Health & Fitness
Elementary School Kids Form Service Club
Almost 100 Louise Van Meter students want to be of service to their community. The school and Los Gatos Kiwanis helped them do it.
High school students often participate in clubs, like the Leos or the Key Club, that are affiliated with local adult service clubs. This spring, almost 100 children in grades 3 through 5 at Louise Van Meter Elementary School enthusiastically joined the newest service club in town, the Van Meter K-Kids.
The K-Kids club was chartered March 15 and has elected four 4th-graders as officers who will serve until elections in spring 2012. Principal Rosanne Adona spoke to a packed multi-purpose room June 2 at the club's Charter Party.
"Boys and girls," Principal Adona said, "I am so proud of you for taking this opportunity." Addressing parents and others in the audience including Mayor Joe Pirzynski and Councilmember and K-Kids Advisor Steve Leonardis—both of them Kiwanis members—local businessman Ed Stahl, Kiwanis members MarLyn Rasmussen, Bill Harvey, Clyde Horn, Bob and Pat Jones, Steve Norton, Mary Bartlett, Ernie and Rosalie Patterson, Don Wolf, Barbara Koplos and Kiwanis President Bart Raynaud, Adona added, "And thank you for a wonderful opportunity for our children."
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The K-Kids are supported by faculty advisors Ingrid Nelson, Karen Tamsen, and Peggy Garland. The group's first project was to write letters to the service men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, working through Operation Care and Comfort. Some 90 children participated in March, giving up their lunch and recess to do so.
The regional Kiwanis division is impressed by the K-Kids' enthusiasm. Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor John Fukasawa attended the charter party and presented the club its official bell, gavel, and banner.
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In January 2010, the Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos started the Builder's Club at Fisher Middle School. The response was very strong, Fisher Principal Lisa Fraser recalled at the K-Kids party, although at first it had to be explained that the club builds good citizens, not construction projects. Fraser and Builder's Club sponsor Claire Vickers suggested Van Meter, of the district's elementary schools, as the best school for a K-Kids club.
"We have all kinds of things in store for next year," said Faculty Advisor Karen Tamsen. Projects include utensil preparation for the Emergency Housing Consortium and possibly even making blankets. These kids are truly out to make a difference.
