Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >> Darren Breen / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Members of the Cascade High School Service Team (from left) include sophomores Nicole Thurston, Jamieson McDaniels and Haley Moe, who are students of leadership teacher Gretchen Miller (right).   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Service is a way of life for Everett woman 4/24/08 • Stanwood student puts her Web skills to use for United Way 4/24/08 • Everett woman creates volunteer network for families 4/24/08 • Want to volunteer in your community? Get ideas at expo Saturday 4/24/08 • Volunteering is Brier retiree's new job 4/24/08 • Audio slideshow: Why they volunteer 4/24/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008 The community is Cascade High School leadership students' classroom By Justin Arnold Herald Writer EVERETT -- Leaders lead, and in Gretchen Miller's leadership class at Cascade High School, volunteerism is in the front. In her third year at Cascade, Miller has created a program showing students that leadership and volunteering go hand in hand. "These are experiences these kids have never had before and they come into the class a little naive," Miller said. "But as they go through they get better and better. They find that when they help others, they not only help themselves but also help the community." Miller, a Gonzaga University graduate, said that her time at the Spokane school instilled in her an emphasis on service learning. She has taken that model and applied it in her class. "There is a look in their eye when they realize they have done something good. It's priceless," Miller said. "I've seen a 6-foot basketball jock at our school on his hands and knees hiding Easter eggs. Students realize that being out of their comfort zone doesn't mean they can't have fun or learn about themselves." Miller feels strongly that some students isolate themselves from the world around them. Volunteering changes that. "Right now in these kids' lives, it's all about themselves. Volunteering breaks that down, and puts them in the mindset that if they help other people they are really helping themselves," Miller said. Miller's leadership class has volunteered for numerous events, including Autism Speaks, Light Up the Night and the Giving Tree. "We are seeing volunteerism here at Cascade grow. When there is an opportunity for students to volunteer, it is almost automatically snatched up," Miller said. "They have a hunger to volunteer."

1. Man blackmailed ex-girlfriend with nude pictures, police say 2. Snohomish motorcyclist dies in collision with pickup 3. Police looking for man who held up Everett pharmacy 4. Friends plan auction, hope to save woman's home 5. Sheriff warns of Camano Island burglar 6. Arlington private school principal charged with child rape 7. 400 open houses across the county this weekend 8. Man guilty for posing as trooper 9. Cama Beach cabins a quiet, cozy delight 10. LITTLE LEAGUE: Mill Creek reaches state semifinals 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Fewer sports fields could go into Hamlin Park • Taxpayers to Stevens' rescue? • Terrace hires new police chief • Torched!: Three fires blamed on weed torches • A SuperSonics' original: LFP's Henry Akin • Juveniles arrested in burglary spree • Fire levy put to a vote • Late rally, trick play gets Vikings victory • Senior housing on way to Lynnwood • Arlington Fly-In marks 40th anniversary this year • Melody Biringer a wide-ranging entrepreneur • County home market offers low rates, lower prices, wide variety of prope ... • Good investments may be boring but profitable • Fryelands industrial park growing in Monroe • Out of the Blue Aviation expands flight training • Paul Allen’s rare Flying Heritage Collection becomes latest aviation att ... • Warbird's history keeper