MUNCY — A recent visit to Muncy High School found an enthusiastic group of students and advisors who wholeheartedly believe in the club they represent: The M Club. As explained by club advisors, Brooke Walters, Spanish teacher, and Mike Davis, social studies instructor, the M Club was originally the school’s varsity club.

“It was responsible for ordering the M Club jackets for varsity athletes who had lettered in a sport,” Walters said, “as well as providing monetary funds for the Stanley T. Schuyler Memorial Award and one-day leadership conferences for student athletes.”

“As an M Club now, we still fund these opportunities, but have expanded our mission to include school culture and spirit as well as service to our community,” Davis added.

As of 2016, M Club’s mission statement reads: “The Muncy M Club is a group of positive, outgoing and spirited students with the common goal to involve the whole high school body, inside and outside of school, in friendly acts of Muncy spirit and service to the school and community.”

Advisors and members are all dedicated to this mission, as evidenced by the number of programs and projects they facilitate. Included among these is the Backpack Program, Random Acts of Kindness and holiday and special event decorations.

Inside the school there are inspirational quotes in the hallways and bathrooms, spirit banners and painted footprints leading the way to the high school. The M Club holds biannual blood drives in May and November. The club also connected with The Ritz Complex and has a Fifth Quarter program where there is a special student section for sporting events.

Backpack Program

Aleaha Bigelow, vice president of the M Club, believes that the most important project of the club is the Backpack Program.

“This program provides meals for students in the free or reduced-price program during times when school is closed, like weekends and holidays. The kids get packages of food to take home with them, so they don’t go hungry over the breaks,” Bigelow said.

The M Club works collaboratively with the Central PA Food Bank, the high school Life Application class and the elementary staff to provide food on a bi-weekly basis to students in both the elementary and high schools.

The Tribe

“The student seating section, called The Tribe, is an exciting program run by the M Club,” said Amber Fry, the clubs communications chair. “The Tribe activities are highlighted on Instagram, so the students are made aware of special themes for sports games. We’ve had a beach theme, pink-outs, America (red, white and blue) and PJ night, among others.”

“Kids have fun with these and I’ve seen much more support for the athletes through use of these themes,” Fry added.

Fifth Quarter

“The Fifth Quarter is one of our programs that is so much fun,” said Schyler Keller, M Club president. “We go to The Ritz theater after football and soccer games to continue the night with food and games.”

“This program is made possible through coordination and permission of The Ritz theater in Muncy,” Walters added. “It’s open to all students. We have competitive games like long snaps, soccer shoot outs, floor hockey and spirit cheering.”

Acts of Kindness

Another good time and meaningful program is the Eggstravaganza, held around Easter, said Mario Barberio, M Club treasurer. “Each egg has a piece of candy in it and an assigned name for a Random Act of Kindness,”

“Once the acts are completed, we post on the bulletin board the names of the people who performed the acts and who they did it for,” Barberio added. The program includes all students, seventh through 12th grade.

Taking ownership

Advisor Davis praises the students’ ownership of the M Club.

“They really strive for pride in the school and step up to take care of what needs done. The Club, now numbering 60 members, has grown because of the kids,” Davis said.

Co-advisor Walters points out the opportunities the club provides for students to become leaders.

“They develop those skills,” Walters said, “and they have fun doing it.”