Where the Heart Is

Ninth-grade Horizons at MHS foregrounds learning about and becoming a part of a new community. Throughout the year, these new-to-MHS students work together on group projects, building their communication and collaboration muscles, bonding and building connections among classmates.

The year culminates with the annual Horizons Plant Sale, a monumental undertaking now marking 32 years! Proceeds from the sale support the class fund, and students collaborate to research and select a local nonprofit that aligns with their philanthropic vision.

Before heading home for the summer, the philanthropic-minded Class of 2029 presented a sizable check — $2,221.34 — from their Plant Sale earnings to the Berkshire Humane Society. Visiting MHS were Humane Society Executive Director John Perreault, Marketing Specialist Nikki Kellogg, and student favorite, Glo.

And, that’s not all. Fresh off wrapping up the Plant Sale, these hard-working ninth graders loaded up plants set aside before the sale for Horizons partner Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity. Habitat used the plants to beautify one of its new local residences. Future plans include visiting a Habitat site — perhaps checking in on their plants! — learning more about Habitat’s services, and, possibly, growing plants specifically to support the nonprofit.

These initiatives, which come after students have spent a year getting to know each other, are intentionally designed with an eye toward next year, explains Director of Horizons Caterina Penna. The idea is to set them up for success in sophomore Horizons, when they will dig deeper into civic engagement and global citizenship.

“The philanthropic element — both donating the plant sale proceeds to Berkshire Humane Society and the plants to Habitat — moves students from self and self-advocacy to the collective,” explains Caterina. “Understanding and reflecting on the ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ of giving is important, and it is a direct bridge to the 10th grade Horizons curriculum. After all of the students’ hard work, giving back to our local community is a meaningful wrap-up to the 9th grade year.”