With District 2 and City Dignitaries looking on, students from “We Are the Change”, or W.A.T.C.H., at Sheridan High School took part in a special pledge signing Thursday morning on the SHS Mezzanine. Under an eye-popping blue, gold and lime green banner, the pledge-makers signed cards signifying they will choose a drug-free lifestyle.
Originally known as R.O.C.K. for several years, W.A.T.C.H. has been re-vamped from the ground up. President of W.A.T.C.H., and the club's Junior Class representative, Kaitlynne Heyer, talks about some of the activities in which W.A.T.C.H. is involved.
Kimberly Wentz is a new member to W.A.T.C.H., and serves as the Senior Class representative. She discusses another focus of the group.
Guidance Counselor Tracey Hewitt-Adams is the W.A.T.C.H. facilitator. She tells us why the group is significant.
Prior to the pledge-signing, the club had about fifteen members. By the end of the event, 88 students signed on, including several members of the Sheridan Bronc football and basketball teams.
A perk to being a W.A.T.C.H. member is that during the school day, they will have access to the W.A.T.C.H. Command Center, where they have earned the right to, as Hewitt-Adams says, “chill out, play ping-pong or pool, watch TV or listen to music.”
Currently used as a classroom, Principal Dirleen Wheeler designated the room for the group as a means to reward the positive behaviors and good academic focus of the members.
