Introducing The Service Brigade: How Falling Creek Turns Detention Into a Positive

Start 1 Spark is continuing its third year working with Falling Creek Middle School, ready to support the Panthers on a new endeavor this fall.

Falling Creek is changing the way students view after school detention and turning it into a community service opportunity.

After overseeing detention for 6 years, 7th grade English teacher Safiya Reynolds felt it was time to reshape what detention looks like. 

She splits the hour into two half hours, the first being silent work and the second focused on community service. Initial projects last year included tidying classrooms, cleaning promethean boards, and other tasks to alleviate the night crew’s cleaning work.

What inspired her to make detention interactive was the noticeable effects COVID has had on students or what Reynolds called “a disintegration of community bonds”. Not being able to converse with their peers for a year and a half eliminated social interactions among students, which has resulted in feelings of detachment from each other and the building itself.

After students heard those in detention were helping out around the school, many kids who weren’t in detention wanted to provide their assistance as well. Initially surprised, Reynolds decided to lean into the students’ desire to serve and create the Blue and Gold Service Brigade.

“They just wanted to do something that was constructive, and listening to them made me realize, it needs to be something where they can immediately see the impact that they’re having in their community,” said Reynolds. 

Kirsten, a 7th grade student, expressed excitement about giving back to her community.

“Helping others makes me feel kind. I helped some people in a conflict on the bus, I gave them advice,” said Kirsten. 

Another 7th grade student, Mekeyla, feels lucky she heard about the service brigade at school. “I’m looking forward to helping people in a nursing home; it makes me feel good to help others.”

The service brigade will give students the opportunity to not only show their community how much they care but also give students a purpose. 

Unity and team work are fundamental to this club. To support this effort, Start 1 Spark is providing the service brigade with t-shirts and vinyl so they can make club shirts to wear during projects. Start 1 Spark is also providing the books for a book swap they will be holding later in the year as well as materials to build planters for outdoor beautification projects. 

Starting Monday, September 8, the “Blue and Gold Service Brigade” will hold its first meeting where students will work together to make a mosaic consisting of 150 pictures of the different neighborhoods that make up "The Creek”. A visual reminder of the community they are working to serve together.