When Kelsey Taylor, an assistant principal at the Ninth Grade Center presented the student council with an opportunity to get involved with Foster*A*Life, they jumped on board immediately. They saw this as great opportunity for a community service project and for the Frenship family to be involved.
Foster*A*Life is a local non-profit that’s mission is to provide otherwise unavailable assistance, services and opportunities to children who are or have been involved with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. They work to enhance the lives of those children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Foster*A*Life hopes to promote a more positive self-image and increase self-esteem by promoting the overall well-being of these children.
When taking over as the Ninth Grade Center Student Council Advisor this year, one of Berklee Basye’s main goals was for the group of students’ work to reflect the mindset of servant leaders.
“I wanted them to be passionate about and to organize events to serve the school, its staff, its students, and more importantly the community. I believe it’s so important for the kids to understand the impact they can have even at such a young age.”
Basye believes that it is a valuable lesson for the students to acknowledge and serve those who are not as fortunate or have a different life experience than them.
“I hope that through projects like these and serving the community, our kids will be able to learn and gain perspective about how other people’s needs can be so different from our own.”
In addition to hosting the jacket donation, the NGC student council works to excel school spirit and engage their classmates in activities. During homecoming the officer made posters, did face painting, a spirit tunnel, minute-to-win-it games during lunches, and a photo booth. In the upcoming months the council will be collecting recycling from teachers, organizing/implementing events for Red Ribbon Week, and celebrating school bus drivers and lunch staff.
In December the NGC student council will be partnering with the Angel Tree program to make or provide a blanket to include with the gifts for each child being sponsored at the NGC. They will be taking fabric donations for student council members to make blankets and accepting donations of blankets made by Frenship families.
“I am incredibly thankful for the group of students who have volunteered to be a part of this organization,” said Bayse. “And I am even more thankful for the students who stepped up to lead. My officers are creative, hardworking, and disciplined; they are the backbone of what we have been able to accomplish. I am so excited to our campus and the Frenship community to experience what else they have planned.”
The NGC student council will be accepting gently used or new jackets and coats until November 17. All donations can be dropped off at the front office.