Lakeside High Students Hope to Raise $50K of Valhalla Project Money

students have stepped up to Principal Joe Reed’s challenge to lead part of the Briarcliff-Lavista area school’s first private capital funding campaign, The Valhalla Project.

Junior class Secretary Rebecca Chambers created a task force that will raise at least $50,000 of the $1.5 million goal that will pay for improved athletic fields and facilities. About 50 students gathered Feb. 15 in the school’s cafeteria to form the group that will organize fundraising events to pay for at least one part of the effort — a covered courtyard for students to eat lunch and gather on the south side of the school.

More students have also said they're interested in helping the cause, Chambers said.

The Valhalla Project hopes to pay for at least a half-dozen athletic facility and outdoor upgrades, including an artificial turf surface and lights for the football practice field, concrete bleachers and lights around the baseball and softball fields.

“We’re competing for students with (nearby private schools) and our facilities have put us at a disadvantage," said Jenny Chambers, Rebecca’s mother.

Linda Smith, a professional fundraiser and Lakeside High parent is volunteering as the Valhalla Project's coordinator. She said the students will add vitality and creativity to the fundraising process.

“Having the students involved is a must," she said.

Much of what the student fundraisers do will affirm tight connections in the community by bringing future Lakeside High students and parents at “feeder” elementary schools into persistent contact with the high school. Traditional Lakeside High activities for young children such as “Science Night Out” and “Screen on the Green" give parents free time. These events will be part of a larger picture, and new events are planned.

“We will be hands-on, active students working in the schools to (close) the age gap," Rebecca Chambers said. The task force also believes that if the "families of younger kids are able to see high schoolers that care enough about (new facilities)… it really must say something about how much we love our school.”

The Lakeside High School Foundation’s annual 5K race, which typically draws about 300 runners, will be adopted and expanded by the student task force. Also, dozens of extracurricular clubs as well as each grade will compete to raise money.

The student task force members are: Lenny Browning, Aubrey Blackstock William Berg, Leah Chisholm, Rebecca Chambers, John Ewing, Elizabeth Haan, Carla LaRotta, Katherine Marting, Charlotte Sale, Lilly Stamps, Josh Traynellis and Andrea Thomas.

Writer Tom Doolittle is a 17-year Northlake area resident, founding trustee of Northlake Community Alliance, Inc., founder Northlake Business Forum and writes the www.NorthlakeStation.blogspot.com.