Wego students demonstrate spirit of giving
The spirit of the holiday season is giving. The students and staff at Community High School District 94 understand the value of giving back to the community that supports them.
While charitable activities occur during the holiday season, the culture of giving at West Chicago Community High School extends throughout the year.
Our students and staff engaged in the following volunteer and giving activities this holiday season:
• Students in Interact Club, Horticulture Club and Compass spent Saturday, Nov. 7, raking leaves for physically challenged residents.
• During the annual Turkey Costume Caper sponsored by the student council, students nominate a teacher to wear the turkey costume by voting with their change. Two teachers earned the honor this year, and a total of $480 was raised to benefit the American Cancer Society.
• Students in Wego Global went trick-or-treating for clean water, raised money during Water Week, and delivered candy cane grams to benefit water.org.
• The social studies department collected donations to provide care packages for Operation Support Our Troops-America.
• Students in our Advancement Via Individual Determination classes collected holiday socks for Project MistleToes; as of today they have collected 102 pairs of socks they will deliver to the pediatric department at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and local nursing homes.
• Future Business Leaders of America hosted a variety show on Thursday, Dec. 10, and the proceeds will benefit the March of Dimes.
• SkillsUSA is conducting its annual canned food drive to benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The club's goal this year is 2,000 cans of food.
• Interact Club and National Honor Society conducted a winter coat, hat, glove and scarf drive to benefit the West Chicago Community Food Pantry.
• Staff members and student clubs and teams adopted three families through Winfield Township. Food and gifts will be delivered to the families.
• Wego Drama Tech Crew sewed 75 fleece hats and donated them to Rock River Valley Food Pantry and St. James Episcopal Church.
• Girls basketball athletes and coaching staff will volunteer at Northern Illinois Food Bank Dec. 29 during winter break.
• Wego Drama held an evening of children's arts and crafts and gift wrapping at Barnes and Noble, held a special performance and hosted theater games for middle school students, and hosted a Star Wars Day of Entertainment for kids and families.
• A Capella Chamber Choir sang carols at Frosty Fest in West Chicago and during the Geneva Christmas Walk.
• Interact Club helped members of the West Chicago Rotary Club serve hot chocolate at Frosty Fest in West Chicago.
Service to others is a hallmark of our school's identity. It is interwoven into the curriculum and is evident throughout extracurricular programs. Our students and staff do not just talk about community - they live community and understand the value of giving back for what is given to them.
We continue to grow and expand our community partnerships to show our students the importance of belonging to and being involved with their community on a personal level.
I hope you experience the joy of giving during the holidays. Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season!
• Doug Domeracki is superintendent of Community High School District 94 in West Chicago. During the school year, his column runs monthly in Neighbor.