National Honor Society students from Lake Havasu High School fanned out across the city Friday for a “Day of Service.”

The NHS students performed a variety of services at elementary schools, beaches, nursing homes and at their own school as well.

Layne Pringle and Michael Depuydt paint letters onto a caterpillar at Starline Elementary Friday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Kaitlyn Holmgreen, a senior at NHS student at Lake Havasu High School was found at Starline Elementary School this morning along with about 70 others working on a beautification project.

“We are at Starline today. My group is doing little caterpillars for the kindergarteners to line up. They redid the hopscotch and four-square area and we’re also creating new four-squares for the older kids,” Holmgreen said.

She said the entire freshman class and the National Honor Society were at the high school.

“We’re doing all the all the elementary schools and there are some kids at Windsor Beach and at the high school as well just cleaning up, and at the Humane Society. We’re just spread out all over town,” she said.

Jonathan Molien tapes letters to the ground Friday morning during Day of Service at Starline Elementary. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

“We call it the Day of Service. It’s just a chance to give back to the community and show how much we care and we can all do a little to make the community a better place.”

Jessica Reed, of the Starline PTA expressed gratitude as she watched the students working.

“We are just so grateful that NHS is here today helping our beautification committee  and our NEHS kids just make our school a better place. It’s such a great experience for the younger kids – the kindergarteners walking by seeing these high school students giving back to their community,” Reed said.

“Starline has a NEHS with a beautification committee within it so those students are also helping out with it our school. They are paired up with the high school students to help with the project.”

High school student Chase Burgener was at Smoketree Elementary installing “Buddy Benches.”

Madilynn Melodia, Michael Reinartz, and Jade Forman paint a buddy bench at Smoketree Elementary Friday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

“These Buddy Benches are used for kids at the school that are maybe having a problem. If they’re new in at school and want to make new friends. They can sit down at the bench and other kids will see them and come and sit with them and have a good conversation. It can also help solve problems,” Burgener said.

Burgener said kids can sit down and maybe someone will come over and help them.

“Benches are used to help kids that maybe aren’t so social. They can strengthen relationships. Benches can really help kids in school,” he said.

LHHS students demonstrate how the buddy benches build friendships to Smoketree students. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene