Second grade students at Faubion Elementary School recently wrapped up a months-long community service project by delivering handmade flowers to residents at the Maple Ridge Retirement Community in Cedar Park.
The project originated in the school’s Habits Lab extension class, where students were introduced to The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey. Faubion Counselor Terri Hinojosa and QUEST Teacher Kimberly Baumann integrated the habits into the curriculum alongside counseling lessons and the attributes of the Leander ISD Graduate Profile.
At the beginning of the school year, each grade level at Faubion selected a community service project. Second graders chose to create paper flowers and deliver them to a nearby senior living facility.
“Although we were new to this, we knew we wanted to end the year with a community project for every grade level,” said Baumann. “We carried that theme throughout the year so the kids would see how the 7 Habits could support something they were responsible for.”
On May 15, the second graders walked to Maple Ridge to personally deliver their handcrafted flowers. During the visit, students chatted with residents and performed a song about the 7 Habits—demonstrating leadership, kindness, and confidence.
“The fact that we saw our students proactively, which is habit number one, approach the residents and hand over the flowers was a clear demonstration of leadership and community service,” said Baumann. “It was heartwarming to see them take the lead on their own without us having to encourage them to go talk and mingle.”
While at the retirement home, smiles were abundant as both the students and residents experienced joy from the visit. Students expressed their excitement and pride in being able to do something for the community.
“One of the best things about Faubion is that not only that we ensure that our students have amazing experiences in the classroom, but we also have the opportunity to help them be well-rounded humans,” said Staci Cordell, Faubion Elementary principal. “We do this by providing opportunities for them to be leaders, compassionate community contributors, and part of our little family.”
Beyond the joy of giving, the long-term project helped students build confidence and discover meaningful ways to contribute.
“We have really seen the kids identify and grow their strengths, which is really important in the elementary school years,” said Hinojosa. “This was a goal of the project, to help our students begin to discover who they will be after they leave Leander ISD. It’s a great base for character development at a young age.”
See a few photos from the visit below.
