In April, the Student Leadership Council (SLC) will kick off a school-wide fundraiser, Pennies for Patients. Pennies for Patients is a nation-wide effort in elementary, middle and high schools that raises money to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, which strives to cure leukemia, lymphoma and improve the lives of patients. Every community member, students, families, and faculty will be encouraged to donate.

The SLC began last year as a way for the middle and high school students to be involved in conflict resolution throughout the school. Due to lack of disciplinary misdemeanors, the SLC slowly evolved into a leadership group that became the liaison between administration, board members, faculty and students. In addition to the Pennies for Patients initiative, the SLC has completed and presented bus rules, now act as bus ambassadors, picked a school mascot, school colors and hosted a contest for the logo. The Council is also involved in the Teton County Youth Philanthropy Program, which provides schools with a chance to distribute grants to non-profit organizations in the area.

It is the intention of the SLC to facilitate a yearly school-wide community service project. Once the Pennies for Patients project had been selected, members went on to brainstorm ideas that would help raise money. Small groups were assigned to each level (Pre-K, Elementary, Middle and High School) to decide upon money-raising activities. For example, there will be a box sent home with pre-k and elementary students for collection of coins at home, to be brought in and counted every week. In the middle school, prizes such as an iTunes gift card or one get-out-of-homework-free card seemed to be popular incentives. We hope, as a school, to raise $5000. The level that raises the most money will win a pizza party funded by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Every little bit helps toward this wonderful cause. We as the SLC hope that everyone gets involved as much as possible, through donations, enthusiasm and encouragement. As the first annual student-led service learning project, we project it will be the precursor of many more similar projects in years to come.