Last year the GOLDEN Revolution Club was not as well known, but this year it has added new members and new ideas. Their vision is to improve the school climate and increase student involvement in the high school.

GOLDEN Revolution was formed to create a more positive school climate and promote cooperation and respect among students, teachers, and administration.

One of the first things the organization did was create a school mission statement out of the word “GOLDEN.” The students created an acronym for Genuine, Optimistic, a Leader, Driven, Engaged, and Neighborly to promote qualities that every student and staff member in the school should strive to be each day, whether it be in their actions, social media posts, words, or in their overall appearance.

The first major activity of the year planned by the Golden Revolution was the first-ever GOLDEN Kickoff Day.

On the second day of school, classes were canceled, and all students went to the auditorium for a short assembly. The assembly went over what GOLDEN Revolution was and then was led into a school-wide Family Feud game. The day was then spent listening to music, dancing, and laughing with friends in the gym.

Later in the week, the GOLDEN Revolution held their first tailgate for the annual Backyard Brawl, which was a huge success. Many students spent time before the big game eating food, playing games, and having a good time with friends. The event was successful enough to do twice, with another tailgate held before the annual Pink Out football game.

Following the football game, the GOLDEN Revolution has also helped support the annual Homecoming Dance. The dance was seen as a fun-filled event that also helps boost the positive climate that many teachers, staff members, and students value in their school.

This year GOLDEN Revolution has also focused on recognizing students who go above and beyond, both in their school work and in their interactions with other students and staff.

Teachers or staff can nominate students for the monthly raffle by writing their name on a GOLDEN raffle ticket and writing why the student is being Genuine, Optimistic, a Leader, Driven, Engaged, or Neighborly (GOLDEN).

Students placed in the raffle are seen as hard workers who sometimes aren’t recognized all the time, and the raffle allows these students to be recognized by their peers and teachers.

“The purpose of GOLDEN Revolution is not only to spread positivity but also to reward students who work hard day after day, even if they don’t get all A’s. They should be praised for their efforts too” said GOLDEN Revolution adviser and TAHS teacher Michael Funicelli.

This year, GOLDEN Revolution also started the ‘Be Golden’ Teacher of the Week award, and instead of the award is given to students each week the staff and teachers at TAHS give their co-workers the award. The “Be Golden” award is a new faculty and staff recognition program at the high school.

This award is given weekly by a faculty/staff member to another faculty/staff member. Whoever receives the trophy on Friday is responsible for awarding it to someone else the following week. The only criteria is to give it to someone who has done something to make the school a better place.

With new events, goals, and awards, the GOLDEN Revolution has positively affected the school climate, and to seniors who have been in the school the longest, the change in the school’s environment and culture has been noticeable.

“The stereotypical ‘I can’t be friends with underclassmen’ is starting to vanish and everyone is beginning to intertwine. It’s very refreshing because I have made new friendships that I will cherish forever and they are all in different grades,” said senior Brooke Welsh.

With the school year quickly approaching its end, the GOLDEN Revolution is not done with the year yet. With new ideas for next the next school year already in mind, the 2019-2020 school year will be an even better year for spreading positivity and awareness of students and staff who make the most of each day.