CK proud of its Ambassadors

BY JOHN DECOSTE

jdecoste@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

The Central Kings Ambassadors are a pretty special group says their faculty advisor, Rhonda Sewell.

The students, who range from Grade 7 to Grade 12, volunteer their time for a number of activities, both in school and in the surrounding community, to “represent their school and community in a positive way.

“It’s a real good news story,” says Sewell, an Art teacher and Student Services counsellor at the Cambridge school.

The Ambassadors offer their time and services at Parent-Teacher interviews; Institutions Day, guiding new, international and exchange students around the school; assisting with various fundraisers; and numerous other school and community projects.

“This year, we have 24 students who have offered their services for various events,” Sewell says, including the Angel Tree project to provide gifts for disadvantaged youth.

“As the ‘go-to’ individuals at our school, they are on call for whatever duties staff or the community feels the school needs to participate in.”

Two of the group, Grade 12 student Sarah Brown and Grade 10 student Jacob Gee, “took their days off to take a Food Handling course so they could help out with the school’s Healthy Eating breakfast program, which helps over 200 kids in the run of a week.”

The breakfast program, Sewell says, “addresses the increasing need for our school to provide food so students have the opportunity for healthy meals that might not otherwise be available.”

Teens not often recognized for good works

The Ambassadors have also fundraised for resources for the school library, raised money for the malaria prevention program sponsored by the Canadian Red Cross and helped with Grade 6 Transition Days at Cambridge and Somerset elementary schools.

Sewell said Brown and Gee “are two of the originals from when the program started two years ago. I’d feel confident in leaving them in charge when I’m not here.

“In our society,” she said, “often teenagers aren’t recognized for the positive work they do in their communities. The CK Ambassadors offer a wide range of community and volunteer services that show many of the positive things youth have to offer our communities. I thank them all for many jobs well done.”

As for why they volunteer their time, Brown says, “I like to see smiles on people’s faces,” not to mention there tends to be good outcomes from most of their endeavours.

“As students ourselves, we can approach our fellow students peer to peer. It also makes you more of a ‘people person’, which is bound to help a lot in the future.”

Grade 9 student Alex Seyforth agrees being involved in the program can also serve as a real icebreaker, especially for younger students. “A lot of people I didn’t know as well before I know a lot better now,” he said.

The Ambassadors activities take place mostly during school hours, though Brown points out, “it depends on the activity.

“Sometimes we don’t have a lot of warning,” Sewell says. “I find it awesome that I can grab one of the Ambassadors on fairly short notice and they’re always willing to help.”