Students make change

‘Tis the season for thinking of others, giving back, paying it forward and being grateful. And the students in Plains Junior High School are putting such philosophies into action.

Through a quarter campaign led by the Beta Club, students supported the Dragonfly Foundation, a local non-profit that provides comfort and support to kids and young adults enduring cancer and bone marrow transplants. To help encourage donations, the committee showed a video to the student body, made posters, and presented information about the organization to fellow students.

“It hit home when they realized they knew some of the Dragonflies…students who attend Plains Junior that are battling right now,” says Anne Petersen, a Beta Club parent sponsor and Dragonfly volunteer. “Many staff members have strong connections with someone who has battled cancer and they stepped up and were incredibly generous too.”

Each day, during advisory period, quarters and other loose change were collected – and those coins added up to a grand total of $2,405.30.

According to Principal Kim Wade, “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to support a great local organization, reinforcing how they can positively impact the world around them. I’m pleased with the leadership shown by our Beta Club members who have organized this service project.”

The Beta Club focuses on promoting the ideals of academic achievement, character, service and leadership, and consists of eighth grade students with a grade point average of 3.75 or higher.