The clubs that have supported others in the past years, both within our school and around our town, continue to evolve each year. Many different challenges play a role in making any club thrive. Nathan Nocon, President of Tri-M club shared his struggles about how he is still working to rebuild Tri-M after many years of obstacles. He said, “The club started community service here at Woodgrove in 2016, which helped us advertise and get music out to our school and community here in Purcellville. COVID-19 did take a hit to our club, but after we have been trying to recover Tri-M and have been working to get music back into the community. Fine arts in general had been on the decline due to Covid which affected us. So our main goal has been to grow our program even bigger so that we can continue to move onward.”
Our students are challenging themselves and welcoming new opportunities all to give back to others in their own unique way. That not only attracts a different audience, but shows that they will do whatever it takes to help their community and the people around them. Mrs. Sarah Emerson, National Honor Society sponsor, shared her thoughts on expanding past Woodgrove service, saying, ¨I think Purcellville really benefits a lot from what students do, and it does branch out to all the towns connected to Woodgrove. Students also have their own ties to organizations. Some students lean into their churches and youth groups. Some people are in scouting. Some people are looking at what they want to do as a possible career, and they are finding ways to help out with organizations that relate to that.”
Oftentimes, students that are in various clubs use their outside resources like jobs or volunteering to build their service hours. They step out into the community instead of staying bound to their designated school, which helps to build better connections and support those in need. Emerson shared, “A Lot of NHS students volunteer and tutor with the Purcellville police department and the organization Better A Life. They meet with elementary aged kids and go over homework and tutor.”
DECA is a club that has community service as its main pillar. Students initiate service projects and bring unique ideas for organizations that they are interested in or would like to help in a specific way. By doing this and making those connections, this allows DECA to be student-led and gives the opportunity for this club to keep evolving as a whole. Mrs. Mary Duvall, one of the three DECA advisors, stated, “We have had several things over the years. We did one for epilepsy awareness when Colette Baine passed away, toy drives, writing letters to soldiers at Christmas, collecting items for the school food bank, picking up trash along Allder School road. Those are the ones that stand out the most.” DECA not only makes a difference around our community. It makes a difference globally, sometimes expanding to countries around the world.
With this perspective in mind, this is a wonderful opportunity to give back and improve one’s own identity. Emerson expressed, “Community service helps you get out of your own way sometimes, which is a good thing. When you do service, it helps you stay in the moment and stay present.”