Putnam City High School is the only high school in the district that gives back by volunteering at elementary schools. Once a month, senior leadership students have the opportunity to connect with younger students across the district, building relationships and strengthening community ties.
“PCO is the only school that does this where high schoolers connect with the
younger elementary school kids. I think it’s a really good way to bridge the gap between the ages and it really just connects our district as a whole” senior Rose Smith said.
Seniors get to walk the hallways that they once experienced in their early age. Many of them have nostalgic feelings going back to their elementary schools.
“Talking with new kids give those flashbacks of childhood. I like how we split up into groups and different grades to see how they feel and to interact” senior Adrian Delarosa said.
Former students who volunteer are looking forward to reliving experiences one last time.
Seeing their old school and teachers makes them excited.
“I’m excited for Super Kids Day because I did it when I was little. I want to just see it from a
different perspective and help out. I’m excited to see all my old teachers and my school, and hopefully the kids will know me from volunteering” senior Maci Billiscbach said.
Volunteering not only helps the elementary kids but it also gives seniors something to look forward to.
“It definitely helps them because we’re teaching and tutoring them and I feel like they
understand more coming from our perspective. We break it down and they have more one-on-one time with each of us. It definitely gives me more patience because they’re so
young and trying to understand and I really like it. It makes me happy. They are my soft spot” senior Lashawn Stallings said.
Story by Yaretzy Figueroa