Lamoille Union High School
Newsletter October 4, 2024
Giving Back
Our school has spent the last several years increasing opportunities for students to experience the benefits of giving back to their community. This work has been driven largely by the shared understanding that service and acts of kindness do not just benefit the receiver, but can lead to a strong sense of fulfillment for the person that is giving back. This concept is at the heart of our commitment to fostering a culture of compassion and care among our students.
We have developed numerous opportunities for students to engage in community service, often driven by their ideas. Programs such as the Student Volunteer Club, advised by science teacher Karalyn Burke and special educator Amy O’Toole, provide structured opportunities for service. This group has provided childcare for community events in an effort to allow parents of young children the ability to attend community meetings and forums. Other groups like the National Honor Society, overseen by social studies teacher Sara Reed, and Student Council, led by librarian Meagan Towle, encourage leadership in community service projects such as hosting an annual Red Cross Blood Drive and supporting community events like the Johnson Egg Hunt last spring. The Student Athletic Advisory Council, advised by physical education teacher Greg Davis, also actively gives back. Students on this council have spent time in Lamoille North’s Elementary schools connecting with students and getting them excited about their learning. Lamoille juniors and seniors enrolled in a capstone course taught by Elizabeth Lyon also give back to the larger community as this course includes a community service component for each student on the roster. Brittany Bullard, the school’s newest counselor, is eager to grow the school’s youth mentoring program, originally developed by Ian Trombulak, the chair of the counseling team.
A recent example of this spirit of giving back comes from Lamoille seniors Mason St. Cyr and Tristan St. Cyr, who volunteered part of their weekend to complete fall cleanup for a special Vermont resident. Their efforts were particularly meaningful as the recipient of their hard work is the father of Lamoille’s business teacher, Robert Fredette. Mr. Fredette has expressed his gratitude, calling the work a demonstration of “Lamoille love,” and highlighting how much the support meant to his father.
Our dedication to community service not only reinforces bonds within the school community but also cultivates a sense of purpose and well-being in its students. Acts of kindness truly benefit both the giver and the receiver.
LUHS Dance hosted the 13th Annual Benefit Dance Recital raising $1,930 that will be donated to “For the Love of Dogs VT."
