Five Westfield High School seniors have established the Teen Task Force, which partnered with the Hamilton County Health Dept. to launch an educational campaign designed to keep students learning in the classroom instead of virtually.
The students are Ellary Detamore, Peighton Isley, Jake Richardson, Sarah Weglarz and Benji Welch. Their campaign is called “Show Some C.L.A.S.S,” which stands for, as follows:
- C – Check the student’s temperature every morning before sending them to school.
- L – Lead by example. Be sure to wear a mask and model good social distancing.
- A – Avoid social gatherings. Slumber parties, carpools and birthday parties are discouraged.
- S – Schedule a test if you or someone in your family exhibits signs of COVID-19.
- S – Stay home until you receive your test results or if you are not feeling well.
“It’s important to me that school remains open in order to have a successful finish to my academic career at Westfield High School,” Richardson stated. “Students need to understand that what we do outside of school could decide whether or not we stay in school. That means keeping our social circles small and avoiding in-home gatherings – especially as we approach the holiday season.”
School task forces also have been established at Carmel, Hamilton Heights and Sheridan high schools.
“Being physically in the building with their peers is important to our students,” stated Beth Ellis, the WHS staff sponsor for the task force. “Westfield’s Teen Task Force has a voice within our student population. Their message carries weight and influence. It is so rewarding to see them take the initiative and to encourage the student body to do what it needs to do in order to keep learning in person.”
The Indiana State Dept. of Health found high school-aged students are responsible for the largest number of new positive COVID-19 cases reported in ages 0 to 19.
“We’re not naive enough to think that teens are looking to the Centers for Disease Control or the Health Department for COVID-19 guidance,” stated Tammy Sander, creator of the county’s Show Some C.L.A.S.S. campaign. “They get their information from very different sources than adults, so for this campaign to be successful, we knew we’d need to meet them where they’re at. That’s why the Teen Task Forces have been such an integral part of the campaign.”
The C.L.A.S.S. campaign also has enlisted the help of teachers, local libraries, youth sports organizations and parent/teacher organizations. For more, visit showsomeclass.org.
