Many students at Arcola School have a strong connection to the community and have recently been inspired to establish SMACK, "Students Making A Change with Kindness."
In late October the school held a Challenge Day, which saw the grade 7 class, with supervision from Heather Saarela and Katrina Chase, begin hosting mini-challenges each week. These challenges were held to create and spread positivity throughout the school.
Melissa Ellis, a grade 7 student, explained that it started with small actions like a class food drive for the food bank and sharing lunch with somebody who might not have one. Essentially they took part in small things around the school and for the community which had a much greater impact than they realized.
Whitney Paul, coordinator for Challenge Day at Arcola School, was impressed by the grade 7 class dedication and ingenuity; but, wanted to see something on a larger scale. She wanted the entire school to start participating and was, thusly, excited when a group of high school girls explained they had some ideas.
"We're just kind of trying to get out into the community and school and get everybody working together and trying to make a change because there [are] adults that do little things for us that we don't acknowledge all of the time, so we want to give back to the people that have been giving to us," Jordan Johnston, a grade 11 student, explained.
From here the idea snowballed and, though in its infancy, SMACK is currently following through with a number of ideas.
"I am very excited to see the ambition that all members are showing to get this group started and I look forward to seeing what they come up with in the future" Paul explained.
"We have incredible support here on the school level and I hope to see the community join in as well."
These ideas to impact the school and community include donations to the Food Bank, helping members of the community in need, and helping put together Christmas dinner baskets.
"Phyllis Cameron broke her hip, so we put together a card from our school because she makes us cinnamon buns every year... and sent it to her when she was in Regina," Johnston explained. "And we plan to go visit her and help her with her Christmas stuff..."
"And in the New Year we want to do a musical performance for some older people and just little things like that."
The school was recently issued a challenge by SMACK. Raise donation items for the Food Bank and the homeroom class with the most will win a pizza party. By Thursday, Dec. 12, the school had accumulated 464.5 lbs of food for the Carlyle and District Food Bank and by Monday, Dec. 16, they had over 1,100 lbs, with more possibly on the way. Out of this the grade 11 class was in the lead for the high school, while heated competition in the elementary end was between grade 3 and grade 6 separated by a mere 2 lbs.
Members of SMACK include Paul, Heather Saarela, Megan Hillstead, Billie Rolufs, Katrina Chase, Chloe Rolufs (gr. 11), Jordan Johnston (gr. 11), Chalis Harambura (gr. 11), Kylee Dixon (gr. 7), Melissa Ellis (gr. 7), McKenna Harkness (gr. 7), Hunter Rolufs (gr. 8), and Josh Jones (gr. 8). Though these are the regular members SMACK has seen many students willing to help with projects, but simply unable to commit completely to the group.
Overall the group aims to make a positive impact on both the school and the community, creating ties between the two.
"We're hoping to make a positive impact on everybody..." Johnston stated. "We want our school to become more outgoing and involved in things like helping out in the community..."
"...we'd like to see our community and our school be more tight knit and focused on helping each other."
