Elementary students at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School are giving back to the community through the First Act Club, a Rotary-sponsored club.
First Act is a service club for youth ages 9 to 11 who want to connect with other young people and have fun while serving their communities and learning about the world. SCES 4th and 5th graders are the first elementary students in Angelina County to join the First Act Club. First Act is sponsored by the Angelina and Lufkin Rotary Clubs.
On March 8, the students were officially inducted into the First Act Club by Joe McCulley, a member of the Lufkin Rotary Club. Every student stood as McCulley welcomed all the students into the club.
“Congratulations to each of you. You have been chosen to be the first members of the St. Cyprian's Episcopal School First Act Rotary Sponsored Club,” he said. “The mission of First Act is to engage student leaders, such as you, so that with committed citizenship and effective leadership, you will improve the life of your school and community and with a larger global community of Rotary Club members.”
Three students were also elected to serve as officers in the First Act Club. Sydney Kate Easley, Bridger Huggins, and Jackson Havard were elected as president, vice-president, and secretary/treasurer, respectively.
“It feels good,” Sydney Kate said of being a part of First Act. “I’m excited to do some action projects and to be a leader. I look forward to learning how to serve our community in many ways and give back to what they’ve given to us.”
First Act organizes two service projects every year, one that will help SCES or the community and one that promotes international understanding. For their first project, students have chosen to donate items in need to the Kurth Memorial Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. The students will hold a drive in April to collect items for the animal shelter. More information will be soon released on the drive.
“Because there is only one animal shelter in Lufkin, and that puts a lot of dogs and animals in one place,” Syndey Kate said when asked why the students decided to help the animal shelter.
First Act Club will teach participants empathy and tolerance, responsibility and leadership, and citizenship and participation.
“First Act provides a great opportunity to develop leadership and teaches the students an appreciation and understanding of their community,” said Kim Malnar, SCES 4th and 5th grade teacher.
As the elementary students finished being sworn in as members of the First Act Club, Joe thanked the students for their service.
“It is my privilege to officially induct you into the St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School First Act Club and to welcome you to this first step in developing your leadership skills and in learning the value of service in school and the larger community,” he said. “Thank you so much for your willingness to serve.”