(FREE) Ponca City High School’s DECA Program Spreads Kindness to the Community and Beyond
Story & Photos by Alexia Puetz and Kelsey Wagner | Staff Writers
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At Ponca City High School, teacher Heather Monks leads a remarkable class under the DECA program, an organization aimed at preparing high school students for careers in marketing, management, hospitality, entrepreneurship and finance. Beyond its career-focused goals, this group of students dedicates time each year to making a difference in the lives of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
For six weeks, Monks and her DECA students worked on a special project centered around the theme of kindness. Typically, the program takes five weeks – four weeks of activities and one week to prepare goodie bags – but this year, an extra week was added for a unique reward: the first-ever field trip for completing the program.
The four-week kindness curriculum encouraged the IDD students to practice daily acts of goodwill. Each student began their day by writing their name and describing how they would spread kindness, whether it was offering a smile, holding doors open or sharing kind words. These seemingly small actions carried profound lessons about empathy and community.
The culmination of the program was a heartwarming trip to the Northern Oklahoma Humane Society. Monks, alongside DECA students and their dedicated colleague Sandy, accompanied the children on this outing. The Humane Society visit was a thoughtful choice that aligned perfectly with the program’s message: everyone, regardless of their circumstances, deserves kindness and love.
At the Humane Society, the children participated in activities designed to foster both compassion and confidence. They were encouraged to read aloud to dogs and cats, an experience that not only helped the children improve their reading skills in a judgment-free environment but also soothed the animals awaiting adoption. Some children, initially hesitant or fearful around animals, found their courage as cats curled up in their laps or dogs listened attentively.
The students also created special treats and biscuits for the animals, carefully packaging them in jars they had decorated. To add a personal touch, each child selected a favorite animal and crafted a drawing and note for them, making their kennel spaces feel a little more like home. These thoughtful gestures didn’t just brighten the animals’ day, they reinforced the children’s understanding that small acts of kindness can have a significant impact.
For the teachers and volunteers, the trip was a deeply emotional experience. Sandy was moved to tears, watching the children interact with the animals and embrace the program’s lessons with open hearts. “Seeing the kids read without fear of judgment and truly connect with the animals was incredibly touching,” she shared.
Heather Monks and Sandy have been running this four-week kindness program for six years, but their dedication to supporting children with IDD goes back much further. Monks is always eager to help high school students get involved in community service and is a valuable resource for anyone interested in making a difference.
The partnership with the Northern Oklahoma Humane Society proved to be a perfect fit. Karlissa Archibeque, the Humane Society’s director, was thrilled to host the group. “Events like this are beneficial not only for the children but also for the animals,” Archibeque said. “Interacting with kids helps prepare the dogs and cats for adoption by making them more comfortable around people of all ages.”
The Humane Society welcomes volunteers of all kinds. For those who may be allergic to animals or prefer not to work directly with them, there are plenty of other ways to contribute, such as administrative tasks or facility maintenance. Donations of blankets and supplies are always appreciated, and anything the Humane Society can’t use is passed along to other nonprofit organizations, ensuring that no contribution goes to waste.
If you’d like to support future projects or get involved, reach out to Heather Monks at Ponca City High School or the Ponca City Humane Society. Whether you’re volunteering your time, donating supplies or simply spreading the word, your contribution will help sustain the spirit of kindness that this program so beautifully embodies.
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