The Lenape Regional High School District is known for its students accomplishing great things academically and athletically. However, not many people know of the great things the students are doing to give back to their community.
Principals Tony Cattani of Lenape High School and Matthew Campbell of Shawnee High School gave the LRHSD Board of Education a presentation on all of the amazing things students have done with community service activities. Cattani said more than $60,000 was donated last year by students, staff and the community in a variety of ways.
“There is a lot going on in our schools that isn’t shared in publications, and tonight we’d like to share some of that with you,” Cattani said.
Looking at the LRHSD mission statement, “to develop physically and emotionally healthy students who excel in an ever-changing world,” there are a number of ways by which the district tries to achieve that goal. At the BOE meeting, the principals focused on the part that says creating “partnerships with families and community in a secure, challenging and energizing environment.”
The schools gave back in many ways, including food assistance, awareness and support, donations for the holidays, community clean ups, No Place for Hate initiatives and activities, honoring veterans, clothing drives and activities for kids. Cattani said students, not the teachers or administration, are leading the charge.
For food assistance, students have adopted a family, volunteered at soup kitchens and collected donations for food banks. Campbell said students also help families struggling inside of the LRHSD’s own buildings, especially during the holidays, to provide food.
The students are passionate about spreading awareness and giving support for the prevention of a variety of cancers, diseases and conditions that affect their community. They do walks, games and other activities that are not only fun, but also informative. Campbell said more than $27,000 was raised last year for cancer research through these activities. They also give back to local organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Cattani spoke of how students are also reaching internationally with Give Kids the World Village, a 79-acre nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the world. Each LRHSD school has participated at least once with the organization. Students help the children and families have a good time through volunteering.
Together, the LRHSD donated more than 900 pints of blood last year and, as each donation has the potential to save three lives, the LRHSD had the potential to help 2,700 people, Campbell said. The blood drives have received recognition for the amount of blood donated in the past.
For the holiday season, $12,400 was raised to give families a chance to have holiday cheer. Some 1,500 presents were donated by students and faculty.
“You can’t walk down the main hallway of the office at the schools during the holiday season because of all of the presents,” Cattani said.
The schools have collected 193,875 pounds of clothing through various drives.
Students also work to create connections and be role models for the younger elementary school students of the sending communities by doing a number of safe, fun and educational activities with them.
“The giving back is non-stop,” Campbell said.
Though many students come up with ideas on their own, the district provides students with learning opportunities on how to give back to the community. It holds an annual job fair with service opportunities and provide students of the district a service opportunities webpage, www.lrhsd.org/page/17. LRHSD also offers an option for students to earn 2.5 credits for 90 hours of community service and 5 credits for 180 hours of service.
Both principals said there is so much more LRHSD students and faculty do that they probably haven’t touched on all of them. However, it is a part of the district’s DNA, and they’re happy they have the opportunity to do such things.
