- April 16, 2024
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FPC SGA members Anniel Buchanan and Shavonne Brown paint a message to encourage seniors to finish their last four months strong. Photo by Paige Wilson
FPC SGA member Amy Raleigh paints a banner that will read: "When things go wrong, don't go with them." Photo by Paige Wilson
FPC SGA Vice President Shelby Beck writes "Make 2019 your year" on a banner. Photo by Paige Wilson
FPC SGA Secretary Madi Bitner paints a quote by Helen Keller: "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow." Photo by Paige Wilson
FPC SGA Public Relations Director Alyssa Santore writes a message of positivity on her banner. Photo by Paige Wilson
FPC SGA President Tyler Perry paints the message: I can and I will!" on his banner. Photo by Paige Wilson
Members of the Flagler Palm Coast High School Student Government Association spent one of their last days of winter break beautifying the school’s hallways with encouraging messages — to start the second semester off on the right foot after ending the first semester on a “rough note.”
SGA President Tyler Perry hopes students have taken the time to reflect on the importance of their words over the break, after the school ended the year with two incidents: One student was arrested after threatening to “shoot up the school,” and there was controversy over two students who discussed killing their teacher in an internet chat group that involved racial slurs.
“I want people to come back kind of recharged, ready to thrust themselves into a learning environment that really does celebrate everybody, that celebrates all successes, that welcomes everybody,” he said. “And I think to be able to see pops of color and positivity messages and inspiration messages, that can really welcome a lot of students back to school.”
FPCHS Activities Director Cheryl Perry said some FPC students recently ridiculed the SGA members, saying they are just “banner-makers,” despite the fact they conduct at least 100 projects a year, including recently raising $1,275 for local families through the annual “Dinner with Santa.”
“We do so much beyond the banners, but I just hope people understand that the banners are more than paper and paint,” she said.
About 20 FPC students, most who are SGA members, spent the day on Thursday, Jan. 3, creating about 50 banners to display around school over the weekend, before school resumes on Monday, Jan. 7.
“I think there’s a huge importance behind the banner-making that I think some members of the student body might not recognize,” Tyler Perry said. “They might say, ‘Oh, you’re just banner-makers,’ but what they don’t see is the climate and culture impact that the banners have on our school.”
SGA Vice President Shelby Beck said the colorful posters with inspirational quotes or motivational sayings can help give students an extra push to finish the year strong.
“Speaking as a student here, sometimes coming back to school a lot of people have less motivation because they had so much fun over break, so to have something right in their face uplift them really helps me and a lot of the students,” Beck said.
Cheryl Perry said the banners will also reflect the school’s theme of the year: “If not you, then who?”
“Our mission is always to just be positive, be good academically and to celebrate the successes of others. That’s part of our SGA mission statement,” she said. “They had a conversation in class: ‘Wow, we’re ending the year on such a rough note. We want to start with something positive.’”
