Woodland girl wins sewing competition

Erin Floody, a seventh-grade student at Woodland Middle School, was named the 2012 grand prize winner in the Long Island Family and Consumer Sciences “Sew to Serve” Challenge.

Home and career-skills students from all over Long Island entered the contest, which emphasized the use of sewing techniques learned in class for service-learning projects. Service-learning is an instructional method in which students learn and develop skills through active participation in thoughtfully planned service experiences that meet actual community needs and are integrated into each student’s academic curriculum.

With guidance from educator Susan Carlson, Erin entered her sewing project into the competition, along with a written description and directions for completing the project. She also included a reflection about the service experience, expressing a deep personal understanding of the importance of community service and a desire to use her time and talents again.