Students sew dresses for Africa as class project

Lapeer East eighth grade sewing students have been finishing up a final exam project that will mean something to their grades, but more to some young girls in Africa who will be the beneficiaries of the hand made pillowcase dresses made by the students.

Last year’s students created about 60 of the dresses, but this year’s students will make and ship about 100 of the creations for the http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/ project.

The sewing students are working in teams to ‘fancy up’ the pillowcases with lace, ribbon and bows. Students must use many sewing skills, like elastic casings and making armholes to finish the dresses.

“This is a wonderful way to test the skills of my students and perform a worthwhile public service project at the same time,” said Lapeer East Life Management teacher Miss Terry Brennan.

Photos of the project are available at the photo gallery.

Lapeer West sewing students combine learning with service in sewing projects

Lapeer West High School sewing students stitched a little love and caring into class requirements with a community service project to help children at a Flint area medical clinic and Lapeer third and fourth grade students who will be participating in a summer reading program.

Teddy bears of various designs were created by the students in Charlotte Cornell’s sewing class to be given to youngsters at McLaren Specialty Clinic located in Flint, which provides forensic exams for sexually abused children in Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee Counties, to help ease their apprehension.

Like the teddy bears, students in Ms. Cornell’s class picked individual designs for the backpacks, which will be presented to students in the summer reading program to carry books home.

“It’s good for the students to know that their work will be put to such a positive purpose,” said Ms. Cornell. “It’s more than just a class assignment, it is something that will comfort a child or encourage them to read.”

The backpacks will be used by students reading below grade level for a Super Summer Success Reading Program, which was an idea adopted from Oakland schools. Students will return in July for breakfast, a book talk and to swap books with other reading students. Later they will come back to return the books and celebrate their summer reading success.

“Research shows that students who continue reading over the summer will maintain, or exceed, reading levels if they read at least six books over summer,” said Lisa Houk, Supervisor of Language Arts/Social Studies. “We are very grateful to Ms. Cornell and her students for this service project.

Lapeer East High School sewing students making the grade with dresses for Africa

Busy hands in the 8th grade sewing classes of Miss Terry Brennan are working on their final exam grade by making dresses for young girls in Africa from donated pillowcases.

When complete, the sewing students will make about 40 dresses for the http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/ project.

The sewing students are working in teams to ‘fancy up’ the pillowcases with lace, ribbon and bows. Students must use many sewing skills, like elastic casings and making armholes to finish the dresses.

Once completed, the dresses will be given to The First Presbyterian Church in Lapeer and shipped to Africa.

“This is a wonderful way to test the skills of my students and perform a worthwhile public service project at the same time,” said Lapeer East Life Management teacher Miss Terry Brennan.

More photos of the sewing students working on the dresses are at the District photo gallery.