The Leader-Herald

Gloversville teacher gets OK to create Do Something Club

By KAYLEIGH KARUTIS

GLOVERSVILLE - A Gloversville Enlarged School District teacher will form a Do Something Club at the high school in the fall to encourage students to do something positive and productive after class is dismissed. French teacher Todd Carangelo presented his ideas to the Board of Education at a meeting Monday. Carangelo said he has had the idea for a Do Something club for years and felt it now is the right time to get started. "First off, I don't want any money," he said prior to making his presentation, prompting laughter from the board and the audience. Carangelo said he wants to create a club that will allow the students to do what they want to help any aspect of the community, from local animal shelters to elderly care facilities to hospitals. He said he will be a moderator to help guide the students, but the students will come up with the ideas and how to act on them. "I wanted to give the kids an opportunity to do something other than something that might get them in trouble," Carangelo said. If they see something they want to to change in the community, they will be encouraged to discuss it and brainstorm ideas for change among other club members, Carangelo said. He said he would be happy with just a handful of students to start, as long as they are motivated and interested. He said he also would consider accepting middle school students, but the club will mostly focus on high schoolers. The Do Something movement is a national one that is the basis for hundreds of clubs in high schools across the country, Carangelo said. He said there are opportunities for individual clubs to garner grant money and awards for the work they do to further fund their efforts. Carangelo said he was simply looking for approval from the school board, which he received later in the meeting. For more information about the Do Something movement, see www.dosomething.org

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