metro >> mentsh of the month

Fifth-grader launches effort
to bring smiles to other kids.

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1.1

APY*

Stacy Gittleman

I Contributing Writer

15 Month Certificate of Deposit Special!

ith an astute
understanding
of the power of
delivering a smile, Lindsey
Zousmer, a fifth-grader at
West Hills Middle School,
has got "magic" to do for
disabled children receiving
physical therapy at local
hospitals.
Last month, she started
a community service
project called "Projects
4 Smiles" and is asking
other kids her age to create Lindsey Zousmer
small craft projects, such
as bookmarks, bracelets or
pins to give as gifts of encouragement.
back at school "just how happy they
To kick off Project 4 Smiles, Zousmer can make others when they give a
invited WHMS classmates in the fourth small gift:'
and fifth grades to come to school on
The project is a product of
Bloomfield Schools' Primary Years
Jan. 16 wearing funny hats and donat-
Programme (PYP), which engages
ing a dollar for supplies.
Community members may also
children in the district's primary grades
donate any extra craft supplies they
to be socially aware and responsible
may have at home: decorative duct
through action. Kathy Janelle, the
tape, buttons, extra scrapbooking
district's PYP coordinator, explained
supplies, glitter, beads, glue, markers,
"education must extend beyond the
cardstock or string will do the trick.
intellectual to include not only socially
Drop off these supplies at the office at
responsible attitudes, but also thought-
West Hills Middle School, 2601 Lone
ful and appropriate action:'
Pine Road in West Bloomfield, where
Stacy Agree Zousmer saw how
a special Project 4 Smiles box has been
important it was for her own children
set aside.
to meet her patients and also to volun-
The idea came to Zousmer after
teer at the Friendship Circle.
Lindsey's family extends many gen-
shadowing her mother, Stacy Agree
Zousmer, a pediatric physical therapist, erations in Detroit. She is a descendant
at work at Beaumont Hospitals on days of the founders of Detroit's Isaac Agree
Lindsey had no school. It was there
Downtown Synagogue, who established
that she watched children with dis-
the congregation on the principles of
abilities struggle to accomplish simple
social consciousness. She attends reli-
tasks that most children her age can do gious school at Temple Israel in West
with ease.
Bloomfield, where she learned about
"My mom explained to me how
the Jewish obligation to help those in
some of these kids can be very success- need through g'milut chasadim, acts of
ful even with the disabilities and/or the lovingkindness. In her letter, she said
conditions they have Lindsey wrote in her mom serves as her biggest example
a letter to the entire West Hills Middle
for caring for others.
School community "We want to
"Not only is Lindsey a natural care-
encourage them and make them aware
taker, but she also finds common inter-
that they are just as capable as we are:'
ests with these kids because they are
her peers" her mom says. "She loves
Social Responsibility
to help them realize their potential
Ultimately, she wants to collect enough and feel good about themselves. At the
crafted gifts and then video or pho-
young age of 10, Lindsey is truly begin-
tograph the expression of joy on the
ning to understand what it means to
children's faces to show her classmates
pay it forward"

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February 19 • 2015

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