Kids primed to ‘liven up’ school

Members of the Apache Middle School Builders Club, Sierra Vista, Nevada, got together on a recent Saturday to paint their school “after hours.” But according to the Sierra Vista Herald-Review, the students weren’t vandalizing. Rather, they were launching a beautification project, which included a fresh coat of paint on various gates and iron rails surrounding the school’s entrance and courtyard.

“It’s a new club,” Barbara Mosher, vice-president of the Sierra Vista Kiwanis club, told the Herald-Review. “It was chartered this year, and (the members have) been doing a lot of service projects to help their school. They are really getting involved in their community. It gives them an opportunity to contribute and do good for others.”

About seven Builders Club members and 10 Kiwanis volunteers spent several hours on the project, brushing on about two gallons or primer and three gallons of red paint.

“Having a lot of people working makes it easier,” Gary Ryu, a seventh-grade member of the club, said. “I like knowing it will help the school, and it will be good for everyone to see our school shining.”

Faculty advisor Jennifer Caputo agreed. “I think it livens up the campus,” she noted. “This event helped them show pride in their school, while helping out the administration.”

The Builders Club joined the Sierra Vista school district in sponsoring the beautification project.

“This is a fantastic contribution, a real community project,” added Jeff Spencer, middle school principal. “I think the students will look back and see the things they have done for the school.”