New clubs are building a sense of community in our schools

New clubs are building a sense of community in our schools
Posted on 02/23/2022
OHS Soup Kitchen ClubMehlville School District added new clubs at the elementary and high school levels this school year to focus on students’ social-emotional well-being and build a sense of community inside of our schools. The new clubs are being funded using federal COVID-19 relief funds.

“We are working on that sense of belonging for our kids,” said Cara Sapienza, Rogers Elementary guidance counselor. “They have the opportunity to work with different adults in the building and interact with students they wouldn’t otherwise.” 
Rogers military donations
Image: The Rogers Elementary School Sunshine Club collected leftover Halloween candy to donate to local first responders.

Sapienza is the sponsor of the new Sunshine Club at Rogers Elementary. It allows students in kindergarten through fifth grade to spread positivity in the school and its community. After Halloween, students collected leftover candy and donated it to first responders in the area. They also have made Christmas ornaments and cards for a nearby nursing home.

Students in kindergarten through second grade at Point Elementary can join the school’s new Exercising Eagles Club. The club focuses on helping students develop healthy eating and exercise habits at a young age. 
Point Exercising Eagles
Image: Students in Point Elementary School's Exercising Eagles club watch as teachers lead an activity on the harm words can cause and the important of being kind to classmates.

“We have noticed kids need to get up and move some during the school day and get back in the routine of a normal school year,” said Cindy Fogelbach, Point Elementary fourth-grade teacher. “Providing a club to give students more support was really important to us.” 

In addition, to learning about the importance of healthy lifestyle, also participate in activities to teach them to be kind to others. 
OHS Soup Kitchen Club
Image: Students in Oakville High School's Soup Kitchen Club are making meals and treats to share with others in our community.

There is also a new Wellness Club at Oakville High School, in addition to a Soup Kitchen Club. Students in that club are cooking food to help support local soup kitchens. Their first project in the fall was to bake cookies to distribute to veterans on Veterans Day. They baked more than 900 cookies.

“I wanted to be more involved in the community, and I really like cooking,” said Jessica Huynh, Oakville High senior. “For students who want to cook, help out or work with other students, this can be really life-changing experience for you.” 


Students don’t have to have cooking experience to join the Soup Kitchen Club. Family and Consumer Sciences teacher and club sponsor Marybeth Dunn is providing students with the opportunity to learn different cooking techniques through various projects planned this spring. 

“It is a great opportunity to help out our community and do a good thing to make you feel good,” said Aman Lueker, Oakville High junior. “We have a lot of good people working together that just want to do good in the world.” 

The other elementary and high schools in the district have also added new clubs for students to join this year. Please reach out to your child’s school to learn about what opportunities are available.



Other ways we’re supporting students with federal COVID-19 relief funds
At the middle school level, funds have been dedicated to provide more afterschool tutoring opportunities for students who may need additional support following virtual learning during the 2020-2021 school year.

Funds were also allotted for each of our schools to hire two new interventionists. Many schools hired academic interventionists to help students with core subjects like math and English. Some schools also hired social-emotional learning interventionists to help students to develop skills to keep their emotions from getting in the way of their academic success.

The decision to use funds to add additional interventionists, clubs and tutoring was made by a group of dedicated teachers and administrators who met in spring 2021 to determine what learning recovery supports we would put in place for students. Learn more about how we’re spending funds.
The Mehlville School District strictly prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, students or others on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity and other characteristics protected by law. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: contact Adam Smith at 314-467-5006 or [email protected].