This year, Mustang Strong Day is expected to focus more on students being involved in community service. Mustang Strong Day will take place on March 4, and students will volunteer in one or two activities at the school or on a field trip for the day, rather than multiple throughout the day as seen in previous years.
The district is focusing on working more within the community this year, so the school is also doing that through Mustang Strong Day. This helps to give students the opportunity to work with peers and participate in helping the community, rather than just going to school for the day. “This year, it’s very focused on just community service,” Jill McCracken said, “so it’s not really teacher-led, It’s actually more community and partner-led.”
Lawrence Housley, a member of the school’s Wellness Team, says that while following the district’s goal in community outreach is one reason for the change, budgeting and money cuts is another contributing factor. “It can cost up to $2,000 some years, if not more,” Housley said. “We simply just don’t have that this year, so we had to find ways to cut corners. We figured, why not have students help people?”
Students are given the opportunity to choose from multiple different activities, including volunteering at the Humane Society, Partners in Housing, Rock Ledge Ranch, Flying Pig Farm, Crystal Valley Cemetery, caring for Manitou Springs parks and trails, working with Healing Hounds, volunteering with senior citizens and Gingersnap Rescue, crafting items for cats, dogs and other critters, working with the district clothing closet and crafting for people in need.
The Wellness Team was able to provide these opportunities by communicating with organizations that were connected to the district. “We have already made connections with most of these organizations,” McCracken said, “so it was really easy to ask to use their facility, or say that we want to bring kids to them. Everyone I’ve talked to is really excited to have the kids come and support, volunteer and serve.”
Nora Bowie (11) says that, out of all the opportunities provided, she looks forward to possibly volunteering with animals on Mustang Strong Day. “I hope that I get one of the opportunities to work with animals, because I think that would be really fun,” Bowie said. “I remember really liking the petting zoo on Mustang Strong Day last year.”
Bowie feels that there is a good selection of opportunities for students to choose from, regardless of different student interests. “I think there’s a lot of different options for different interests, whether you want to work with animals or help package things for homeless people,” Bowie said. “I think there’s a lot of options.”
Madison Campbell (12) feels disappointed in this change, especially due to the fact that it is happening during her senior year. In previous years, seniors had priority over the activities that they selected and partook in. Campbell describes feeling disappointed that she and other classmates do not get to partake in the activities that they have been looking forward to throughout high school, especially popular ones that were hard to get into as underclassmen. “I’m a little disappointed that on my last Mustang Strong Day I won’t be able to go to the pool or get the desirable activities like I always wanted when I was a freshman,” Campbell said. “I know the admin probably worked hard on the list to make the options fun, but I feel a bit let down and taken advantage of in order to benefit the school’s image.”
Campbell also thinks that this year Mustang Strong Day, a day that has already had decreased attendance in previous years, will have even lower attendance, stemming from students’ disinterest or disappointment. “This year, all of the activities are focused on helping the community, which is great, but not when students look forward all year to a day where they are able to have fun with their friends, and this change gets sprung on them with no warning,” Campbell said. “I don’t think as many students will attend school on that day now simply because many of them feel slighted and disappointed, and that in turn will harm the organizations that are expecting a lot of help that day.”
Housley feels that this year’s Mustang Strong Day will be similar to previous years because it brings students and staff together to participate in activities, only this year it will be specifically aimed at involvement in the community. “It’s different because we’re really focusing on community outreach, donations, volunteering and being more of a service and a face in the community, as opposed to everything happening at Manitou Springs High School,” Housley said.
McCracken feels that this year’s Mustang Strong Day is beneficial to students because it will help them be able to focus on something other than themselves, which she feels can be very powerful. “Whether it’s animals in need or other people in the community outside of themselves, it can broaden their perspective about the world,” McCracken said. “Any opportunity we can give kids to explore that, I think benefits them. I also think it’s good for the teachers and the staff that are going to be involved, because they can be a part of our community in a larger way and make a positive impact.”
McCracken is not certain if Mustang Strong Day will be the same next year, as the Wellness Team and school often tries to reflect on what went well and what didn’t, after the event takes place. “We always look at what worked and what didn’t, to try and make it as good as it can be for the next year,” McCracken said.
Housley hopes that students will have a positive outlook on Mustang Strong Day after this year’s change, and that they will benefit from the opportunities provided. “I honestly hope that most of them get into it and feel like they’re doing something good and helpful, and that they can get something out of it,” Housley said. “I hope that the community sees that, and we get recognized for that.”
