At Helena Park Elementary, leadership is more than a title—it’s a commitment to serve others with heart, empathy, and purpose. As assistant principal, I have the privilege of watching our students grow into compassionate, proactive leaders, not just within our school walls, but throughout our local community. While we utilize the Capturing Kids’ Hearts framework to build strong internal relationships, our students have developed meaningful ways to connect with and support the world around them.
Through our student-led service organization, K-Kids, our 5th graders have taken leadership to the next level. These students, along with their teacher sponsors, work collaboratively to identify needs, organize projects, and inspire others to join in acts of service. Here are our top five community projects that not only address real-world needs but also empower students to lead with integrity and heart:
1. Humane Society Drive
Understanding the importance of kindness to all living beings, our students lead a campus-wide collection for our local Humane Society. Students create flyers, encourage their peers to donate, and collect donations of pet food, toys, collars, and blankets. This project teaches them responsibility, advocacy, and the value of caring for voiceless members of our community.
2. Care and Prayer Outreach Drive
In partnership with a local nonprofit, our students collect non-perishable food, warm clothing, and toiletries for individuals and families experiencing hardship. K-Kids coordinates the drive from start to finish—sorting donations, creating care kits, and even helping deliver them. The experience reinforces empathy and the importance of direct community impact.
3. Thanksgiving Basket Project
One of our most heartwarming traditions, this project provides complete Thanksgiving meals for families in need within our own school community. Students organize donation lists, decorate boxes, and help pack meals with love. This project helps students recognize the value of gratitude and ensures every family has a seat at the table during the holidays.
4. The Giving Field Partnership: Campus Garden and Seed Ball Creation
Students roll up their sleeves and work hand-in-hand with The Giving Field, a local urban farm, to learn about sustainability and food security. They create seed balls, plant produce, and help maintain our school’s garden. Not only does this project teach science and environmental stewardship, but it fosters patience, teamwork, and long-term vision.
5. Pink Out Day: Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Foundation
To raise awareness and support for breast cancer prevention and research, our students organize a “Pink Out Day,” encouraging staff and peers to wear pink and donate to the Julie Rogers Gift of Life Foundation. Students compete against homerooms, enjoy dressing up in extreme pink, and organize campus-wide events, learning how to use their voice to bring light to serious causes.
Each of these projects not only addresses a local need but also empowers students to take ownership of their impact. They are the planners, problem-solvers, and heart behind every effort. At Helena Park Elementary, we don’t just build students—we build community-minded leaders who understand that service is a powerful path to connection, purpose, and change.
When students lead with compassion and action, they become the kind of leaders our world truly needs.
Lainey Hanna, a TEPSA member with 17 years of experience in education, has served as Assistant Principal at Helena Park Elementary in Nederland ISD for six years. Previously a middle school educator, she is honored to be recognized as the 2025 NAESP National Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year for Texas and TEPSA Region 5 Assistant Principal of the Year.
