April 27: Stepping Up For Youth
RAVES: With problems faced in today's world, I would like to applaud young people for the good things they do. I would especially like to congratulate the young people at John Tyler High School. I am positive there are other schools with students to be raved about; however, I know John Tyler best. I am privileged to teach there.
This year - 2007-08 - the students at JT have stepped up to the plate. All organizations have been committed to the community of Tyler, spurred on, in part, by leadership of the Student Council and their sponsor Casie Homer. Some of the successes: Fall John Tyler/Lee Pantry Raid to benefit the East Texas Food Bank; Fall blood drive- 88 units donated in honor of our own Cindy Grimes; Leukemia and Lymphoma "Pennies for Pasta" drive. Our $1,000 goal was blown out of the water with over $3,000 collected; and Spring blood drive - 150 units donated. That is a Tyler ISD record.
April is Child Abuse Awareness month. The CPS initiative "You can't Walk Away From Child Abuse" was guided by Carol Boyle and Food & Consumer Science classes. John Tyler collected over 600 pairs of shoes to help CPS raise awareness.
Other school organizations require community service of their members. Some recycle to promote a greener earth, adopt highways and visit hospital patients to deliver stuffed animals. Others assist students, struggling in classes, with peer tutoring. May 10, John Tyler students, teachers, family, and friends will participate in both the Komen Race for the Cure and the Komen Sleep-In for the Cure.
It is easy to hear complaints about young people in today's world. Let's give credit where credit is due. Tyler students, specifically those at John Tyler High School, know how to give back to the community from which they receive support.
Nita Maxwell
Whitehouse
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