Students at Vincent Elementary School know all about setting goals.  Being a Leader in Me Lighthouse School, the students and teachers regularly set goals and track their data.  The school has been participating in a Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive for a few years where classes bring in cans to donate to Abiding Hope Ministry.  Each year the school’s library media specialist, Steve McClendon, known affectionately as Mr. Mac, heads up the drive.  He set a goal of 1,500 cans for the school.  Little did he know that students at VES take goal setting seriously!

In a matter of weeks, the school managed to collect 2,516 canned goods for the shelter. The 5^th grade alone brought in 1,003 cans!  Ashley Waldrop’s 5^th grade class was the class with the most cans brought in with 786.  Amanda Campbell’s 2^nd grade came in second with 627 cans.  This is no small feat considering that Vincent Elementary is a Title I school with at least 73% of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

“Our students have a heart for service,” Mr. McClendon shared.  “We participate in a few service projects each year for various charities, and when we do – our kids just show out.  It says a lot about their character.” 

When asked if he ever thought the students would bring in more than the goal of 1,500 cans, Mr. Mac replied, “I thought they could.  I had no idea they would bring in 1,000 over the goal.  Next year we will know to set our goal even higher.”