PRLHS pair takes project to council

PRIEST RIVER — Through Priest River Lamanna High School’s “Core Project,” a handpicked group of students are looking to make the school a better place.

“Our goals are to inspire core members to in turn inspire others, to encourage involvement throughout the school, to boost school morale, and to develop understanding between grade levels and individuals to create connections between different grade levels,” said Amy Flack, PRLHS junior class president.

Flack, along with student council representative Emily Holbrook, spoke about the “Core Project,” as well as other programs, clubs and projects at PRLHS, during the Jan. 22 City Council meeting. The pair chose to do the presentation for their student council service learning project, which Flack said is a semester-long project that benefits the school.

“Over the course of this past semester, we gathered information and presented in hopes of getting more community involvement at our school,” Flack told the Daily Bee. “This is the first time we have done this, but we are very glad we did and there is a very good possibility we will do it again.”

In addition to the “Core Project,” and student council, the pair detailed the goals and achievements of student council, Academic Decathlon, Business Professionals of America, Full of Beans and more.

The Full of Beans improv night is held once a month, with the goal of creating an outlet for the drama students’ talent, as well as to create a bond between different clubs within the school and to involve the community. Dinner is served during the event Flack said, so it is a “fun” thing to get out and do with the family.

In Academic Decathlon, Flack said the goals are to develop an understanding of this year’s topic — the 1960s — and to raise enough money to go to the AcaDeca state competition. To accomplish these goals, the group studies during class time and competed in the Sandpoint invitational and scrimmage. For the fundraising portion, Flack said they have been selling $1 chocolate bars and, so far, have raised $909.

In Business Professionals of America, Flack said the group “contributes to the preparation of global professionals through the practice and competition of leadership, citizenship, academic and technological skills.” Several PRLHS students, including Flack, qualified for regionals this year.

Holbrook detailed the publishing program at PRLHS, where she said the students work on the school newspaper, The Shield, and get workplace skills. They learn how to use Adobe software, and learn skills in photography, marketing, advertising, design and more.

In cheer, the goal this year was to fix complications from last year, Flack said, as well as to build a program for next year and create a more open environment and work closely with leadership. A new cheer coach was hired this year, and Flack said she thinks she is doing a “very good” job in creating a better foundation for the team.

The pair also detailed the 21st Century Community Learning Agoge, which offers after school activities, workshops and tutoring. There is also a food pantry as part of the program, which helps students in need, allowing them to take home two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and two snacks on Fridays. So far, the food pantry has helped nine students in need.

“So it’s so important that these students are getting the nutrition they need through this program — it’s really quite amazing,” Flack said.

Some community involvement opportunities include blood drives, which the next one is coming up on Feb. 8. In the past, the pair said, they have collected 26 bags and hope to exceed that goal with more donations at the upcoming drive.

In addition, the drama students have an upcoming production of “Peter Pan” March 1-2, which will begin at 7 p.m. both days, as well as a 2 p.m. performance March 2 at Priest River Junior High.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.