Students at McIntyre Middle School and Bellingrath Junior High Develop C.L.A.S.S. ACT Organization

Several Non-Profit Organizations Work Together to Help Students with Issues They Face on a Daily Basis

(Sept. 14, 2004) - The dawn of a new school year signals the start of students at McIntyre Middle School and Bellingrath Jr. High making a difference at their school by joining the leadership club known as C.L.A.S.S. (Character, Leadership, Academics, Social Skills, and Service). Around 37 students at Bellingrath and 27 students at McIntyre have been chosen to represent their school in the C.L.A.S.S. organization. The students volunteered to attend a Saturday retreat to develop leadership skills and plan the school year. C.L.A.S.S. will meet on a monthly basis and the representatives will communicate much needed information to their fellow students about important issues facing their school and community such as teen pregnancy, gangs, bullies, tobacco and alcohol abuse, date rape, and domestic violence.

Organizations involved in C.L.A.S.S. include Montgomery Area CrimeStoppers, Montgomery Weed and Seed, Council against Substance Abuse, Montgomery Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, Alabama Department of Public Health, Montgomery Clean City Commission, (STAR) Standing Together against Rape. SAYNO, Montgomery Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Family Sunshine Center, STEP Foundation, Montgomery AIDS Outreach, and the ABC Board. These organizations have developed a program that will help the students bring awareness to important issues that face the youth of today.