As an IB school, PBMS requires students to complete community service hours each year: sixth-grade students document 10 hours, seventh-grade will need 15 hours, and eighth-grade students are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours that becomes their eighth-grade community service project.

Pacific Beach Middle eighth-grade student Damian Toma and two of his classmates, Ephraim Tao and Jianhao Hu, wanted to design a community service project to bring the joy of music to senior community members.

“For our community service project, we researched, practiced, and performed songs from the early to mid-20th century,” said Toma and Hu. “Our playlist included ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ by Frank Sinatra, ‘Blackbird’ by the Beatles, ‘L.O.V.E.’ by Nat King Cole, ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love.’ by Elvis Presley, and ‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel. We then performed these songs at a local nursing home, Ridgeview Health Center, to bring joy to its residents.”

“We chose these songs as the time of their popularity matched our audience,” Toma said. “We wanted to bring them back into their happy memories. It seemed to have worked, as many happily sang along, many smiled, some laughed, some made us laugh, and one shed joyful tears. All around, joy was in the room.”

When asked about the benefits of community service projects for the community, each of the boys was forthcoming. “The benefit for students who complete community service hours is that they get to spread joy to the world. They get to help others and they get to see what a kind person can do for someone else,” Tao said.

“Community service is good for the student’s mind and body. You get to go out and do something to help someone,” Hu said. “Community service can be fun whether it is going with your friends o to make new friends.”

“It never hurts to help your community,” Toma said. “Not only do you benefit the community you are serving physically, such as packaging food, but you also strengthen the well-being and bond between yourself and the community. Working together to bring others happiness is vital to a thriving community.”

Upon completion of their project, these three students participated in the middle school’s annual Spring IB Showcase in April. At this year’s IB Showcase, 109 projects were presented to parents, fellow students, and members of the public.

“After the IB Showcase evening some of our students will now take the next step in the IB Community Service Project process and apply for a ‘Distinction’ designation,” said Ashley Hensen, Pacific Beach Middle School’s IB Coordinator. “Students can earn distinction after presenting to a panel of PBMS staff, parents, and community members. The panel will decide if the students went above and beyond to make a positive impact in their community by awarding their project with ‘Distinction.’”

Toma, Hu, and Tao completed their Distinction Panel interview on May 2. All three will be enrolling at Mission Bay High School in the fall to start their freshman year.

“We had 109 incredible projects this year,” Hensen said. “Our school’s community service component empowers our students to realize they can solve real-world problems and have a positive impact on their community. All 109 projects reflect the commitment and compassion of our 2024 eighth-grade class.”