Have you ever received a moodle message, or palcsmail from student government? Have you ever gazed at the list of courses that you are enrolled in and wondered who enrolled you in “PALCS Student Government”? Students are enrolled in the school’s student government organization when they enroll in high school for an ungraded, government experience that they can choose to interact with passively or actively. In case you have not guessed it by now, I am the adviser of this organization. This is not the only way we interact with leadership opportunities, but it is a great place to start. The leadership center has been working behind the scenes to help students show off their leadership in their families, communities, school and the world. If you are interested in learning more about a leadership or school spirit activity, then stop by and see us virtually on any week day morning from 8 – 9 AM.
Last year we made some changes to student government with the senior class in mind. Now seniors who have taken required courses can receive a certificate in leadership at graduation. Students who take Civic Leadership will also be earning a ½ credit elective to meet graduation requirements. In the Student Leadership course students complete a service learning project in their community. In Civic Leadership students learn to manage a non-profit organization to benefit our school. Three years ago our student government decided to give a scholarship to a deserving senior. When Dr. Hanak found out about this he was very impressed. He decided to fund the scholarship himself. The scholarship is now called our annual Leadership Center CEO award. This year the scholarship is growing and available to any senior who demonstrates significant leadership initiative at our school. You may qualify for as much as $5000 this year.
It has never been a better time to graduate from PA Leadership Charter School. The Leadership Center is working hard to put leadership into the initiatives at our school. The senior class this year is very active. I am getting reports from students in our senior class who are making a difference. Over the past 4 years I want to highlight some of the experiences that I am aware of. Hanna Wilcox comes to mind as a senior working on a documentary to give our school a better public image. Julia Minster is organizing the annual Harrisburg lobbying trip, and letter writing campaign that we do in May. Jeanette Neal is the chair person of our, active fundraising committee this year. Jeanette Julia and Colleen Cartmel are also serving as ambassadors this year on the Panama language immersion and service learning trip. Brittany Kluck organized a dance and fundraiser to help raise awareness against domestic abuse. It is because of student senators like Brittany that we are able to have a western prom. Miya Gossett traveled to Panama when she was a sophomore and fundraised with her youth group. She purchased and helped install a water purification system on a coffee farm in Panama so that 30 families could have safe water. Milan Jennings is also a world traveler. In addition to being a Panama ambassador, Milan has also traveled to India twice to mentor and teach at an orphanage there. Rachelle Dambman has designed and created an adult day care diaper invention. She mobilized her local youth group to produce and distribute them. Tyler Hoff introduced our school to the HOBEY youth leadership program, and facilitated a fitness regimen at our annual leadership retreat. Issac March has served as a perennial ambassador to China for the past three years, and is chronicling his experience in a documentary he is publishing on youtube. Selena Hopewell organized a Haiti relief initiative with her church last year that started a spark that became a fire of support at the university scholars program and our staff in West Chester. Corey Kirchofer did stream clean up in the back waterways of NW, PA, and now Mr. Heme does this with numerous students annually through an environmental leadership trip to the Chesapeake. Rebekah Randler had made a project as a freshman at the Renaissance Fair that has recently blossomed into a school wide event. Several students have demonstrated leadership working with the elderly and last year several of them produced a senior citizen prom as an initiative of our National Honor Society. Our Pittsburgh students shined brightly last year by starting a weekly leadership training class. Sophia Weber is a past President of our Student Government Organization. Sophia has made her mark on every initiative the organization has done, as well as planning and implementing a service learning project in her own community. This is a partial list of students who have contributed to their communities and school to make it a better place for the students who follow them. It has been my joy to be a small part of their leadership experience.
- Submitted by Mr. Parris
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