At Shadow Ridge High School, the Principles of Anatomy and Physiology class is donating to SafeNest to support women and children in need while learning about fetal development and the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. Students are tracking the pregnancy of an imaginary “class baby” through a journal that highlights the different stages of pregnancy. They also celebrated important milestones with activities such as a gender reveal, baby shower, and games.
Over the last weeks anatomy teachers Amber Smith and Keri Chambers have been collecting baby supplies to donate to SafeNest, a shelter that provides care and support to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human traficking. Some of the donations included diapers, baby wipes, clothes, pacifiers, diaper cream, and other baby essentials.
“Providing essential items can be life changing for families in need,” Smith states. “Babies need a lot of stuff to keep them happy and healthy, and they grow so quickly that an outfit that fit them last week might not fit them anymore. Not having to worry about whether your baby will be provided for opens up breathing space for parents to get back on their feet.”
The donations not only help families in need, but also give students a better understanding of the realities of parenthood and the responsibilities that come with caring for a baby. For many families who receive basic necessities such as diapers, clothes, and hygiene products through SafeNest, it can bring relief from financial stress and allow them to focus on rebuilding their lives and caring for their children.
“Doing both the pregnancy journal and the games helped me understand that babies are a big deal,” Dayanara Castillo, senior states. “The game where we had to guess the price of the baby product showed me that babies are expensive.”
In addition to learning about pregnancy and fetal development, students participated in games and activities that helped them better understand the financial responsibilities that come with having a baby. One game challenged students to guess the prices of baby items, helping them realize how expensive babies can be.
“By all coming together, we are able to make a sizable donation that I know is able to help so many families, ” Smith states. “That’s the best feeling.”
The donation drive has also brought students together who have the same goal of helping others in their community. By working together, the classes hope to collect enough supplies to make a meaningful difference for the families supported by SafeNest. By doing this project, students were able to learn the importance of compassion, teamwork, and giving back to others.
Overall, this project has allowed students to connect classroom learning with real-world impact.
