Houston Middle School leadership club boosts student wellbeing through kindness

Students from the Houston Middle School (HMS) Leadership Club are making waves in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD), showcasing a commitment to kindness, empathy, resilience, and school spirit, proving their commitment to community service and advocacy.

"We wanted to make Houston Middle School better," says eighth grader Ruthann Williams. She explains that the leadership group has fostered trust between students and staff, making it easier to discuss sensitive topics like bullying. "When the leadership group shows you can talk to people, it helps others feel better about sharing their own feelings."

Madelyn Dettwiller, currently a sixth grade student at HMS, joined as a new student, and wants to make the school environment more welcoming to new students like her, a little less isolating. “I wanted to make sure other people have friends because I see people sitting alone at tables all the time.”

For CeeJay Peterson, also in the 8th grade, the Leadership Club has been about breaking down perceptions and reputations that surround the school. “I heard that it (HMS) wasn’t a safe place, but when I got here and saw this club, I thought this was cool and I want to be part of that.”

Seeking to remove financial barriers for student events, the Leadership Club rallied community support from local partners like Gorilla Fireworks and the Big Lake Lions Club. According to members Williams and Peterson, reaching out to nearby organizations was a natural choice because of their strong, existing relationships with the school community.

Cultivating Future Leaders

Under the guidance of school counselor Teresa Harrison, the HMS Leadership Club focuses on building skills in communication, organization, and community stewardship. The club is a key part of the school's mission to foster a positive school culture, encouraging students to be self-motivators and active participants in their school community.

From organizing the Welcome Wagon and Attitude of Gratitude to hosting assemblies and the Spring Glow Party, Peterson cites the Leadership Club's diverse event lineup as a major achievement. While these events required months of dedication and fundraising, Peterson said seeing the student body turn out to have fun made it all worthwhile.

The Hawk-O-Ween event was the highest attended school event, with over 200 students and 36 volunteers. The Glow Party also garnered a high student attendance and dozens of volunteers.

The club's promotional videos successfully raised awareness, encouraging students to get involved and expand their social circles. These videos bridge the communication gap, showing students how they can connect with peers in a fun environment. Harrison highly praised the student-produced informational videos, which tackled crucial topics like kindness and distinguishing bullying from teasing during 4Cs classes. “That was really helpful,” Harrison noted. 'The students were really engaged, and you could see that other kids wanted to be part of it. They did a great job.'"

For Williams, her involvement with the Leadership Club has made it easier for her to talk about issues she sees happening. The club has also inspired her to consider running for a class officer position next year when she enters high school.

Peterson takes a more somber note, disappointed that he can’t be part of the club next year when he goes into high school. “I had a great time this year. If I could do it again, I would. No hesitation.” Like Williams, he is also considering getting into student government, carrying the energy and enthusiasm he has gained from the Leadership Club.

Impact on the School Community

Beyond the school walls, the leadership team has been active in fostering a "growth mindset," aimed at developing basic abilities through dedication and hard work. The club's activities directly reflect MSBSD’s goals to improve student success and include community members in the educational experience.

To foster a more welcoming environment, the Leadership Club introduced the HAWK pledge—Have A Welcoming and Kind School. Students signed this commitment to promote safety, respect differences, stand up against injustice, and take responsibility for cultivating a supportive community at HMS.

The Leadership Club's initiatives are yielding positive results. After participants initially rated the school’s kindness and inclusivity at a 3/5 in August, that rating increased to over four stars by December. This rise in sentiment, along with higher survey participation, highlights the club's success in cultivating a more welcoming environment at HMS. “Seeing what everyone thought of the school after Leadership started was amazing,” said Dettwiller, who intends to continue in the club next school year.

“Next year, I’m hoping we can raise funds and be able to do more for the school again and everyone will have a good time,” she said.

Reflecting on the impact of the Leadership Club, Peterson highlights the invaluable skill of stepping forward to lead. "I learned to be able to step forward and help others," he says. He encourages new members to join, become leaders, and set their goals even higher than his own.

Williams, a newcomer to the Leadership Club this year, noted that the club's initiatives were unprecedented in scale. Looking ahead, she hopes to see the club exceed what they’ve accomplished. “I want to see next year the Leadership Club make it even bigger and better.” With her sister planning to join next year, Williams intends to keep tabs on the group and wants them to push for even greater success.