PEABODY — Ninth grade students at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School showcased community-centered presentations on Wednesday as part of the school’s annual Civics Day, a collaboration between the U.S. History I department and Generation Citizen.
The day began in the auditorium with opening remarks from U.S. History teacher Jillian McCord and Superintendent Dr. Josh Vadala. “Civic engagement means getting involved in your community, and you all are doing that just by being here,” Vadala told students. “Each of you has the power to bring people together and create change. Your generation has incredible tools — from social media to AI — and I encourage you to use them to make a difference.”
Students Davi Silva and Camryn Silver then presented their project on littering to the full ninth-grade class. “It can affect our soil, our water, our air, and just our community in general,” Silva said. Silver added, “We can put a stop to this in our community by just spreading awareness, throwing away our trash, and taking responsibility.”
After the assembly, student representatives from each U.S. History I class headed to the library to present their projects to community advisors and educators who scored them on issue relevance, civic engagement, and proposed solutions. Other ninth graders returned to their scheduled classes.
“This event really showcases how much students care when they get to choose the issues,” McCord said. “Even students who may not have been excited at first end up fully invested in their projects by the end.”
Topics ranged from hunger and homelessness to teen gambling, school lunch reform, solar energy, and student cell phone use. Adam Westbrook, program manager with Generation Citizen, called the day a reflection of a broader movement across the state. “These students aren’t just future leaders — they’re leaders now,” he said.
Three projects were selected to advance to the statewide Civics Day showcase in Boston at the end of May: a proposal to reduce bus fees, a student survey to guide the design of the new high school, and a plan addressing youth hunger and homelessness.
Among the presenters were Juliana DaSilva and Ayla Ryan, who focused on improving school lunches and exploring the idea of a student-run garden. “People fall asleep in class from lack of energy,” DaSilva said.
Ryan added, “We’d love to create a green space that benefits the school and maybe the wider community.”
Another group — Avani Ingham and Nathan Aghedo — spotlighted teen gambling, highlighting how underage students gain access to online betting apps. “You can just say you’re 18,” Aghedo said. The team proposed outreach efforts and education about the risks of gambling addiction.
Students Diego Lemas and Oepo Uessa addressed bathroom conditions, while Amelia O’Brien and Olivia Delvalle advocated for incorporating solar panels into the city’s plans for a new high school. “It’s a clean energy option that saves money in the long run,” Delvalle said.
Junior Henry Sawyer, who helped tally advisor scores, emphasized the real-world relevance of the projects. “We need 40 hours of community service to graduate, so getting involved early on is good,” he said. “It seems like the Freshmen are taking it seriously, and it’s good to see.”
Culinary students also played a vital role, preparing and serving lunch for event guests. “It feels good to help out,” said Manva McHale, a junior. “It’s always nice to cook for other students, not just the adults.”
The event was supported by Generation Citizen staff and school administrators, including Director of Teaching, Learning, and Integrated Technology Emily Moore, who served as one of several community judges. Organizers praised the event as a meaningful opportunity for students to research issues, propose solutions, and engage with real-world civic processes.
“The students did incredible work,” said McCord. “Their ideas are thoughtful, well-researched, and rooted in making Peabody a better place.”
The statewide Civics Day showcase will take place June 6 at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston.
