THE
e n i l i h tiger
VOLUME 51 ISSUE 10 1015 Division St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Senate takes new approach to break school barriers. secretary Ryan Giarruso said. A major goal for the senate is to Staff Writer work to get the whole student body The student senate is off to a fast involved rather than the same group start this year with many new ideas of students. They are starting a new on how to improve our school and committee of communications, community. which will include student senate Taking a slightly different apmembers going into DEAR periods proach than in past and discussing years, the senate with the students “The school can wants to focus opinions always benefit from their more on comabout the school school unity. Com- and what they munity projects than on fundraismunity projects get want to see more ing. These may or changed. If people together and of include “Couch an issue becomes breaks down school popular, the senate for Cure” where student senate will will take it to the barriers.” raffle off seats —Ryan Giarruso principals office on a couch for a Student Senate Secretary and discuss it basketball game. with them to see Who ever wins the raffle will get to what can be done. sit on a decked out couch with food “We want more people involved and pop. All the proceeds will go to that are not in leadership roles or a charity for cancer patients. Another student senate because this is their project planned is random acts of school too,” senate president Austin kindness for staff and students. No Javellana said. “Students who don’t final decisions have been made in take the leadership roles should get regards to the projects, however involved just as much as those who updates will be featured when and do and have just as many opportuniwhere in upcoming editions of the ties to do so.” Tiger Hi-Line. For more information about “The school can always benefit upcoming projects and ways to get from school unity. Community involved, look for updates in the Hiprojects get people together and Line or contact Austin Javellana at break down school barriers,” senate austin.javellana@gmail.com.
Chandal Geerdes
Meg Lane Photo Junior Kaitlyn Hennings leads a class activity and works with a student at Southdale Elementary on an afternooon in November.
Building bonds Friends program delivers another year of mentoring Rachel Sharkey Staff Writer
The Friends program has kicked off another year of building relationships between high school and elementary students under the guidance of counselor Dan Weichers. This program has junior and senior students volunteer at elementary schools and mentor children. Friends members visit children from both Lincoln Elementary and Southdale Elementary in Cedar Falls, kindergarten through sixth grade. High school students can only visit the children during fourth and seventh hour because it’s the only time both of their schedules match up. “Our schedules don’t match up to the elementary school’s schedule, so it’s hard to match up our days to theirs. This is one of our biggest struggles. I am trying to find more times for the students to get together,” Weichers said. The program can last all year, and if a high school student’s schedule does match up, Weichers highly recommends joining the program. The elementary school children being mentored often are in need of a friend or feel like they don’t have any. Weichers said they will greatly benefit from the
volunteer work of CFHS students. “It is called the boomerang theory. Both students in the relationship benefit from the program. I think it is cool that high school students take time for the kids. It’s giving,” Weichers said. Senior Jennifer Ferrell, who is currently active in the Friends program, said, “I joined Friends to help out children who just need a friend. The little girl I mentor is amazing.” Joining is easy. Just visit Weichers in the counseling office. There are currently 17 high school students signed up, and he said he is willing to look over more applicants. However, Weichers said juniors and senior students are usally chosen for mentors because they are more likely to be settled in to high school and have a higher chance of having their own transportation to travel to meet their “friends” in the elementary schools. “My favorite part is seeing the girl I mentor smile non stop when we are having lunch together. We could talk for hours. She is such a smart and sweet young girl,” Ferrell said. “Wednesdays make my whole week because that’s when I get to see her, even though it’s only for an hour, it makes me feel so happy that I can be a true friend to her.”