Students at Ad Astra Academies are proving that learning is most powerful when it is woven together with service. This winter, several students used newly learned sewing skills to create handmade jelly roll quilts for children served by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), providing comfort and care to youth in our local community.
The project began as a hands-on learning opportunity in Ad Astra’s alternative and virtual school programs. Under the guidance of Mrs. Schroeder, Ad Astra’s Math Specialist, students learned how to measure fabric, calculate seam allowances, and piece together quilt tops—turning math concepts into meaningful, real-world application. What started as a skill-building activity quickly became something much bigger: a way to serve children who may be experiencing uncertain or difficult seasons of life.
Ad Astra high school students Tinley, Mady, and Emma each designed and sewed quilts that reflect creativity, patience, and heart. From selecting fabrics to carefully stitching each seam, the girls embraced the detailed process of quilt-making.
The quilts will be distributed through the local DCF office to children within their network as part of their Project Warm Embrace initiative. For many children in crisis, receiving a handmade quilt offers more than physical warmth; it provides a tangible reminder that someone in their community cares.
This meaningful project was made possible through generous community support. Funding for fabric, batting, and sewing supplies came through a grant from Thrivent Action Teams, which empowers individuals to lead service projects that strengthen their communities. Additionally, a previous grant from the Buhler Education Foundation allowed Ad Astra to purchase its first sewing machine—an investment that continues to open doors for student creativity, skill development, and service-learning opportunities.
For Mrs. Schroeder, teaching students to sew quilts was about more than stitching fabric together. It was about teaching perseverance, precision, and purpose. Students learned to problem-solve when seams didn’t line up perfectly. They practiced patience while ripping out stitches and trying again. They discovered that careful planning (measuring twice and cutting once) makes a difference. Most importantly, they experienced the pride that comes from creating something both beautiful and meaningful with their own hands.
At Ad Astra Academies, we believe education should empower students to apply their knowledge in ways that positively impact others. This quilting project embodies that mission. Students strengthened academic skills in math, developed fine motor and technical abilities, and experienced the joy of serving children beyond their own school.
As the quilts were delivered to DCF, the moment was filled with quiet pride. Each stitch represented time, focus, and compassion. Each completed quilt symbolized the heart of Ad Astra students—young people learning that their talents can make a difference in the lives of others.
Projects like this remind us that when schools, community foundations, service organizations, and students work together, extraordinary things happen. Warmth is shared. Skills are built. Hearts are strengthened.
And somewhere in our community, a child will wrap up in a handmade quilt and feel just a little more secure because a group of students decided to turn learning into care in action.
