The Student Leadership Program, with faculty advisors, is starting a chain reaction, where students are able to add a link to a paper chain for good deeds they have done.
The Student Leadership Program, made up of chosen students from each grade level, has spread this idea to other teachers, according to Melissa Pikul, dean. Teachers are handing out slips to add to a chain that the school is making. The slips are going to students who go out of their way to help others in need.
These deeds can range from holding a door to picking up garbage in the hallways. The numerous amounts of slips are being held in the main office. Students are able to grab a slip during their lunch hour.
“People can just come up and get links to recognize their friends,” Pikul said, “to even write a note saying who they want to acknowledge, so they’ll have an opportunity to contribute to the links too.”
The deans are hoping to collect as many slips as possible. Also, they hope for this project to make LZHS a better environment by bringing small acts of kindness to a larger scale.
“Lake Zurich already has really great kids. I think this just reconfirms that notion,” Pikul said. “I am hoping that this idea gives us a visual way to recognize everyone’s acts of kindness and compassion.”
Tessa Hughes, freshman, has received a slip and believes this will positively impact the school.
“It is holding people accountable for their actions,” Hughes said. “It is a constant reminder that you do need to help your school.”
Members of the Student Leadership Program believe this follow-up act will give the students the encouragement to help one another.
“I know a lot of students do a lot of things for our school,” Jessica Pietro, freshman in the Student Leadership Program, said. “I just think that recognizing [those acts of kindness] would make them do even more.”
Doing more acts of kindness can make LZHS a better environment. However, the acts of kindness has to be higher than what is already expected of the student and teachers must consider this prior to giving the slip, Pikul said.
The finalized chain will be hung within the cafeteria on display for the students. This date is still undecided and depends on how fast the slips are handed out. After the chain is displayed, they faculty will continue to hand out slips to add it.
“Everyone [will] be able to see [the chain] and know what they did,” Pietro said. “Others can read who [has done good deeds], and maybe it will inspire them.”
As more people attribute to the chain, more continue with this program. This program helps follow through with Rachel’s idea to help one another.
“This is the year we had Rachel’s Challenge,” Pikul said. “Let’s prove to ourselves that we can follow through with [our promise].”