The Community Action Using Student Empowerment C.A.U.S.E class made an impressive presentation at the monthly General Membership meeting of Interagency Council of Glen Cove recently. The presentation on community service captured a segment of school life, for high school seniors, frequently overlooked. In 1999, the C.A.U.S.E. began as a hands-on, learn-by-doing-class, incorporating Participation in Government and Economics curriculum, with service learning. Since then, C.A.U.S.E. students, under the tutelage of Mrs. Susan Poulos have worked independently, as well as collaboratively with prominent service organizations. As a result, C.A.U.S.E. has created a lingering name and reputation for its innovative and generous contributions.

• In 1999-2000, the class introduced a service-learning project that discussed the effects of drinking, smoking and peer pressure on middle school students. The class made a presentation to the Middle School about the negative affects of substance abuse. In addition, the class participated in an intense clean up of the Swiss Re Community Center.
  
  
• In 2000-2001, C.A.U.S.E. was very active with the Beautification Commission. by creating awareness among elementary school children about litter prevention programs and helped to clean up the Glen Cove Community. As a reward for this dedication, Mr. Richard Creede (former Beautification Commission Director) donated $1500 to help finance a class retreat to Caumsett State Park. The goal of the retreat was to strengthen bonds between the students while helping them to develop the communication and computational skills essential to service-learning projects. The class also participated in a district-wide Mock Trial program and facilitated a town meeting forum with the Democratic Party candidate from the Third Congressional District.
  
  
• The class of 2001-2002 was acknowledged for its dedication to Glen Cove Community’s youth. They participated in a yearlong mentoring program for 8th grade students.
  
  
• In 2002-2003 C.A.U.S.E. students collaborated with many groups to ensure a successful year including St. Christopher-Ottilie, the Regency, the Lion’s Club and Kiwanis of Glen Cove. In addition the class worked with the Beautification Commission and the Glen Cove Litter Prevention Program to initiate a service learning project involving the clean up of local graffiti and to perform a study on the major causes of debris on the local beaches. The class also received approval to hold a Halloween Dance at the High School-the first dance allowed in ten years. The class, together with last year’s class collected $1000 for the Ronald McDonald House.
  
  
• The 2003-2004 CAUSE class became involved with the Marquis Nursing home, volunteered at the Congregation Israel Temple, worked with the Glen Cove Youth Board and the Beautification Commission. Halfway through the year, a tragedy in Mrs. Susan Poulos’s family occurred. The class held a toy drive with proceeds going to Cornell Weill Burn Center at New York Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. The class also raised $1000 to donate to the Ronald McDonald House and with the proceeds from a Third Annual Talent show helped pay a local family’s electric bill and rent. The class will soon be raising money for an elementary student with cancer.
  
  

The extraordinary accomplishments of the past years by the C.A.U.S.E. classes illustrate how students learn to become responsible and committed individuals, enriching their own lives and those in the community. The class is a compilation of team effort, leadership and community awareness. In addition to the social aspects of C.A.U.S.E., the students also benefit from the curriculum, United States Government and Economy, such as how to keep a budget, plan projects, appeal to authority and set projects in motion. The class makes positive changes throughout their community using academically based social action programs. As a group they encourage the community to remember the Community Action Using Student Empowerment class as the class with a C.A.U.S.E.

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