Hightstown’s Student Council is one of a select number of finalist schools to receive a $1,000 stipend to pursue its goal of creating a positive school climate and culture as part of the Kind Schools Challenge, developed by Harvard University., The Kind Schools Challenge actively seeks out schools that are developing plans to improve the school and community. Upon being nominated a finalist, the university assists schools in implementing their plans with financial and physical support. The program is focused on improving school climate and culture., As a finalist school, Hightstown Student Council members Steven Cohen, Carly N. Haug, Aditya P. Shah, Jasman Singh and John V. Titicula will consistently be in contact with Harvard University researchers and faculty to develop a plan to best implement the Secret Society of Hightstown High project., The student council decided to pursue the Challenge and see if it could take its capability to impact change to the next level. In its proposal, the student council outlined a proposal which was known as the Secret Society of Hightstown High. The society’s aim is to brighten the lives of students through spreading kindness and joy to the lives of students through anonymous notes of appreciation or small tokens of gratitude. With the members of the SSHH being the primary kindness-spreaders, the members’ purpose is to recognize accomplishment and improvement in the school. In a low-key manner, invitations were sent out to students recognized in the school as having the potential to lead and serve as student advocates.
