South Makes a Difference
Student Peer Organization (SPO): This club is open to juniors and seniors who are pre-approved. These students work throughout the school year to design lesson plans specifically catered to meet the needs of 7th grade students. The lessons are then presented by the members of SPO to all 7th grade health classes. The lessons SPO members are currently working on include, Drugs and Alcohol, Nutrition, Academic Integrity, and Conflict Resolution.
SADD: This club's objective is to help empower students to make decisions with positive outcomes. Topics discussed are relevant to the members. Students create scenarios to solve the problems. Some topics discussed this year are: bulllying, hazing, sexual harassment, dating abuse, stress, and drug and alcohol use. SADD also taught members how to knit and make squares to donate to "warm up America". Squares could be sewn together and donated to nursing homes as well as hospitals. In addition, SADD also sponsors South's Annual Volleyball Tournament. It is a fun filled evening for students, staff, and the community to promote good sportsmanship and prove that people can have fun without using drugs. The money helps raise funds for school charity
World of Difference: This club at South is where members have been trained on issues relating to diversity and differences among people. The students meet on a regular basis to discuss school climate, community acceptance, and world views relations to the topic of diversity. Students then spend time creating appropriate lessons to teach 8th grade students at South High School, as well as to create lessons plans to present to 6th grade district elementary schools.
Peer Assist in Learing (PAL): This is an organization which recruits student tutors to assist students who are having difficulties with specific subjects. Advisor, Mary Sirignano, is contacted by students, couselors, teachers , and parents to arrange tutoring. She maintains a file, provides guidance and direction, arranges time and locations, and maintains contact with parents, teachers, and counselors regading progress and future planning.
Key Club: This is an organization providing service to South High School and the community of Valley Stream. Students participate in programs to help the needy and homeless. Members also participate in fundraisers, bakes sales, and in many school functions such as Parents' Nights and sixth and seventh grade orientation. Officers dine with memebers of the Valley Stream Kiwanis Club several times during the school year. This year's goal is to raise funds to support the Making Headway Foundation.