It was great to see so many familiar faces of Kraxberger eighth grade students at our April 16 RISE showcase for rising ninth graders at Gladstone High School. We were so glad as well to welcome transfer students who are attracted to our small high school with robust college-prep and Career Technical Education programs.
The best part was seeing how our GHS student leaders helped the current eighth graders understand about the student experience and show the future freshmen around GHS's various academic wings. Our student leaders were cheering on the rising ninth graders as they entered the school (literally, with pompoms), handing them free GHS T-shirts, and talking with them about all of our clubs and activities.
Gladstone High School's student leaders did a wonderful job introducing themselves and the school to eighth grade students and families. Jake Weigel, president of our Associated Student Body, told the incoming ninth graders that they shouldn't hesitate to reach out to GHS staff members for help, and ASB Vice President McKenna Miller encouraged them to get involved in as many clubs and activities as possible.
Gladstone High School students make a difference in our community in a variety of ways. Becca Shook, who serves as assistant principal for both GHS and Kraxberger Middle School, told eighth grade students and families about the wide variety of clubs and activities that GHS students are involved in. Just to name a few examples, GHS students work on nearby environmental cleanup efforts, help younger kids with art projects at the downtown Gladstone Arts Fair and partner with the Red Cross to host public blood drives at the school.