Jamestown High School Principal Allyson Smith talks about new student leadership initiatives with the Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Jamestown High School student leaders are getting more involved in school activities.

Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education Tuesday was offered a glimpse of new student leadership initiatives at JHS.

According to JHS Principal Allyson Smith, the school has a rich tradition of student leadership with the Penny Wars fundraiser, and the Battle of the Classes fundraiser.

Each year Penny Wars serves as a friendly competition to help someone in the JHS family. For 26 years, students have spent the holiday season raising money for a worthy cause within the JHS family, raising nearly $100,000 for various causes across the community. Students spend the month of December leading up to the last day before the holiday break raising money for the cause. All pennies count as “positive” points and all silver and dollar bills count as “negative” points. The losing classes are each “slimed” by the winning class.

With holding a CHARGE leadership retreat, at Mission Meadows, in Dewittville, Smith said JHS began meeting new leadership goals by getting all student groups involved.

She said the retreat may help students develop leadership skills that may be dormant.

“I think this retreat was one step in that and something that we hope to continue to build for them,” Smith said.

The principal said the 80 students who participated in the retreat were student club leaders, fall sports captains, and were recommended by teachers.

Smith said JHS teacher and JHS Student Organization co-adviser Betsy Rowe-Baehr named the CHARGE retreat: C – choose excellence; H – honor community; A – act with purpose; R- represent with pride; G – give your best; and E – energize and empower your school.

“So we’re going to try to keep using that as we move forward, to kind of empower our students and make them feel a part of leadership at JHS,” Smith added.

At the Oct. 1 retreat, Smith said the students engaged in four unique learning opportunities which included Voice With Vision: Communicating Your Message Clearly; Strong Under Pressure: Turning Conflict into Growth; Fuel for the Future: Fundraising, Budgeting, and Building your team; and The Power of Generosity: Creating Impact Beyond Yourself.

“So it was really nice for them (the students) to feel empowered and feel that we entrust them with things at the high school and that we want them to build their future and what they want to see here at the high school,” Smith said.

The principal added that she is looking forward to providing more opportunities throughout the year to help students grow their leadership skills.

In other business the board approved the creation of a varsity girls wrestling team combining with athletes from Frewsburg Central School and Southwestern Central School; the creation of a Garden Club at Ring Elementary school; the creation of a STEM Club at Fletcher Elementary School; and the creation of Club America at JHS.

“We’re excited to expand opportunities for students across all grade levels with the board’s approval of several new and growing programs,” Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said. “We are looking forward to the creation of a girls wrestling team — a merged program with our partners at Frewsburg and Southwestern — which will give more athletes access to competitive wrestling in a supportive, team-centered environment in what is a rapidly growing and popular sport.”

At Ring Elementary School, Whitaker said, the new Garden Club becomes the second elementary garden club and builds on the success of similar programs already thriving at Persell Middle School, Washington Middle School, Jefferson Middle School, and Bush Elementary School.

“These clubs give students hands-on learning experiences that connect science, teamwork, and environmental stewardship,” Whitaker said.

At Fletcher Elementary School, the superintendent added, the new STEM Club will help prepare students to participate in STEM Wars in the spring and other hands-on engineering and problem-solving challenges, expanding early exposure to high-interest STEM pathways.

And at JHS, he said the Club of America was pitched by students to create a place for students interested in discussing civic engagement, debate, and current events to come together in a structured, school-supported environment.

“Overall, these additions reflect our district’s commitment to offering a wide range of academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities that help students explore their interests, develop new skills, and feel more connected to school,” Whitaker said.

At Warren Area High School, in Warren, Pa., there is a Club of America.