Students in grades 7-12 from Susquehanna Community High School participated in a school-wide community service project on December 23rd, prior to kicking off the much anticipated winter break. Advisors of each of the 19 clubs at SCSD teamed up and developed a plan of action that would allow all participants to celebrate the holiday season by giving back to the community in some way.
Student Council prepared for this event in several ways and began the process months in advance. The day started with several representatives heading to the elementary school to work with students in grades 3-6 on Christmas Capers, holiday themed activities. The rest of the Student Council delivered teacher gifts and decorated the gym for the pep rally. When the morning was over, lunch periods began and holiday movies were shown. Our newest tradition has been that both students and teachers perform. The Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams scrimmaged one another in a fast-paced, high intensity battle. The day ended with much positive feedback from students, teachers, and community members. Most memorable was the highly anticipated staff Kiss the Pig Competition won by our very own, Mrs. Gina Gliniecki, who was a great sport as she primed herself with red lipstick.
Mrs. Gina Gliniecki, who won the Kiss The Pig Competition
A special thank you to all of our clubs for their passionate efforts in making this day truly about service to others. Service projects included:
Spanish Club collected and donated personal items to TreHab.
Dance Club visited the first grade classes and completed holiday arts and crafts. They made each other into snowmen, read holiday stories, and of course, did a little dancing.
Art/Chess Club collaborated with Mr. Pregnar's Woodworking Club to craft two chessboards to donate to the Turnpike Terrace residents. The Woodworking Club made beautiful boards using different veneers to create the light and dark squares on the board. They used modeling clay to sculpt, bake, and then paint the various chess pieces.
Members of the Art/Chess Club crafting chessboards
Cooking Club, Reading Competition Club, and Walking Club made holiday cookies and cards for each apartment at Turnpike Terrace, the local retirement home facility.
Student Council members and volunteers spent their morning blowing up many, many balloons, sliding them along fishing wire to make decorations for the pep rally. The gym looked fabulous! Photography Club, better known as Sabers Sassy Snaps, invited Santa to visit with Susquehanna Community Elementary students. They set up a Christmas scene on the stage in the LGI and took pictures of the kindergarten students with Santa. Each student received their pictures later that day to be placed into a Christmas card that they decorated.
Community Service/Pay-It-Forward Club sponsored the 2015 Food Fight. Students were asked to bring cans and boxes of nonperishable items to donate to the Food Fight. Our members collected and sorted the donated items coming to a total of 300 donations. Everything was given to TreHab to help restock the food pantry. Additionally, members of our club created a “Caught You Being Good” video to promote positive action in our community and also wrapped gifts for staff members.
Six students involved in the Envirothon Club cleaned up a section of the rail trail along the Starrucca Creek where trout are stocked in the spring. Students removed several bags of trash, along with a car fender and recliner chair.
The Pump Club took about 40 students to Schneiders/ Dollar General parking lots to help clean up. While cleaning around the facility, the students also took time to help push grocery carts and load groceries for customers. A few students also spent their morning pumping gas for customers at Benson's Gas Station.
Intramural Sports Club whistled while they worked in holiday fashion as they participated in school beautification activities.
SCSD Board Games Activity Club visited the Barnes Kasson Skills Nursing Facility (SNF) and played board games, puzzles, trivia games, and read stories to residents.
The students, residents, and staff worked together to make it a successful morning for the Susquehanna School District and the Community to have a smooth and productive event! The students left for Winter Break with smiles and that warm, intrinsic feeling of having been productive members of our community. Many students have already begun to plan the next school-wide service project slated for Spring 2016.