Spokane students spread a message of hope with SDC Foundation grant
Stop by the Spokane school district later this month and you’ll see a clear message throughout the district. “There is always hope for the future.”
Thanks to a Silver Dollar City Foundation grant, the district is laser focused on spreading a message of hope to students and parents.
The district has dedicated the month of April to encouraging hope, but leading up to April the district is holding “We Have Hope Wednesdays” the third Wednesday of each month. Superintendent Della Bell-Freeman explained that the number of students who struggle with anxiety and depression has increased since COVID-19, and this project is a way for the district to encourage students and remind them to encourage each other.
“Our students see negatives in the media regularly and that, coupled with the impact of social media, is resulting in many who can’t see a bright future,” Bell-Freeman said. “While social media can be great for connecting with friends and sharing highlights of your life, it also lends itself to comparison, cyber bullying, negative comments and isolation, and many students spend hours in this cyber world, which impacts their mental health and outlook on life.”
The 2021 article “Hope, Why it Matters,”
written by Dr. Adam Stern and published by Harvard Health Publishing states, “Among young adults with chronic illnesses, greater degrees of hope are associated with improved coping, well-being, and engagement in healthy behaviors. It also protects against depression and suicide. Among teens, hope is linked with health, quality of life, self-esteem, and a sense of purpose. It is an essential factor for developing both maturity and resilience.” Bell-Freeman agrees.
“As a school district, we care about kids and that includes the whole child,” she said. “Part of our mission is to help students believe that they matter, they make a difference, and the world is better because of them.”
Spokane High School’s Entrepreneurship Class designed and printed Tshirts for each student with the clear message, “There is Owlways Hope,” giving a nod to the district’s mascot. Activities planned throughout the school calendar continually drive the message, reminding students there is always hope and illustrating to students that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Bell-Freeman explained that promoting hope is critical to helping students believe in themselves and just small acts of kindness can make a huge difference.
“Some of the activities from the grant are small but they send a clear message to students. There is always hope,” Bell-Freeman said. “Situations change, and there are people to help when things seem hopeless.”
In addition to activities focused for students, Bell-Freeman said the district will also be hosting an outreach in April for parents.
Food Bank distributes garden kits
Ozarks Food Harvest’s Full Circle Gardens program will distribute more than 9,000 Garden-to-Go kits this year to help families facing hunger in the Ozarks grow their own food. Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, The Buffalo Seed Company and other local retailers, donated more than $1.2 million worth of seeds to The Food Bank to make these kits.
The Food Bank will distribute their Garden-to-Go Kits to their network of 270 faith-based and community charities as well as other Feeding America food banks in Missouri, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank in Texas. To access Garden-to-Go Kits, individuals can visit the Food Bank’s Need Help webpage to contact the hunger-relief charity closest to them. They may also contact Ozarks Food Harvest’s Full Circle Gardens team at 417-864-3411 ext. 154 or fullcirclegardens@ozarksfoodharvest.org.
Ozarks Food Harvest staff and volunteers will sort, assemble and pack Garden-to-Go kit materials every Wednesday through February. Each kit contains seeds for a flower, herb and eight different vegetables. To make planting easier, the kits also contain a specific planting calendar with links to gardening instructions and budget friendly cookbooks.
To join the Glean Team or volunteer at Ozarks Food Harvest, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/volunteer.
Apply now for Elevate Branson program
Elevate Branson’s next Elevate Work classes will start March 25. With seating limited, those interested are encouraged to apply now.
The weekly sessions are held 6-8 p.m., with free dinner at 5 p.m. Free transportation and childcare are also provided.
The nine-week program, held at the Elevate Branson campus at 310 Gretna Road in Branson, is free, but there is a $20 application fee. To apply, visit elevatebranson.org/elevatework-student-application-2/.
Nixapella sweeps ICHSA quarterfinals
On February 18, 2024, Nixa High School’s a cappella choir, Nixapella, participated in the International Championship of High School A Cappella quarterfinals at Liberty High School. ICHSA, the same competition featured in the movie “Pitch Perfect.”
This region is one of the most competitive in the country, drawing competitors from across five states.
Nixapella, in only its third year of existence, not only won the entire competition, the choir beat the winners from the previous two years.
In addition to winning the entire competition, senior Ari Atkinson won the award for Outstanding Choreography, and junior Gavin Collins was named Outstanding Vocal Percussionist.
Nixapella now moves on to the ICHSA Midwest Semifinal at William