What’s recently happened?
The Junior Class of 2024 at Kouts High School (KHS) just wrapped up their Valentine’s fundraiser.
Every year, the junior class sells carnations for only $1 each. This year was the first time lollipops were also available as a substitute for the flowers.
What’s special about this fundraiser is that not just high school students are included. Elementary, middle, and high school students can all purchase a carnation or lollipop to send to anyone in grades K-12 with a personal message enclosed. Parents could buy for an entire class, and students could also order for family members outside of the school to take home.
On Tuesday, February 14, the carnations and lollipops will be delivered at the end of the school day. The money raised will be used for the junior class’s graduation and for their senior trip costs for next year.
This fundraiser brings a lot of joy every year. It’s a day where those that receive the gift can feel loved and appreciated, and those that bought the present can feel good for doing something nice for someone else.
Student Council and others in the junior class also have a volunteer opportunity to sort and organize the carnations and lollipops. Volunteering sparks more feelings of happiness as you see the glee in everyone else’s eyes as they receive their gifts.
What’s coming up?
The East Porter Honor Society (EPHS) at KHS has a couple of events coming up this month.
On Thursday, February 9, the group is hosting a “Name Your Price” bake sale at KHS during the JV Boys Basketball and Varsity Boys Basketball games against Morgan Township High School.
The EPHS students are baking the items themselves, and some are working shifts to sell the baked goods during both games starting at 4:15 p.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m.
There will be a large variety of baked goods ranging from fruitcake to no-bake cookies to banana bread. All items will be sold individually wrapped.
All the proceeds will go in support of EPHS to use in funding future volunteer events throughout the community.
The second event that EPHS is hosting is another community-wide food drive.
On Saturday, February 25, the students will be in groups and dropping off bags for community members to add canned goods and other nonperishable items to.
The following week, on March 4, students will go around again collecting the donated items and sorting them at Pleasant Township Food Pantry located in Kouts, Indiana.
Hopefully, this second food drive will benefit families in need that are in the area.
Staff spotlight:
Leana Palmer is the secondary secretary for Kouts Middle High School (KMHS) and has been for 10 years now. Even though she originally took the position to share the same schedule as her children, Palmer enjoys office work.
A lot goes into being a secretary that outsiders normally wouldn’t see. Palmer is busy all day as there is a lot to do to keep a school running.
“My day begins by making sure that we have a substitute for every teacher who is not here and assembling the materials the subs will need. I update the daily announcements, take phone calls for students who are absent, answer the door to screen visitors, and write passes for late arrivals. Throughout the day, I answer parent and student questions, and in between, I work on miscellaneous projects,” she said.
One of Palmer’s best qualities is how helpful she is to whoever walks through the office doors. She has a list of attributes and skills that aid her in her work.
“Some of the qualities that help in my position are being helpful, organized, being able to type well and learn new computer programs, and being flexible; what needs to be worked on often changes minute-by-minute,” she said.
KMHS is lucky to have Palmer as not only is she so hardworking but she likes what she does every day.
"I enjoy helping our students and parents, and I'm thankful to have great co-workers too," she said.
Certainly, KMHS would not be the same place without Palmer behind the desk.
Student spotlight:
Alexandra Burrick is a junior at KHS and is currently the treasurer of the Class of 2024. She has been a part of the Student Council at KHS for three years now.
Some of the activities she has helped plan are Trunk or Treat, Operation Christmas Child, Carnation Fundraiser, Porter County Leadership Conference, and the Scholastic Soup and Cornbread Sales.
“My favorite activity I've helped plan is the Porter County Leadership Conference. I got to work with a bunch of kids from all across the Porter County schools to plan an event where teenagers come together and learn how to connect better and be open with others. Furthermore, I'm glad I got the opportunity to be a part of planning such a wonderful day for those students,” Burrick said.
Students that are in the council are spread across all four classes, so she sees and works with students that she may not see every day; this is exactly her favorite part about being a member of the Student Council.
Being a member of a leadership organization leads to many situations where you learn things that are applicable to life.
“I've learned how to be confident talking in front of an audience and how to lead people,” she said.
Burrick is heavily involved in the on-goings at KHS. Other than being a student officer in Student Council, she plays soccer, is on the color guard team, and is a member of the EPHS.