Building more than birdhouses at John Jacob Astor Elementary 

Published 8:00 am Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Tongue Point Job Corps students and Astor Elementary kindergarteners team up 

On a cold winter morning at John Jacob Astor Elementary, the steady tap of hammers echoed through the classroom — not from seasoned carpenters, but from kindergarteners working side by side with students from Tongue Point Job Corps. Together, they leaned over small wooden kits, carefully lining up nails and learning, in real time, what it means to build something with someone else. 

On Dec. 12, the students from both places built 125 birdhouses.

For Mac McGoldrick, center director at Tongue Point Job Corps, the scene was quietly powerful.

“Titles, ages and backgrounds seemed to fade away,” McGoldrick said. “What stood out instead was connection — patient hands guiding small ones, shared laughter over crooked nails — and the quiet pride that comes from creating something together.”

Assembling the birdhouses may have appeared simple on the surface, but the project became something much larger: an exchange of leadership, curiosity, and community care.

Astor Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Joan Acfalle said it was a fantastic experience for the kindergarten students.

“They were thrilled to use a hammer and nails to build,” she said. “Some students have never touched a hammer, while some seemed to have some experience.” 

McGoldrick said he was struck by how naturally the Job Corps students met the young children where they were — with encouragement, patience and genuine warmth. For a few hours, everyone involved slipped into the same space of discovery.

“Everyone got to be a kid again,” he said. “Curious, joyful and fully present in the moment.”

The initiative reflects Tongue Point Job Corps’ broader commitment to being an active partner in the Astoria community. From the earliest planning stages, excitement spread quickly — among school staff, Job Corps instructors and students alike.

“It became more than a building project,” McGoldrick said. “It was a shared experience where everyone had the opportunity to support one another, learn from each other and simply enjoy being together.”

While the birdhouse kits themselves were identical — prepared in advance by Tongue Point carpentry students who precut the wood and predrilled nail holes — what emerged from them was anything but uniform. 

Acfalle said prior to building anything, the kindergarteners received a talk from the Tongue Point Job Corps students on safety. 

“Which made the experience feel more grown-up and fun for them.  It was very exciting,” she said. 

After construction, each kindergarten class decorated their birdhouses with help from teachers, transforming them into vivid expressions of imagination. Some featured bright colors and bold patterns, while others leaned into the season, becoming whimsical gingerbread-style houses.

“It was a beautiful reminder,” McGoldrick said, “that even when we begin with the same materials, what we create can be wonderfully unique.”

For the Tongue Point students, the day carried special meaning. Many are far from home and missing younger siblings. Working with kindergarteners offered a chance to reconnect with that part of themselves — to be playful, patient and generous with skills they’ve worked hard to learn.

“They weren’t just building something out of wood,” McGoldrick said. “They were creating something meaningful — something the kindergarteners will treasure.”

Safety and preparation were central to the project. Every child and student wore safety glasses, and Job Corps students guided their younger partners through proper tool use. Real hammers and nails were placed in small hands, paired with real responsibility — and thanks to careful supervision, no thumbs were harmed.

The entire project unfolded over roughly four hours, from setup to final assembly. But its impact extended well beyond a single morning.

Tongue Point Job Corps already maintains ongoing partnerships with local schools, including annual visits from medical and dental students who help assess hearing, eyesight and dental health. McGoldrick sees projects like the birdhouse build as part of a larger vision.

“Learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms or shops,” he said. “It happens through connection, generosity and the simple act of showing up for one another.”

As the birdhouses made their way home with proud kindergarteners, they were more than nails and paint. They held a shared memory of teamwork, kindness and a community coming together, one small project at a time.