Almost everyone in GRC has heard of Beta Club in passing, but most do not know the greater purpose behind the club. The National Beta Club is for high school students with a 3.5 GPA and no suspensions. Students must get a certain amount of points over the school year from a variety of service, fundraising, and donation events in order to be inducted in May.
GRC’s Beta Club sponsor Katherine Griffith, said that the National Beta Club has a mission statement that is founded on the core principles of academic achievement, character, service, and leadership, and students can develop these ideals through being involved in Beta club.
“Personally, being involved in the community helps students develop responsibility, leadership, and communication skills,” Griffith said. “It also helps give real-world experience that they can then use in their future careers.”
By assisting in a variety of places throughout the school district, Beta Club members give faculty members and teachers a chance to step back and enjoy spending time with their students without the stress of making sure everything runs smoothly.
“We help other schools in our community by running book fairs, fall festivals, Christmas parties, and assisting schools with their events,” Beta Club president Amber Goulet said. “This allows staff members to bond with their students instead of working.”
Beta Club is more than just signing up for service events, it is an opportunity for students at GRC to give back to their town and school system by lending a helping hand.
“It’s important for students to be involved with their community because they are going to grow into our future community leaders,” Goulet said. “It gives students an opportunity to learn about different perspectives while making a real change.”
New friendships, perspectives, and skills are all things that students gain from being a Beta Club member. Being pushed out of one’s comfort zone can be scary but in the long run produces benefits for all those involved.
“It not only gets them helping, it helps some kids get connections that they might not have had otherwise,” Beta Club secretary Lillian Sands said. “It’s also nice to see them give back and be excited to see the people we are helping if we go to the same spot multiple times.”
Some ways the Beta Club has been aiding GRC is with Cinderella’s Closet and the Teacher Appreciation Breakfast and Lunch. As the holiday season reaches its full swing, GRC’s Beta Club is hard at work trying to make festivities as stress free and joyful as possible.
“During the Christmas season we help run book fairs, serve food at Christmas parties for staff, Christmas festivals for schools, ring the salvation army bell, and we contribute to several food drives,” Goulet said.
As Beta Club members help the school and Winchester community, they are also learning valuable lessons they can utilize beyond the high school’s walls.
“I hope that they learn a wide range of skills that are needed in life after high school, like leadership, responsibility, teamwork, collaboration, communication, and community service,” Griffith said. “Overall, I hope students are building self-discipline, self-confidence, and a commitment to serve others.”
