Written by Brandon Vickrey, Pow Wow Student Newspaper Editor-in-Chief
Every day all year around, a multitude of positive happenings take place within the walls of Portage High School. However, this time of year, students are stepping up to serve the community in an especially noteworthy way.
During the month of December, the students and staff members of Portage High School have rallied behind a common cause, motivated by holiday spirit, compassion and good will. The students are helping people in need by participating in service projects with their second module classes.
"We just threw it out last year to teachers and the teachers really just took it and ran with it," principal Caren Swickard said. "We decided to have every staff member do it with their second mod. class; that way every student in the building would be exposed to one project."
Science teacher Tami Kepshire helped coordinate the classes' service projects and enjoyed finding out which project each of the classes decided to tackle.
"There are projects that I never thought about doing and they are ones that kids have created and kids have come up with the ideas," Kepshire said. "That makes it special and it shows that we really have some neat kids that are willing to go out of their way to help other people."
Kepshire's class made cookies, candy and sang Christmas carols. She said the students had just as much fun as the Alzheimer's patients when they caroled at Golden Living Center.
Classes' service projects varied from making Christmas cards, buying for Angel Tree students, reading to children and making clothing for those in need.
Kara Rupcich's art class made ceramic ornaments for the Sterling House nursing home, which is located on Swanson Road in Portage. Art teachers Paula Wiese and Cynthia Stojic's classes worked together to raise money for both an Angel Tree family and the Comfort Dog Program, raising a total of $160.
English teacher Katrina Ross's class presented appreciation gifts to the school's cafeteria and custodial staffs.
"One of my girls said that one of the lunch ladies had such a joyous reaction that it looked as if she was about to cry," Ross said. "It brought tears to the girl's eyes as well. The class felt that the lunch ladies and custodians were very unappreciated and overlooked."
Math teacher Amy Bertalan's class elected to help a Guatemalan family. This past summer, Bertalan's daughter traveled to Guatemala, where she met a boy named Mario whose family is very poor. The class raised over $200 at a bake sale during a girls basketball game.
Through an organization called Mayan Families, the class was able to purchase a mattress, water filter, stove and food basket for Mario's family. The class received a thank you letter via email from Mayan Families in Guatemala.
During the holiday season, PHS students enjoy spending time with family, eating holiday treats, ripping gifts open and catching up on a little rest and relaxation, but nothing can equate to the joy they have experienced by putting a smile on someone else's face.