Classroom Mini Blog: Community Service at Tribute at Black Hills

This classroom mini blog is pulled from a class newsletter that is created by the students.

Community Service at Tribute at Black Hills 

By: Bella, Tate, and Zaria, Upper Elementary (ages 9–12) Students 2025–2026

On Thursday, November 6, 10 people from Ms. Rind’s class and 9 people from The Maru-Bajada class went to Tribute at Black Hills (a local retirement community). The people who volunteered were Safiya, Bear, Spencer, Nayeli, Elana, Remy, Augustina, Lucia, Tate, Justine, Bella, Zaria, Leo, Cora, Noah, Millie, Inaya, Erin, and Molly.  

The audience was very respectful and loved the songs we sang.

The songs we sang were:

• “The Wellerman Song”
• “Peace Like a River”
• “11:11”
• “The Life That’s in You”
• “Jamboree”

Two small groups played instruments; “Edelweiss” was played on the saxophone by Elana and Augustina, and “The Sound of Silence” was a group effort by Millie, Molly, Cora, and Nayeli (Millie and Nayeli sang, Cora played the flute, and Molly played the clarinet). 

The people there were very kind, and they gave the performers kind compliments.

After we performed, an animal rescue called Echoes of Nature came and showed us a three-toed turtle called “Trinity.” Trinity was found on Trinity Road. They said that the Eastern Three-Toad Turtles were from Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Michigan, so it was a long way from home, or it was a pet, and someone either let it go or it ran away.

Why This Matters

By Kelly Truong, Lower School Director of Education

Experiences like these hugely impact how kids come to understand the concept of community. When students share music, volunteer their time, and treat the people they meet outside the school with respect, they begin to realize that their actions are important not only for their own interests.

At Butler Montessori, we believe that community service should not be about achievements or fame, but about establishing connections. Children gain empathy, a sense of duty, and focus through activities like a visit to Tribute at Black Hills. They get to know how to be supporters, cooperate with their classmates, and realize how their interests and talents, for example, playing an instrument, being curious about animals, or at times simply being kind, can bring happiness and comfort to others.

On top of that, kids come to think of themselves as able to make a difference in their communities. Through these experiences, a child's life is gradually infused with a deeper sense of meaning and belonging, paving the way for an ongoing devotion to kindness and service.