Jefferson Jaguar Leadership Team on the Move

Jefferson Primary School third grade leadership team members recently partnered with student leaders at Huntington High School along with the Interact Club for a meaningful and engaging activity.

The high school students guided the Jefferson third graders during a project that resulted in the creation of beautiful handmade bracelets using materials purchased from the Umoja Partnership. The proceeds from the sale of these materials is helping fund the construction of a library next to a primary school in Kenya.

“As part of the experience, students read Neema’s ‘Reason to Smile,’ a story about the Jambo Jipya School in Kenya,” Jefferson Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said. “Through this initiative, our young leaders are not only supporting students like themselves in Kenya but also giving back to local charities by donating the proceeds from their bracelet sales.”

The various groups of students got along exceptionally well. “With the guidance of the high school mentors, our Jefferson leaders are learning how to make a meaningful impact both locally and globally,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said. “Go Jaguars! A special thank you to our Jefferson team leaders, Dr. [Kathleen] Mallen-Ozimkowski and Ms. [Julie] Dooher, for facilitating this wonderful collaboration.”

A Rotary International program for teenagers, Interact strives to carry out hands-on projects and offers members a chance to make international connections, develop leadership skills and have fun while making a positive difference in the world. The general club motto is Service Above Self.

The Huntington club is open to any student in the building. There are more than 12,000 Interact chapters in over countries. Supported by the local Rotary Club, the high school chapter’s goal is to carry out at least two service projects a year, one local and the other aiding an international organization providing assistance to those in need.

Huntington High School faculty members Erica Murphy-Jessen and Kristiana Salerno are the Huntington Interact Club’s advisors. They are looking to build up the organization’s ranks in coming weeks. The group meets on the last Thursday of every month at 2:30 p.m. in Room 216.