The newest civic club in the Parish is the Kiwanis Club of Sabine, which was organized in late February this year. The club’s purpose is to provide an organization that is solely devoted to children and youth, to encourage and promote daily living by the Golden Rule, to help create a safer environment for young people to grow and thrive in, while learning how to become profitable and prosperous adults.
Kiwanis is an international organization, since 1915, and is made up of volunteers who are solely dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The purpose of Kiwanis is to provide, through our clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities. We cooperate as a team in creating and maintaining sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.
The new Kiwanis Club of Sabine officers are: President Kelly Dye, President-Elect James Wagley, Treasurer Suzanne Williams, and Secretary Wilma Brumley. Board members include Chris Sylvia, Joseph Steven, Crystal Bass, Mike Gunter, Shane Wright, and Cheryl Wooley.
“This Club is a fantastic way for caring adults outside the classroom to get involved with our students to ensure they are on track to become successful adults”, said Cheryl Wooley, Chief of Police for Many. “I am honored to serve on the Board of such a fantastic organization”, she added.
Kiwanis Club of Sabine has partnered with Toledo Bend Family Adventure Park to create a couple of really great programs for our parish students. The Terrific Kid student recognition program, promotes character development, self-esteem, and perseverance. Students work with their classroom teacher and establish goals to improve behavior, peer relationships, attendance, or schoolwork.
The other recognition plan is called BUG, or Bring Up Grades. This program recognizes students who raise their grades or maintain good grades from one grading period to the next. Students are motivated to excel because they set their own goals and they participate in peer mentoring, which involves their classmates in their success. When they reach their goals, the entire class celebrates.
One of the “prizes” for being a Terrific Kid or BUG, is a FREE pass into the Toledo Bend Family Adventure Park, located across from Wildwood Resort & RV Park, on the lake in Zwolle. The Park offers lots of water attractions including a lazy river, 4 swimming pools, a splash pad for kids, adult and kiddie waterslides along with mini golf, kangaroo jumper, playground, gift shop, café, and more.
Noah Foulkes, General Manager of the Toledo Bend Family Adventure Park said, “When I was a kid, my brother come home from school wearing a Terrific Kid tee shirt and he was so excited because he got free ice cream, had donuts and kolaches with his principal, and bought home a yard sign saying “A Terrific Kid Lives Here”. I wanted all that free stuff too, so I worked hard to do well in school and became a Terrific Kid myself.” He went on to add, “Toledo Bend Family Adventure Park just wants to help the kids here in the parish and working with the Kiwanis Club of Sabine is a great way to incentivize students (with free passes) to do well in school.”
Kiwanis Club of Sabine President Kelly Dye said, “It is wonderful that our local Toledo Bend Family Adventure Park has offered to partner with us to encourage good behavior and good grades with these student recognition programs that will begin with the next school year”. Kelly Dye is also the Principal at SPARK school in Many. “We appreciate their generous gift of free admission for students who become a Terrific Kid or a BUG,” Dye added.
Anyone in Sabine Parish, with a heart for our children and youthwho are our future- and who want to become part of this new club is welcome to attend a meeting and/or join the club by simply going to our Facebook page, https://k11.site.kiwanis. org/new-club-manyla/. We are dedicated to making Sabine Parish better for our children and youth. The Club meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 6 p.m. at the Sabine Medical Center’s Conference Center.