West Middle School, Muscatine Iowa

Our school came together to rally around a cause. The cause was far bigger than any of our own individual interests. The educational opportunity and the life lesson that a talent show and Water for Africa provided for a school community will last a life time. I know that a majority of our students “got it”. The otters will get it later. It could not have happened without the one voice speaking up and the rest of us saying “okay”. Together we made a difference.

We set building expectations at the start of the year to:
Be Ready Be Respectful Be Responsible

This event on May 22, 2009 brought home these expectations far greater than we ever could have imagined at the start of the school year. Sometimes an idea becomes an event that will be a memory and feeling of good that will last a lifetime. We are proud to say that at West Middle School, in one two week period, we helped one village and ourselves become a better place to live.
-John Lawrence (principal at West Middle School).