STRONG — When educators in Franklin County retire, they do not forget their students, their colleagues or their schools. Each fall they hold an auction to raise money for grants for local teachers. The grants rotate annually among the schools in MSAD 58: Mt. Blue Regional School Unit, Jay and Rangeley.

This year the $300 grant was awarded to Crystal Polk at Strong Middle School. Ms. Polk requested funding for two projects: class sets of two books and gardening supplies for the students. The books she purchased were the nonfiction “The Girl with the White Flag” by Tom Higa about World War II and the fictional short stories, “How Angel Peterson Got His Name” by Gary Paulsen.

At a recent meeting of the Franklin County Retired Educators, a group of the students from the community service team shared the results of their reading. Three students entertained the group with short stories they had written. Then several other students shared their reactions to learning how World War II knowledge relates to their lives today.

The community service students have created flower planters to greet community members as they enter the Strong School. They have also built raised beds in which they will be growing vegetables for future consumption.

For the 2013-14 school year, teachers from Mt. Blue RSU may apply for the grant.