Heroes and Cool Kids was started at VHS four years ago by business teacher Mrs. Angela Salisbury, physical education teachers Mrs. Patricia Hemsley-Cartotto and Chris DeMond and social studies teacher Sebastian Powell. The organization is a way to set a good example for the youth of Verona and its professed goal is to “promote pro-social behavior in students and to create a caring and disciplined school climate.”
The group has a very competitive selection process. Students apply or are nominated by teachers and coach. One must get two recommendations, one from a teacher, and the others from a coach or competitive club advisor.
When a “Hero” is picked, he or she is expected to follow certain rules and guidelines. Some of these rules include no drinking or drug use, maintaining passing grades, and attending all the Heroes and Cool Kids meetings and events.
“This is my second year being a Hero and I was really excited to be selected again. I was looking forward to helping the fifth graders and also learning life skills from the Heroes and Cool Kids instructors,” says senior Julieanne Mascera.
The heroes are trained by retired professional athletes who prepare them for their visits to HB Whitehorne Middle School.
There are three training sessions, three visits to HB Whitehorne Middle School, a visit to Jump Rope for Heart, and participation at HBW’s field day.
“This is my third year in the club and I enjoy being a part of it because I am very close with everyone in the group and enjoy helping the middle school kids,” says senior Matt Tuorto.
“I really enjoy the excitement the kids get from having us teach them and knowing that we’re helping them for their futures,” says Julieanne Mascera, who thinks It is a fun opportunity to bond with the fifth graders and give them a model to follow.
“The program is excellent because the fifth grade kids look up to the high school students and it is a way for high school students to become involved as positive role models as a start of their early career,” says Mrs. Hemsley-Cartotto.
The group hopes this program will become permanent and will have lasting effects on the children, making their passage into high school a little bit safer and easier.