KAY Club Members Always Thinking of Others

Jan. 12, 2012 ~ Prairie Trail Middle School's KAY Club members seem to always be thinking of others. Their one or two service projects per month focus on everyone around them, from school bus drivers to those who need food from Harvesters Community Food Network.

Projects are chosen by members of the Kansas Association for Youth (KAY Club) at Prairie Trail, and the group's executive committee decides which activities to pursue that year.

"Every KAY Club meeting involves service," said sponsor Kathy Arnold. "Some require after-school or weekend participation."

Service projects cover school, community, nation and world. As an example, students spread mulch in landscaped areas around their school in October. Later in the fall, they visited the Harvesters warehouse to package rice for families in need.

"Volunteering there is a highlight of our year," Arnold said.

One of their final projects before semester break was to show appreciation for school support staff. KAY Club members assisted the cafeteria staff one day, and office staff the next. The week also included cleaning the inside of school buses and giving treats to the bus drivers, helping the school custodians, and serving breakfast to the school resource officer, librarians and paraeducators.

The statewide goals of KAY Club are building character, leadership training and community service. Arnold believes her students exemplify those priorities.

"I've been a KAY Club sponsor for 15 years," Arnold said. "So many students have a real love to serve others and that's wonderful. I work with the best students!"

	The weather in early October was perfect for spreading more mulch in landscaped areas around Prairie Trail Middle School.
	KAY Club members look forward to their annual visit to Harvesters Community Network where they help in a variety of ways. This fall they packaged rice.
	ESP Week at Prairie Trail was a time to focus on “Extra Special People" and "Education Support Persons." Members of the KAY Club served breakfast to the school resource officer, library staff, and paraeducators one day that week. Submitted photos