Stories from Scott 2
Your story matters. You matter.
October 29, 2015
SMS Builders Club focus on community, create lasting legacy
“It’s amazing,” said Lisa Sutton, Scottsburg Middle School teacher and faculty advisor for the SMS chapter of the Builders Club. “People see them and ask, ‘Who are these kids?’”
These community-minded students are the SMS chapter of the Builders Club, a Kiwanis service club that is designed for middle and junior high school students. The group of more than 45 students work together on projects of their choosing and try to help make their community a better place.
In the recent past, the students created Veterans Day cards for the men and women who served in the military and are living in assisted and long-term care facilities in the community, worked early in the morning at the Kiwanis annual pancake breakfast to raise money for scholarships for local high school students, sorted and organized clothes at the CRADLE Pregnancy Resource Center, and created a first-place winning float in the local Christmas parades. The group has also won the Mayor’s Good Neighbor Award and the Scottsburg Kiwanis Club Wins Distinguished Club Award.
“It’s a great honor to help people. It makes you feet great, and it’s amazing,” said Chloe Helton, an eighth-grade student and president of the Builders Club at SMS. “I feel like I’m making a difference.”
Not only do the students work on a raising money or helping with larger projects in the community, the students learn how to become leaders and better citizens. They learn organizational, planning, leadership, and communication skills. They even create a legacy for future members.
“Abby Walsh was in [Key Club] the year it was chartered [in 2010-2011],” said Al Riggle, Kiwanis advisor for the SMS Builders Club and the Key Club at Scottsburg High School. “She had to learn how to speak in front of people. She went to Key Leader Camp and came back a different person.”
Walsh graduated from SHS in 2015, but her sister, Lily, who is in sixth-grade has joined the SMS Builders Club.
“She wants to follow in her sister’s footsteps,” Riggle said. “It’s exciting.”
For Constance Giuliano, eighth-grade student and vice-president of the SMS Builders Club, she wanted to be part of the organization because of the legacy past members had developed for her class.
“I aspire to be like the eighth-graders last year,” Giuliano said. “It feels great to help people.”
In addition to the positive work the SMS Builders Club has done for its community, the club will also have a chance to mentor younger students as the Scottsburg Kiwanis Club is starting a K-Kids club at Vienna-Finley Elementary School. The K-Kids club is geared toward fourth- and fifth-grade students.
“We are excited about our kids being mentors and teaming up with the elementary school,” Sutton said.
The SMS Builders Club works to better their community and build a lasting legacy. At Scott County School District 2, the SMS Builders Club’s story is our story. Your story matters. You matter.
SES teacher encourages others to never stop following their dreams
Not everyone has the determination or the bravery to chase their dreams. But, Scottsburg Elementary School teacher Trisha Riley does.
When Riley was a little girl, she dreamed of being an elementary school teacher.
However, her dream did not become reality until much later in life — after she graduated high school in the top 10 percent of her class, after she started a family, after she finished college, after she started working on her master’s degree, after she drove a school bus for 12 years, and after she spent time as a special education aide for six years.
“…I began to look at the future more,” Riley said about the point where she decided to chase her dream. “Is this really where I want to be in five years or even 10 years down the road? The answer was no.”
With hard work and determination, Riley made her dream come true this school year after being hired as one of Scottsburg Elementary School’s newest teachers.
“I have learned that with a lot of hard work, dedication and passion I have accomplished something that was only a dream in the beginning,” Riley said. “But isn’t that where it must start in order to be pursued? [A] dream becomes reality if a person works toward it. If I can do it, I know others can also.”
Along with her hard work, dedication, and passion, Riley had some encouragement from another Scott County School District 2 teacher, whom she considers her mentor.
“Carolyn Nowlin gave me the inspiration I needed to pursue my passion for teaching. She gave me great opportunities to learn every chance I could take. She allowed me to do lesson plans and made me feel like I was a part of the classroom,” Riley said. “…Carolyn advised me to go back to college and get my teacher’s degree.”
Nowling was not the only person to encourage and help Riley as she pursued her lifelong dream.
“I had such a big support team from friends and family to the teachers at Scottsburg Elementary,” Riley said. “The teachers took me in and allowed me to complete my teacher observations. They answered my questions and supported me the entire way.”
As a working mother, Riley needed some help at home when she needed to study or attend classes in the evening hours.
“My mom, Polly Higgins, and my stepdad, Mike Higgins, were a huge part of my success,” Riley said.
Through all the long hours at work, at college, and at home with her two daughters, Riley’s journey to reach her goals has paid off. She encourages others to pursue their dreams.
“Don’t let anyone tell [you] that [you] can’t do something because anyone can do anything when they put their mind to it,” Riley said.
Riley’s example of never giving up on her dreams is an inspiration to others. At Scott County School District 2, Riley’s story is our story. Your story matters. You matter.
Upcoming District Events
Events For Week Beginning Sunday, November 1, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
SES Book FairTime: Starting 11/2/2015 and ending on 11/6/2015
Event Groups: Event Groups: Scottsburg Elementary Events
Location: Scottsburg Elementary
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Board Work SessionTime: Starting 11/3/2015 at 5:15 PM
Event Groups: Event Groups: District Events, Board Meetings
Location: Central Office Board Room [Scott County School District 2]
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Thursday, November 5, 2015
SES Family Literacy NightTime: Starting 11/5/2015 and ending on 11/5/2015
Event Groups: Event Groups: Scottsburg Elementary Events
Location: Scottsburg Elementary