Riverton High School’s Hope Squad held its annual Hope Week Jan. 23-27.
During the 2005-2006 school year, two students at Riverton High School took their own lives. At the beginning of the next school year, another student committed suicide. In answer to this, the school developed the Hope Squad.
The Hope Squad held daily lunch activities during Hope Week to encourage a positive atmosphere in the school. They also had a special assembly where songwriter and motivational speaker, Michael McLean, performed.
McLean told the students that he wanted to share the background music of his life and some of his experiences.
“My whole life I have struggled. I have been clinically depressed for 40 years. It would have helped me to have a Hope Squad,” he said.
Through music and word, McLean encouraged the students to hold on through hard times and to not be afraid to seek help.
“When you’re in the middle of it, it’s hard to see when it’s time to reach out. It’s okay to get help...You never know when things are going to get better,” he said.
Hope Week culminated on a Saturday morning, Jan. 28, with the annual Hope Walk, a walk from Riverton High School to City Hall.
“This is a walk where we remember, when we keep hope alive in our hearts,” Janeen McMillan, school counselor, said to the group of about 75 dedicated students gathered for the walk.
“We always do [the walk] in January because it tends to be a dark month for people. We put on some color and give people hope,” McMillan said.
The Riverton Parks and Recreation Department works with the Hope Squad each year to help with Hope Week and the Hope Walk. Last year, they donated yellow scarves; this year, yellow gloves for all those participating. They also provided donuts and hot chocolate at the end of the walk.
The Unified Police Department also participated and helped to keep participants safe.
“This is a wonderful, wonderful event. This is a bunch of good kids doing something wonderful for each other,” Chief Rod Norton said.
“It warms my heart. It’s not just the Hope Squad; it’s a community effort,” McMillan said.
Mayor Bill Applegarth spoke to the group at the end of their walk.
“The desire these students have to help each other is commendable. On a very cold Saturday morning, to see this many students walk in a commitment to their fellow students, is tremendous,” he said.
“It has been super amazing. We walk for those who have passed away at our school and for their families. We walk with a purpose,” Summer Bailes, a member of the Hope Squad, said.
The Hope Squad is a student-based program adapted from a similar program in the Provo School District. With the Hope Squad, students are actively involved in helping their peers find hope amidst struggles and to see positive alternatives to destructive personal behavior.
Each year, students, teachers and counselors at Riverton High have the opportunity to nominate cheerful and upbeat individuals who they would feel comfortable turning to in time of need. Applications are distributed and members are chosen from this list of students.
Each Hope Squad member is required to take a pledge and complete a training session directed by the school psychologist and school counselors. The program currently has 80 members.
Parker Young, a member of the Hope Squad and a class officer, described an experience he had while doing door-to-door odd jobs as part of the Silver Rush.
“At this one house, this lady was so excited to see us. The first thing she asked us was if any of us were on the Hope Squad. Then she broke down and thanked us. She had lost a daughter eight years ago, but the Hope Squad helped to save her son,” Parker said.
“I feel like we really are saving lives,” another member of the Hope Squad, Sierra Samowitz, said.
During the 2005-2006 school year, two students at Riverton High School took their own lives. At the beginning of the next school year, another student committed suicide. In answer to this, the school developed the Hope Squad.
The Hope Squad held daily lunch activities during Hope Week to encourage a positive atmosphere in the school. They also had a special assembly where songwriter and motivational speaker, Michael McLean, performed.
McLean told the students that he wanted to share the background music of his life and some of his experiences.
“My whole life I have struggled. I have been clinically depressed for 40 years. It would have helped me to have a Hope Squad,” he said.
Through music and word, McLean encouraged the students to hold on through hard times and to not be afraid to seek help.
“When you’re in the middle of it, it’s hard to see when it’s time to reach out. It’s okay to get help...You never know when things are going to get better,” he said.
Hope Week culminated on a Saturday morning, Jan. 28, with the annual Hope Walk, a walk from Riverton High School to City Hall.
“This is a walk where we remember, when we keep hope alive in our hearts,” Janeen McMillan, school counselor, said to the group of about 75 dedicated students gathered for the walk.
“We always do [the walk] in January because it tends to be a dark month for people. We put on some color and give people hope,” McMillan said.
The Riverton Parks and Recreation Department works with the Hope Squad each year to help with Hope Week and the Hope Walk. Last year, they donated yellow scarves; this year, yellow gloves for all those participating. They also provided donuts and hot chocolate at the end of the walk.
The Unified Police Department also participated and helped to keep participants safe.
“This is a wonderful, wonderful event. This is a bunch of good kids doing something wonderful for each other,” Chief Rod Norton said.
“It warms my heart. It’s not just the Hope Squad; it’s a community effort,” McMillan said.
Mayor Bill Applegarth spoke to the group at the end of their walk.
“The desire these students have to help each other is commendable. On a very cold Saturday morning, to see this many students walk in a commitment to their fellow students, is tremendous,” he said.
“It has been super amazing. We walk for those who have passed away at our school and for their families. We walk with a purpose,” Summer Bailes, a member of the Hope Squad, said.
The Hope Squad is a student-based program adapted from a similar program in the Provo School District. With the Hope Squad, students are actively involved in helping their peers find hope amidst struggles and to see positive alternatives to destructive personal behavior.
Each year, students, teachers and counselors at Riverton High have the opportunity to nominate cheerful and upbeat individuals who they would feel comfortable turning to in time of need. Applications are distributed and members are chosen from this list of students.
Each Hope Squad member is required to take a pledge and complete a training session directed by the school psychologist and school counselors. The program currently has 80 members.
Parker Young, a member of the Hope Squad and a class officer, described an experience he had while doing door-to-door odd jobs as part of the Silver Rush.
“At this one house, this lady was so excited to see us. The first thing she asked us was if any of us were on the Hope Squad. Then she broke down and thanked us. She had lost a daughter eight years ago, but the Hope Squad helped to save her son,” Parker said.
“I feel like we really are saving lives,” another member of the Hope Squad, Sierra Samowitz, said.
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