K-Kids

K-kids is the Kiwanis service leadership program for elementary students. It is a group that has fun while being introduced to being a part of one’s community through service and leadership opportunities.

Kiwanis, School Board honor K-Kids and three advisors

The Westwood and McCormick Middle School K-Kids were honored at the April 20, 2021 Board of Education meeting on their 11^th anniversary of providing service to their school and the community.

The K-Kids received its charter in 2010 from Kiwanis International President Alan Penn at a special ceremony at a Board of Education meeting. The official program from that ceremony included names of students who remained active in Kiwanis-sponsored service leadership programs, (K-Kids, Builders Club and the high school Key Club) throughout their school careers and will be graduating from Wellington High this spring.

Mrs. Kodosky, a third grade teacher at Westwood Elementary School, and the late second grade teacher Nancy Ratliff were the original club advisors. Mrs. Ratliff continued as a club advisor after retiring in 2015. Mrs. Ratliff died in 2018 and was replaced by Mrs. Kurtz. Mr. Ratliff has served as Kiwanis’ liaison to K-Kids since its inception and says he has only missed a handful of meetings throughout its history.

The resolution adopted by the school board commends the K-Kids for $2,200 in sales toward Kiwanis’ annual Morris Furcron Memorial Peterson Nut Sale drive. Their collective sales helps Kiwanis fund a $1,000 scholarship for one Wellington High senior. The K-Kids also participated in community series drives, including collecting Pennies For Patients, pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, bedding for the Good Knights of Lorain County and two food drives for Well-Help.

The K-Kids joined Kiwanis in their new signature project and donated $7,500 to the recently established Wellington Kiwanis Foundation for new playground equipment at Westwood and throughout the community.  They also contributed $1,000 to the Summer Food Voucher Program.