Troy Shantz
Jenna Duarte is president of the new Builder’s Club at P. E. McGibbon Public School, and while eighth-grader admits she isn’t sure what a president does she isn’t confused about the mandate.
The goal of the Golden K Kiwanis-sponsored club is to foster competent, capable young leaders by facilitating student-led projects.
“I just think it’s cool to do whatever I can to help out the school, and to help out the community,” Duarte said.
She is one of four elected officials presiding over the 22-member club comprised of sixth, seventh and eighth graders.
When it was chartered on Dec. 19 it became the first Builder’s Club in Sarnia-Lambton and one of only 10 in Ontario.
It’s a worldwide initiative, however, with more than 1,300 chapters and 45,000 members in 19 countries.
Students had actually begun working on projects weeks before the McGibbon club was officially chartered, said teacher and faculty advisor Cameron Gordon.
They decorated at the Festival of Lights and held luncheons with residents of Vision Nursing Home. They also created a “buddy bench” in the schoolyard. If a student feels sad and wants someone to talk to, he or she can sit on the bench, a signal for other students to sit down and offer help.
Gordon said the diversity of projects and how much time they spend on them is up to the members.
“The best thing about this club is the power of the student voice. If they want to meet on a daily basis, we meet on a daily basis,” he said.
“They’ll determine how many hours we put in, and I hope it’s a very successful contribution to the community.”
The Builder’s Club was made possible through the Kiwanis Club and its Golden K members, who were already active at the school in tutoring and the breakfast club.
The service club provides an “all-around presence of leadership,” said principal Ben Hazzard. “This club allows them to translate that directly to our students.”
Kiwanis members will continue to offer advice and other necessary resources, said Kiwanian and club advisor Jim Brady.
“Any information or any questions or request that the (student) club has, I will take back,” he said.
“We can help them financially, because there is no financial responsibility upon the student in the club.”
