Student Council Service Projects

Changing a Tradition
Members of the Klein (TX) student council decided to shift the money spent by students on traditional Homecoming mums to a more worthwhile cause. Instead of selling mums, they created a paper sun design (similar to the logo used by a charity they were supporting) and collected donations for the charity. A donation qualified the student to receive a sun to wear as an alternative to the traditional mums. The council was able to raise a sizable amount to donate.

Right Attitudes Make Success
Eighth grade students at Rapid Run MS in Cincinnati, OH, visit sixth grade classes to teach lessons about tolerance, bullying, respect, and responsibility in their Right Attitudes Make Success (RAMS) program. They also play games, watch movies, and brainstorm ways to make the school a better place.

AIDS Awareness
For World AIDS Awareness Day in December, the student council at Sunrise MS in Clackamas, OR, sponsored a project with many different aspects. Council members researched the AIDS epidemic, especially as it related to African countries, then created information packets and gave them to Language Arts teachers for distribution with their students. Council members asked the Language Arts teachers to have their students write letters to their representative in Congress to encourage them to support AIDS funding. Morning announcements also featured AIDS awareness information.

"Our goal was two-fold: to increase awareness of the situation and to raise money for African villages," says Jennifer Leonard, student council adviser. "We wanted to raise enough money to purchase one heifer through the Heifer Project International. We ended up purchasing two cows and four goats!"

A highlight of the project and the key fundraising element was a Fun Run in PE classes on World AIDS Awareness Day. Students were asked to bring in at least $1. When students turned in their dollar, they received a raffle ticket (one for each dollar). This raffle ticket was then brought to lunch the following day and students were able to guess the weight of a real, live heifer that was tied to a tree outside the commons. Students with raffle tickets then guessed the weight, and the three closest won prizes: MOOOOvie tickets, Milk Duds, and MOOOOusic gift certificates. Ten random winners also won smaller prizes.

"This was a hit--we had kids who brought $50 and $100 donations of their own money! It was fun, and yet students became aware of a serious situation and we motivated them to help!" says Leonard.

Adopt a Family
The student council at Staunton River HS in Moneta, VA, adopts a needy family from one of its feeder schools each year for the holidays. Each student who wishes to participate must raise at least $50 to contribute to the project. The group typically raises between $800 and $1,000.

On the designated day, student council members sing carols at a local nursing home and visit with the patients. Afterwards, they go shopping for their adopted family and wrap the gifts. Someone then delivers the gifts to the family that day. "All this is done anonymously," says Margaret Petty, student council adviser. "The family may know our student council members are the donors, but our students never know the recipients."

Canned Food Sculpture Contest
After some disappointing canned food drives, the student council at Yukon (OK) HS decided to stimulate interest by participating in a local canned food sculpture contest. They select a shape to create and then build it at school with the food and funds provided by students. "The items we have built include a replica of our home town flour mill, the space shuttle, a tank, a roller coaster, Chinook helicopter, an American tribute with a wall of remembrance, Twin Towers, Pentagon, fire truck and police car, and last year a full size Hummer," says adviser Darryl Andrews.

After building it at school, council members then disassemble the sculpture and take it to a local mall where they rebuild it for the regional food bank's sculpture contest. "This project creates excitement and unity in a great community service project. The four-hour building time we have at the mall brings many students--not only student council members-- out early for the contest" says Andrews. "This project has totally given a common food drive a new face of success. In the past eight years we have collected more than 80,000 pounds of food."

Rolling Out the Welcome Mat
Some people just know how to make someone feel at home. When the parents of one freshman at Germantown HS in Memphis, TN, realized that their son probably wasn't the only student new to the area, they asked the principal for the names and phone numbers for all the high school students who had recently moved to the area. They invited the students and their parents to a pizza party at their house before the first day of school and gave them an opportunity to meet their classmates before walking into the classroom. The party was a rousing success. The next Monday every new student had someone they could eat lunch with and laugh with.

Welcome to My Home
One crisp November night each year, the football field at Lake Hamilton HS in Pearcy, AR, takes on new shape and new meaning, as the students hunker down in cardboard boxes, protected from the chilly night air by a coat and a blanket.

All of the Lake Hamilton clubs participate in this annual "Welcome to My Home" event, which raises awareness of the plight of the homeless. Prior to the evening, students collect boxes to sleep in during the event, which lasts from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. Students are allowed to bring only a coat and a blanket-nothing else-to the event. The only food the students are allowed to eat is a bowl of chicken soup at 6:00 a.m. When the event is over, the coats and blankets, as well as canned food and money, are donated to the local homeless shelter.

Breakfast with the Arts
Residents of the Port Clinton (OH) City School District age 60 and older were invited to attend the "Second Annual Holiday Breakfast with the Arts" which was sponsored by Port Clinton HS DECA, Leadership Council, National Honor Society, Key Club, and the art and music departments. Senior citizens enjoyed performances of the high school bands and choirs and had a chance to sing along to familiar songs.

Benchmark Bash
Instead of providing the usual advice for students prior to standardized testing--get a good night's sleep, skip questions you don't know and come back to them, bring an extra pencil--the student council at Goza MS in Arkadelphia, AR, decided to get ready for its round of spring tests with a Benchmark Bash that involved both students and parents. The Bash was a school dance and a question and answer session for parents on the Benchmark Exam, a state-mandated test that measures students' proficiency in math and literacy. All students at the middle school were invited to attend the dance and the entry "fee" was to bring a parent. Students went to the cafeteria for a dance while parents were able to choose from a variety of presentations on topics related to the testing such as four-year planning for eighth graders, test preparation, and how the test affects students in special education classes. The sessions were videotaped for parents who were unable to attend and would like the information.

All-Night Volleyball Tournament
The student council of Seneca Valley HS in Harmony, PA, sponsored an all-night volleyball tournament as a fundraiser for Shriners Hospital, which was selected by the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils as the state project. The group raised about $1,000 by charging teams a minimum $40 donation to play. More than 200 students participated. The tournament started on a Friday night at 11 p.m. and ended about 6:00 the following morning. Teams played in a league format for several hours before a double-elimination tournament began. Teams were co-ed and were required to have at least two boys or two girls on the floor at all times. A faculty team also joined in the fun. Between volleyball games, participants could eat, watch movies, or play other games. Once students arrived at the tournament they were not permitted to leave until the end.

Students Take a STAND
Realizing that Pennsylvania ranks 47th among the states in the equitable distribution of resources among its school districts, student leaders from the Leadership class at Norristown (PA) Area HS organized Students Taking Action for Neglected Districts (STAND) to educate other students and communities about the inequity in Pennsylvania public school funding.

"The roots of poverty lie in education, especially, the lack thereof. Poor education…breeds poverty and poverty breeds dependence on government. We do not want to live in a society of oppression, of unequal education. We want to live in a society of freedom and knowledge, a society of quality education…We demand better," said Paul Perry, Norristown HS student council president.

STAND organized a small informative assembly for the 18 members of the PLUS (Pennsylvania League of Urban Schools) that evolved into an audience of 1,700 to hear a variety of speakers including the governor, Department of Education press secretary, Pennsylvania State Education Association president, two state Senators, Norristown superintendent and principal, student leaders, and others.

Other districts that were unable to attend the forum due to lack of funding and/or poor winter weather were able to view and to interact in the program via a webcast. Audience members were able to learn firsthand about the inequality in districts across the state and were able to participate in a question and answer period after the initial comments. "Students and community members' appetites were whetted by this initiative and set the stage for future student-led initiatives to educate the immediate community," said Donna Montich, student council adviser. As a follow up activity to the STAND forum, the Leadership students organized an intra-school campaign to encourage eligible students to register to vote, so they can exercise their voices. Students designated a week in April 2003, as "Vote Smart Week" with the purpose of educating, informing, reminding, and inspiring students as to the importance of voting and the voting process. "Like the STAND assembly, "Vote Smart Week" was a success, and the students achieved their goal to educate and to motivate their peers to realize that students can be a part of the solution to any problem!" said Montich.

Students Teaching Teachers
Student council members at Notre Dame HS in St. Louis, MO, took on the role of teachers during a series of computer workshops offered to teachers. Members sent out an invitation that offered four programs, each as a one-hour class after school:

• Basic computer use: Sending an attachment using rich text format, cut and copying graphics, properly using a search engine.
• PowerPoint presentations: Creating a PowerPoint presentation including music, graphics, and designing backgrounds.
• Web page design: Creating a Web page using Geocities including links, graphics, and background designs.
• Microsoft Publisher: Creating brochures, fliers, invitations, labels, postcards, and newsletters.

One or two students taught each course, with six to eight other student helpers in the room. "Many teachers till cannot send e-mail, attachments, or even turn on the computer, while some teachers are advanced and want to learn video, PowerPoint, and inserting music and sound into projects" says Ann Bolzenius, student council adviser. "Kids love showing off their computer knowledge and teachers appreciate the opportunity to learn a new skill or program. As we all know, computers are great, but when we get stuck, we just need somebody to show us the shortcut or help instead of referring to the manual." Bolzenius reports that many teachers and students have formed an informal tutoring relationship for the year. "When a teacher is stuck, she finds her computer student tutor," she says.

National Youth Violence Prevention Week 2004

NASC encourages all student councils to learn more about the 2004 National Youth Violence Prevention Campaign. This is an opportunity to help focus on effective ways to prevent and reduce youth violence on your campus and in your community. The campaign was founded by National S.A.V.E. (Students Against Violence Everywhere) and The Guidance Channel.
Read more about this program and find valuable resources for use at the local level through the following links:
www.violencepreventionweek.org
NYVPC Press Release

Stuff-a-Bus

Ennis (TX) HS coordinated a competition between the seven schools in its district to see if they could stuff a bus full of materials for Helping Hands of Ennis. Each school had the bus on its campus for four days and students were challenged to fill it with nonperishable food items, coats, and blankets. Student council members weighed the bus at the end of the four days. Coats, blankets, and money were counted based on a scale that provided equal poundage value: a dollar was worth eight pounds, a new coat 186 pounds, and a new blanket 136 pounds. The school that collected the most was recognized as the Champion Collector and received free drinks provided by Coca Cola.

Kids Count

Student council members at Mason (OH) HS contact the nurses at the Pediatric Care Center who work with terminally ill children to obtain wish lists for the kids and their family members. They match each child with a first period class. Class members work together to fulfill the wish list. A student council member is assigned to each first period class to help coordinate the efforts and inspire teamwork.

As gifts are purchased, they stay in the first period until pick-up day. On pick-up day, student council members wrap and tag all the presents and group them according to families. The last day before holiday break, nurses pick up the gifts for delivery. In January, the nurses bring a photo collage of some of the recipients with their gifts with a thank-you card.

Senior Evening with the Arts

The student council at Washington (MO) HS invited more than 400 senior citizens for an evening with the arts. Council members served desserts, the Strolling Strings performed along with a select group of the Chamber Choir. During the dessert and coffee time, senior citizens viewed art displays and demonstrations by the art students. Afterward they were treated to a special performance of the fall play Lend Me A Tenor.

Family Fun Night

Every year the National Honor Society at Richfield (MN) HS works in collaboration with the local library to sponsor a family night held at the library, the park, and the community center. The evening consists of ice skating, snow golf, warm fires, and story reading, as well as an informal dance for middle level and elementary students.

Alumni Tent

At the Homecoming football game at Pinconning (MI) Area HS, the National Honor Society sets up a tent where alumni from each year can sign in. NHS members serve cider and cookies to alumni. The sign-in lists are also published in the local newspaper. "This gives returning PHS grads a chance to see who from their class has come to the game, to announce class reunions, etc.," said Vickie Tobias NHS member. "We have received many positive comments about this service."

High School Preview

The National Honor Society and student council at Hixson (TN) HS collaborate to give eighth graders a taste of what high school has to offer in their "Give Hixson High a Try" project. Eighth graders from the local middle schools come to Hixson for a day of leadership games, a tour of the building, and performances by choir, jazz band, drama, and cheerleading groups. Following a pizza lunch, the eighth graders were able to look around at a club fair where each club had a booth to tell about its activities.

Welcome Packets

Student council members at Lyons (KS) HS are assigned to new students to greet them and show them around the school. The ice is broken between them by giving the new student a welcome packet containing fun and useful items including:

• A school mascot folder that has a campus map
• Coupons for getting into a school activity (such as a dance or an athletic event) free
• Discounts at the concession stand
• Brochures from the Chamber of Commerce about the community
• A city map
• Coupons or handouts from businesses in the community
• Candy or gum
• A special handwritten note to welcome the new student.

Grocery Bag Drive

The National Honor Society at Mount Notre Dame HS in Cincinnati, OH, holds a paper and plastic bag drive each fall for a local foodbank. The drive is set up as a class competition, with each grade level seeking donations of bags from grocery stores and other sources. Last year, more than 50,000 bags were collected and donated to a Cincinnati foodbank that uses the bags to package goods and distribute them to people in need.

Senior Citizen Dinner

Working with the local job corps culinary arts program, the student senate at Denison (IS) HS organizes a turkey dinner for senior citizens each year around Thanksgiving. They publicize the event in the paper and on radio stations to attract attendees. Members of the student senate serve the meal.

Community Service Day

A small group of upperclassmen student council members at Shorecrest Upper School in St. Petersburg, FL, organize a schoolwide community service day. They find the names, locations, and needs of various organizations within the community at which students and advisers can volunteer. Students sign up for their top three choices and groups are organized with a chaperone to volunteer. "This is a great way for students to get involved in the community, plus they get community service hours toward graduation for a full school day of work," says student council member Lindsay Petty.

Service-a-Thon

As a way to combine community service and fundraising, the student council at Air Academy HS in Colorado Springs, CO, has sponsored a Community Service-a-Thon for the last two years. Each student commited to 15 hours of community service through the first semester for a total of 600 hours as a group. Each student submitted 10 names and addresses of individuals they thought would support them in this endeavor. A local marketing firm created a database from those names (for a fee) and handled tracking, communication, follow-up, and postage, allowing the student council to focus on completing the service.

"Once our goal of 600 hours was accomplished, money started coming in," said Diane Wilborn, student council co-adviser. "This combination of community service and fundraising allowed us to take our focus off of selling cookie dough, candles, and chocolates, and direct our energies toward servicing our school and community more effectively."

All the funds raised from this event over the last two years (almost $9,000) were redistributed back into the community through charitable donations. "This event allowed us to come together as a group for some of the community service events and created a much more externally-focused group. These were benefits we did not even anticipate," said Kim Madden, student council co-adviser. "The company we worked with would allow us to do any type of 'a-thon,' but we are completely sold on the community service for the many positive benefits."

Service Station

A bulletin board installed in the hallway at Wooster (OH) HS serves as a posting spot for community service opportunities for National Honor Society members and other students who want to become involved in service. NHS members send letters to more than 50 community social service agencies and service clubs inviting them to send information on service opportunities with them. The agencies or clubs design a flier with the necessary information and mail it to the school. NHS members post it on the "Service Station" bulletin board for all interested students.

Board Game Drive

To collect board games for a local children's shelter, student council members at Papillion LaVista HS in Papillion, NE, sponsored a class competition to see which class could bring in the most games. The winning class received a pizza party.

Bandfest

A daylong charity concert played by eight local high school bands provided a fun activity and a way for students at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, IN, to give something back to the community. A committee of student council members organized the event, which involved reviewing demo tapes from local bands and arranging for a stage and sound system to be used on the football field. The event was publicized on local high school radio stations and students from all schools were invited to attend.

As planning for the event progress, other groups in the school began helping with the concert. The foreign language clubs set up food booths, the National Honor Society set up carnival booths, and the Father's Association donated funds to have T-shirts printed. All proceeds from the day were donated to a local charity that provides care for a paraplegic teen.

Kick Butts Day

Thousands of young people have been working to combat the epidemic of youth tobacco use. Kick Butts Day, held this year on April 2, is an annual initiative started in 1995 that encourages activism and leadership among elementary, middle, and high school students. Sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kick Butts Day provides an excellent opportunity for student organizations to educate their peers about the dangers of tobacco use by planning activities for their schools and communities. A wealth of materials to help in planning anti-tobacco events is available from www.kickbuttsday.org.

Some ideas for Kick Butts Day activities include:

• Elementary Presentations-A group of high school or middle level students visit an elementary school class and make a presentation about how tobacco hurts the body. (The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' website at www.tobaccofreekids.org/abc/ has photos to help show the deadly-and disgusting-effects of tobacco use.)
• Merchandise Dump-Hold a contest between classes or grade levels to see which class can fill trash cans with the most tobacco merchandise (e.g., lighters, ashtrays, T-shirts, caps, jackets, backpacks, etc.) with brand-name logos on them. Conduct a rally to chuck the collected items into a huge dumpster. For an even more dramatic effect, see if a local hospital will let you conduct the event on its property using a trash bin specially marked for toxic or dangerous substances. Be sure to send out a press release and call reporters to announce the upcoming dump.
• Six Feet Under-A variation on the merchandise dump is to dump all the merchandise you've collected into a coffin and bury it. You can even create a stuffed dummy of the Marlboro Man and conduct a mock funeral as you lower him down.
• Grim Reaper Skit-Create a skit for an assembly featuring the Grim Reaper meeting with tobacco executives who sell their souls in exchange for power and wealth. The Grim Reaper whips up a secret recipe for disaster that's guaranteed to hook and kill millions of people.
• Mock Trial for "Mr. Butts"-Stage a mock trial and play the roles of the defendant, Mr. Butts, a cigarette who is charged with poisoning people's lungs and causing addiction and lung cancer; the judge; the prosecuting attorneys, who try to prove the dangers of cigarette smoking; the defense attorneys, who argue that smoking is a personal choice; witnesses; members of the jury; and a police officer, who swears in the witnesses.
• Poster Contest-Conduct a poster contest by having students submit original designs with logos and slogans for an anti-smoking campaign. Send the winning entry to a local newspaper.
• Speak Out-Have students write to local elected officials describing their feelings about the tobacco industry and ads targeting young people. They may wish to suggest the passing of local ordinances banning billboards within a certain radius of schools. They may also wish to ask the officials if they accept or have ever accepted money from tobacco companies, and why they do or don't.
• Letters to the Editor-Have students write letters to the editor of local papers, discussing young people and the tobacco industry. Any evidence that tobacco ads target young people is always a hot topic. Encourage students who are comfortable with the subject to include personal stories about how tobacco has affected them and their families.
• Kick Butts Day Proclamation-Contact a local elected official, such as a mayor or city or county council representative, and ask him or her to make a proclamation declaring an official "Kick Butts Day."

Baby Food Drive

National Honor Society members at West Valley HS in Spokane, WA organized a baby food collection effort to benefit a local food bank. Students signed up for blocks of time over a weekend to stand outside a grocery store and hand out fliers asking shoppers to buy jars of baby food to donate. They found people to be very cooperative since baby food is fairly inexpensive.

Career Day

As a service project to the members of their school community, the National Honor Society at Clements HS in Sugarland, TX, sponsored a career day where juniors and seniors interested in a particular field of study were allowed to leave class and attend presentations made by professionals in that field. NHS members contacted members of a variety of professions to obtain the speakers, prepared a schedule of presentations from which students could choose, hosted a breakfast for the speakers on career day, and escorted the speakers to their rooms.

Dressed for Success

The National Honor Society at Northern Highlands Regional HS in Allendale, N.J., organized a clothing drive for adults on welfare who are seeking jobs but lack appropriate attire to interview for or hold a job in a business office. They collected business suits, blouses, skirts, shirts, jackets, ties, and shoes that were donated to local country services for distribution.

Grad Night

Pomperaug HS in Southbury, CT, organizes an all-night party following its graduation ceremony to help students refrain from using alcohol to celebrate. Once at the party, students are not allowed to leave until morning. The community helps sponsor the event by donating prizes and money. Parents and teachers decorate and organize activities in the gym. Each senior receives a personalized collage of photographs sent in by parents.

Prom Rescue

Recognizing that some seniors might not be able to afford the expense of attending prom, the student council at Duluth (GA) HS covers the expenses for four senior boys and four senior girls to attend. They solicit donations of dresses, tuxedos, and dinner from local merchants and pay the cost of the tickets from student council funds. It is handled confidentially through school administrators so the student council members don't know who receives the assistance.

Special Needs Prom

Each year the student council of Pennridge HS in Perkasie, PA, hosts a prom for a local facility of special needs adults. Held in the school cafeteria, the event features refreshments, a disc jockey, and student council dance partners. "Our guests come dressed in their best outfits. They hear the music and want to dance and this is where our council members join in. We become dance partners for the evening," says student council adviser Mike White. "It is a spirited evening filled with laughter. Our students enjoy hosting the prom as much as our special friends from the community."

Senior Ball

Student council members at Phoenix (NY) HS organize a yearly dress-up affair for senior citizens from nursing homes in their community that includes a buffet and dancing. The seniors--many of whom are in wheelchairs--are transported by bus to the school where they are greeted by student council members. A highlight of the event is group wheelchair dancing where everyone goes side by side and holds hands. Student council members enjoy the interaction and enjoy getting to learn "new" dances from the seniors.

"Every year our students are deeply touched by the connection made with these very special people," said Stacey Cook, student council president. "The seniors are just as touched because they realize that these young adults are taking their time to reach out and go back to their time and enjoy their music with them. It's a small thing that means a lot to both parties," she said.

Senior Citizen Computer Classes

Members of Lion's Quest, a community service group at Evergreen Park (IL) HS teamed up with senior citizens in their community for a six week course in how to use the computer. Each Wednesday the students teach their senior partner such things as how to use a word processor, how to surf the Internet and use e-mail, and even introduce them to playing games on the computer. At the end of the six weeks, the senior citizens have an opportunity to show the students how much they have learned.

Buckle Up for Safety

To emphasize safety and increase the number of students wearing seat belts, student council members at North Community HS in Minneapolis, MN, stand in the parking lot each morning for a week in February or March and check the cars to make sure occupants are buckled up. In addition they hang posters of crashed cars in the school and conduct awareness activities. Each day they count how many people are buckled up and how many are not. After the week they compile the data to present a report at a safety conference.

One Homeless Night

To raise money for the homeless and raise awareness of the plight of homeless people, FCCLA members of Pomperaugh HS in Southbury, CT, collect pledges in preparation for spending a night outside. Organizers provide large cardboard boxes from local stores and on the assigned date, participants arrive in the evening for one homeless night. The evening is spent quietly and the event goes on rain or shine, although in case of inclement weather participants can bring tarps.

Drawer Drive

National Honor Society members at Booker T. Washington HS in Tulsa, OK, advertise their "Drawer Drive" with posters of stick-figures wearing construction paper boxer shorts. They collect adult-sized underwear and socks, which are donated to a local day center for the homeless. When clients come to the center they are given the opportunity to shower, eat, and receive toiletries, including new socks and underwear.

Santa Letters

Hillsboro (MO) HS National Honor Society members get a chance to play Santa each year in a collaborative effort with the local elementary school. Students in kindergarten, first, and second grades write letters to Santa which their teachers send to the NHS. Each Honor Society member receives a class to which to write responses. Members then dress up as Santa's helpers, distribute the letters with candy canes to the children, and help them read their letters.

Weatherizing Homes

Montwood HS in El Paso, TX, organizes the student councils in their district to weatherize homes of low income residents in their area. They solicit donations of weatherizing materials from hardware and home improvement stores, then perform the work on about 20 homes each year.

PB&J Sandwiches

Realizing that giving is not always about money, the National Honor Society members at Bishop Shanahan HS in Downingtown, Pa., purchase or collect donations of peanut butter, jelly, bread, and sandwich bags for a weekly sandwich making session. Every Tuesday a team of NHS members make sandwiches and one person delivers them to a local shelter for abused women for the children in the safe house. Overheard during the sandwich making: "Don't be stingy with the peanut butter-remember, a kid is going to eat this."