Liberty Middle School’s has been named a National Beta School of Distinction.
The school’s Beta Club has showed continued growth. It grew from 184 members last school year to almost 250 this year.
The National Beta Club is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit, educational youth organization. It is committed to recognizing and promoting academic achievement, rewarding and nurturing worthy character, improving student leadership skills, and encouraging service.
According to Liberty Middle School Beta Club co-sponsor Angikita Sims, students must have been selected for the All-A or A/B Honor Roll during the first nine weeks of school to receive an invitation to join the Beta Club.
"They must maintain A’s and B’s, and have no suspensions or in-school suspensions," said Sims, "but grades aren’t the only thing we are looking for. Our Beta Club is focused on community service first. Character, integrity and academics are also important characteristics we look for and expect in our students."
Sims added that the Beta motto, "Let Us Lead by Serving Others" is taken to heart at LMS.
"Each year we have had a major service project that the students have participated in," she explained. "They’ve done a wonderful job supporting those projects and the people involved with them."
Over the past few years, projects have included supplying 187 care boxes for veterans at the Veteran’s Administration (VA) Hospital in Atlanta; providing almost 130 lunch and go bags for parents with children at the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta; and raising more than $1,250 for the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta.
"The students have really worked hard," said Sims. "This year we are supporting the United Methodist Children’s Home in Decatur. Our goal is to provide 230 care boxes for the children there. There are children in the home from infants to age 17, and our students can choose any child to help, but the ones in real need are the middle and high school students. We will provide boxes that contain items such as deodorant, socks, books, lotion and more. It means a lot to give back to those in need, and this is a great learning experience for our students."
"Liberty Middle School strives to develop respectable and conscientious young adults," said the school’s principal, Keisa Taylor. "The Junior National Beta Club is a prime example of the programs available at Liberty to assist students in achieving this goal. The community involvement aspect of the organization provides the students with the opportunity to give selflessly of themselves. The Beta Club has fully embraced the national Beta motto, ‘Let us lead by serving others.’ We are grateful to have achieved this wonderful accomplishment and continue to strive to find life-enriching activities for our students to engage in—fully embracing our motto, ‘Excellence 360 Degrees.’"
