As of this school year, the Polson High School Key Club has brand new advisors. Together, Carrie Lapierre, Stacey Ellis, Amanda Ramesar, and Lori Dickson help facilitate the club's meetings. In Key Club students are able to volunteer in their community and develop leadership skills. Recently, seven members of the club volunteered at the local Elks Lodge for preparation of their annual Thanksgiving feast accumulating over twelve hours of service. They helped with preparation for over 1,300 free meals for pick-up or delivery. In December, they spent three days setting and cleaning up for the annual winter dance Spree. Vice President Chloe Bowen said her most memorable moment was “the moon dangling from the ceiling, and how she almost banged her head.” The dance was successful with more than 200 attendees. In the near future they will host a blanket and towel drive during home basketball games so that they can donate them to the Mission Valley Animal Shelter.  

Kris Kelly, special education teacher, has begun a new way of building relationships within her classroom. On Tuesdays, during her 3rd, 6th and 7th period classes, she asks students to form a circle. This circle represents safety and an environment that is free of judgment and helps to build trust among students and teachers. Sophomore Rosie Edge shares her opinion on circle time, “That’s what I like about circle time. It gives you a chance to say what you want to say and also debrief your thoughts.” Within the circle, they dive into subjects consisting of school policies, feelings of adulting, and any other worries or thoughts they may have. Kelly, who has been learning about Indigenous culture while obtaining her masters degree, learned of native culture using circles to better understand themselves and those around them. This made her want to incorporate this into her students' lives.