GREAT kids making positive changes in their environment

It doesn't take a conference to realize there are great kids in the Lincoln County community, but a conference recently recognized a few GREAT members for their accomplishments.

GREAT, an acronym for graduation, responsibility, enthusiasm, attitude and try, is a committee consisting of students from Libby High School dedicated to making their school a better place for themselves and their classmates.

This is the third year the GREAT committee has been a part of the high school climate, according to facilitator and Libby High School teacher Stephanie Germany. LHS teacher Sarah Barrick is also a GREAT faculty team member. The concept originated in the middle school level with ROAR, which means respect, organization, attitude and responsibility.

"The students wanted to take it to a more mature level once they reached high school," Germany explained. "They've incorporated graduation, enthusiasm about school and trying new things."

GREAT and ROAR are part of the Montana Behavioral Initiative, an educator's staff development project created to help students make healthier choices and navigate the social, emotional and behavioral decisions they will need to be making as they mature.

Ten students regularly attend GREAT committee meetings every Thursday. The students and facilitators discuss making policy changes, building the school climate and "wanting everyone to feel like they were a part of the building," Germany explained. Committee members also work on building spirit within the school and holding class competitions. Each class competes for "spirit points" and last year the junior class ended the year with the most spirit points. They were rewarded with a trip to the Dome Theatre to watch a movie courtesy of LHS.

The conference, as part of Montana Behavioral Initiative, was held in Kalispell Oct. 14-15. According to GREAT member Levi Neubauer, students from Kalispell, Whitefish and Libby participated in the two-day event. The conglomerate of students discussed their projects and accomplishments over the past year, as well as the projects they planned for this year.

Also during the conference, the students did service projects throughout the community. They helped organize the Salvation Army in Kalispell, unloaded 3,000 pounds for the food bank, helped build a retaining wall at a park, went fishing with students with special needs and read stories to students at a head start.

In addition to volunteer work, the GREAT members and other members of MBI brainstormed for ideas to Spirit Week and class competitions. They planned for projects associated with cancer awareness.

"We want to do something to help the committee and help students be more involved and aware," Germany said.

The students are preparing for Spirit Week, which is in January.

Each day of the week will be celebrating a decade starting with the 1990s and ending on with a Sock Hop straight out of 1958.

While at the MBI conference, students also listened to an inspirational speaker, Devon Harris, the bobsled driver for the famed Jamaican Bobsled team.

"He talked about reaching your goals and never giving up," Neubauer said.

In it's third year, the GREAT committee has been a way for students at LHS to know that "their voice counts and they're learning to be leaders," Germany said. "They're learning to find a community within their school and the benefits of having a community within their school."

During the MBI conference this year, the GREAT students were recognized for their outstanding efforts to build an exemplary school climate, Germany added.