Classes embrace season of giving

'Tis the season for giving, and boy do River Valley High School students know how to give. This time of year is made for joy: joy from giving happiness to someone, whether it is Saint Nick bringing toys to all the boys and girls or a group of teenagers wanting to do something to make life better for another.

There have been many service projects happening at RVHS as of late, ones that touch our community and ones that touch our world. These have been coordinated, most predominantly, by the classes.

Leadership class is dedicated to teaching students how to help the world. This was their goal when they asked every class level to organize service projects for the following four areas: our world, nation, school and community.

Freshmen are acting for the world by selling handmade necklaces to benefit children in Uganda. These unique beaded necklaces represent the different, colorful nature the world possesses, and although they are all different, they are all the same. And at $5, they make a great bargain gift for any world-changer on your shopping list.

For our nation, we have the sophomores stepping up. They have collected multiple boxes of supplies that will be sent to our troops overseas — a small gift for their hard work. But the sophomores are not the only people on campus wanting to support our troops: both the California Scholarship Federation and Falcons for Freedom club have made it their mission to make and collect as many handmade holiday cards as possible to send to troops for this amazing season.

The juniors are dedicated to making our school as pleasant and spirited as possible. They designed and are purchasing for our school a metal sculpture depicting the letters "RVHS." This will stand as a symbol of who we are and enhance the spirit of all students who see it. The sculpture also will go nicely with all the new trees planted across our campus with the help of students.

The sculpture is just the second half of the juniors' mission, however. Recently, they concluded their newspaper recycling initiative, during which they collected mass amounts of paper to be recycled instead of trashed. Way to take charge, juniors!

Back in October, the seniors took a stand against breast cancer to better our community. They sold pink feather hair accessories for people to wear as a symbol of bravery and support to everyone fighting this vicious disease.

The seniors are also not the only ones thinking about the community. The Red Cross Club is holding a toy drive to collect presents for children who may not get anything for Christmas — a perfect project for the season.

Along with this, Leadership class is currently hosting our annual canned food drive. The food they collect will be donated to a local church's food bank. So if there are any RVHS parents reading this — right before your child goes to school tomorrow, load him or her up with non-perishable food, like canned foods and cake mixes. Just let your student wonder how you found out and be shocked that you actually know what is going on at school. And even if you are someone with no personal link to our school, we would appreciate your cans just as much.

So this holiday season, don't just give presents to your family and friends: Reach out to someone less fortunate and be as fabulous as the RVHS Falcons.

RVHS student Jessica Steers contributed to this column.

Manjinder Singh is a senior at River Valley High School. His column appears every six weeks in Education.