (St. John’s Academy second grade teacher) Tammy (Gapinski) and came to the conclusion that community service was the best way to go,” said Sarah Duven, one of the teachers with the Center.

Gapinski’s class of second graders paired up with ACC students and, after introductions were made, the group went to work to clean up Earth. Plastic bags were passed around and all of the students began gathering garbage that had collected around St. John’s Academy.

“The kids are thrilled to be part of this activity and work together,” Gapinski said. “Working as a team has been our motto for the school year.”

Picking up trash in the community on Earth Day is one of the many activities ACC students have enjoyed since temporarily relocating to the Zebedee Center. They have been able to do such activities as maintain therapy schedules, learn yoga positions, and go on field trips.

Though a return date to the ACC campus has not yet been set, the students and staff have embraced the change. Each of the different locations throughout Jamestown has adopted a camp name. Students at the Zebedee Center have named their site Camp Flood.

“We have developed a daily routine – the Camp Flood schedule,” said ACC teacher Adrianne Dempsey. “It isn’t normal, but it is good.”

The work and the fun that went into Earth Day was certainly not lost on the students from St. John’s Academy.

“I like it because we are helping the Earth,” said Carter Wells, one of the second graders. “And it is neat to see the kids (who are using wheelchairs) getting up and walking and picking up trash.”

“We can have a clean Earth without garbage everywhere,” said an excited Tanaya Brahmer, another of the St. John’s Academy students.

Since the students from the Anne Carlsen Center have begun living and holding classes at the Zebedee Center, students from St. John’s Academy have used part of the Knights of Columbus Club for their indoor activities in gym class.

“Yes, we’ve had to adjust, but we are being very flexible,” continued Stastny. “It is the Christian thing to do. God has a plan and we are all part of it.”

Gapinski’s second graders also got the chance to try out some new skills. They have been learning sign language this season. Working with some of the students from the Anne Carlsen Center provided a real-world opportunity for them to speak with their hands.

“This is just a little exposure for the students,” Gapinski said. “And when they get comfortable with their abilities they can use those skills if they need to.”

The Anne Carlsen Center offers a rich tradition of empowering individuals with disabilities and their families. Our experienced staff provides compassion, training, services and supports in homes and communities across North Dakota. On our Jamestown Campus, we meet the educational, residential and therapeutic needs of children and young adults with autism, behavior disorders, medical fragility, and other developmental disabilities.