CHS students ‘Fall Into the Streets’ to rake lawns

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Clinton Local

Those Clinton students who rode the bus to school on Thursday, Nov. 6, may have noticed quite a few of their fellow classmates hauling a variety of lawn equipment and tools varying from rakes to tarps and leaf blowers.

That’s because Clinton High School students — freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors — were armed and ready to take on the most leaf-filled yards across the Clinton community as part of the high school’s “Fall Into the Streets” annual day of service.

Each fall season for the past 15 years at least, Clinton high schoolers and staff members roll up their sleeves, spread out across town and assist residents with raking leaves and other light yard work.

While the afternoon away from the classroom is one method in which students can earn community service hours, “Fall Into the Streets” has become an enjoyable way for the high schoolers to give back to their community. 

Service day organizer and high school science teacher Renee Gilson said the day — or afternoon — has become something Clinton students look forward to each fall. There were also ice cream treats that awaited the students when they returned back to school.

“I think our staff is really good about hyping it up and emphasizing how important it is to give back to a community that obviously supports us with bond issues,” Gilson said. “… Oftentimes some of the residents who we are raking for come out — they’re elderly — and they show their appreciation. It just helps make it all the more worthwhile.”

“Fall Into the Streets” had been advertised by the school over the past couple of weeks. Leaf collection in the village of Clinton takes place throughout the month of November. Clinton residents who were in need of help as part of the fall cleanup were encouraged to contact Gilson to be added to a master list of residences around town asking for assistance. In total, 40 households registered.

“There are probably more that need assistance,” Gilson said. “For example, Mr. Schaffner, who lives in town, he takes his students to his street and he knows a lot of the people there and he just does their yards. And we have numerous staff who live in Clinton and they kind of do the same thing.”

In some years, the number of residents asking for fall cleanup help climbs into the 50s, Gilson said.

“All the staff is charged with going out with their classes,” Gilson said. “Some staff help transport to the compost pile. They are all involved in some way, shape or form.”

Clinton’s compost pile is on Bartlett Street, west of Railroad Street, and is available for grass clippings and leaf drop-off. Twigs, branches, bags or items that will not decompose are not accepted.

For students, involvement in “Fall Into the Streets” is completely volunteer, but most students choose to participate.

“It just means so much to give back especially after (the community) helped us with this high school,” CHS senior Aurelia Bennett said, referencing Clinton votes in 2021 approving the bond measure that paved the way for the brand-new high school addition to be constructed and other upgrades across the school’s campus.

About 15-20 students were placed into groups that were overseen by a staff member and they went out throughout the Clinton community to designated areas where they cleaned yards and raked the leaves into the street and near the curb.

“I feel like we were really productive out there in getting stuff done. We didn’t have rakes for everybody but we switched on and off so that everybody was helping and had something to do,” added Bennett.

Unlike the start to this week, which saw chilly temperatures and snow, when the Clinton students went out for “Fall Into the Streets” they were met with pleasant fall weather conditions.

“We do normally have pretty good weather. It’s almost like this every year. It works in our favor,” said CHS senior Cora Harsh.

Both Bennett and Harsh have volunteered with “Fall Into the Streets” for all four years of their high schooling. Both of them are also part of the National Honor Society (NHS) student organization.

One group of choir students raked the yard of former substitute teacher and past village president Merlin Mowery, who has fallen into some health setbacks. After completing the yardwork, the students performed an impromptu choir concert on Mowery’s lawn, Gilson said.

“Those are the type of students we have here at Clinton,” she said.