![Messages on cups from WHS ASB to thank drivers are shown here. Photo courtesy Washougal School District](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Story_Clark-County-Today-Messages-on-cups-from-WHS-ASB-to-thank-drivers.jpg)
The national competition aims to empower students to work with school staff and create a welcoming and inviting school community where every student thrives
On a cold November morning, a group of Washougal High School (WHS) student leaders showed up early to celebrate school bus drivers with a mug of coffee or hot chocolate and a personal thank you. The student leaders were participating in a national leadership challenge organized by Jostens Renaissance Education.
The national competition aims to empower students to work with school staff and create a welcoming and inviting school community where every student thrives. Out of more than 90 schools that entered the competition, three were selected as winners, and WHS was the only high school winner.
![WHS student Chloe Cianni gives cocoa to bus driver Abby Johnson. Photo courtesy Washougal School District](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Story_Clark-County-Today-WHS-student-Chloe-Cianni-gives-cocoa-to-bus-driver-Abby-Johnson.jpg)
![Cups decorated by students to say thanks to bus drivers. Photo courtesy Washougal School District](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Story_Clark-County-Today-Cups-decorated-by-students-to-say-thanks-to-bus-drivers.jpg)
ASB advisor and Leadership in Project Management teacher Kyla Ritchey brought the idea to students, and they planned all aspects of the event. Ritchey said, “students worked together to gather donations of supplies, decorate cups, and organize students to show up early in the morning.” She added that students planned the event “the day before Thanksgiving break to give bus drivers a boost before the break, and to tell them that we are thankful for all they do, especially coming up on these cold months that make driving conditions challenging!”
Students decorated the cups with expressions of gratitude, and waited outside and welcomed buses as they arrived, handing drivers cups of hot chocolate, and personally thanked drivers for their hard work. At the end, students spread some extra cheer by giving cocoa to the school secretaries and security staff.
Student leaders at WHS play an active part in creating a great school climate. Student leaders meet monthly with the principal through the student voice council, serve as representatives to the Washougal School Board, and organize numerous community events like Stuff the Bus. School staff work with students to help them learn the value of expressing gratitude and contributing to their community.
Information provided by Washougal School District.
Also read:
- Opinion: OIC tells consumers not to pay for ‘insurance’ you won’t likely benefit from: Does that include WA Cares?Elizabeth New (Hovde) of the Washington Policy Center believes you should consider yourself warned by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner about WA Cares and its maybe-only benefit.
- Opinion: Same road, different speed limit?Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl addresses a question about speed limit signs going into and leaving town.
- Progress being made at GRO Parade of Homes siteThe 2024 GRO Parade of Homes, presented by the Building Industry Association of Clark County, is a little more than a month away, and builders are busy completing the luxury homes before the big event, scheduled for Sept. 6 through 22 in Felida.
- Has trust in the media tanked over coverage of President Biden’s decline?After President Joe Biden’s calamitous debate performance against former President Donald Trump, and days after Biden’s decision Sunday not to seek reelection, there are still many questions about how the news media covered Biden’s mental and physical decline.
- Opinion: Hiding the growing cost of the Interstate Bridge replacementJoe Cortright of the City Observatory addresses the rising cost of the Interstate 5 Bridge replacement project.
- Letter: ‘This election I am NOT voting for Greg Cheney’Clark County resident Wynn Grcich shares her thoughts on Rep. Greg Cheney and the issue of fluoridation in area drinking water.
- Major gas line leak closes major arterial in Clark CountyFirefighters from Clark County Fire District 6 responded Thursday (July 25) afternoon to the scene of a major natural gas leak on NE 99th Street, directly in front of Columbia River High School.