Project aims to teach pupils about patriotism

Riverside Elementary School is a lot cleaner thanks to the fourth grade class.

About 60 fourth-graders stayed an hour after school Tuesday to wash windows, weed flower beds and move bricks and dust, among other tasks, as part of the grade's service project for American Character Week.

"We are trying to create good citizenship and pride in their community," Principal Jeanie Hill said.

Riverside's theme for the year is Be a Star Citizen, and the goal of the cleanup was to help and inspire the children take pride and get involved in their surroundings, which will hopefully spread to their neighborhoods and communities some day.

The pupils were not scared of the work. Karsyn Dorsey, 9, washed windows around the school. She was just worried about her parents seeing and making her do it at home.

The project was a way to commemorate the Sept. 11 attacks for the young pupils who may not fully understand them and their ramifications. Instead, the school's commemorative program focuses the pupils being a good citizens and learning character traits such as responsibility, cooperation and respect.

"It is about being heroes and good citizens instead of the tragedy," said Amy Murphey, a fourth grade chairwoman and event organizer. "We let them have pride for their school."