VENTURA : 500 Students to Help Clean High School

More than 500 Ventura High School students have signed on to help spruce up their school today as they participate in their second annual SERVE Day.

The students, who also raised money for school projects, will paint classrooms, plant and prune shrubs, clean tile and grout, wash windows and remove gum and staples.

The students collected pledges for hourly work from friends, relatives and neighbors. Last year more than 300 students participated in SERVE Day, which stands for Students Earning Revenue for VHS Enrichment. They raised more than $24,000, which was distributed among about 100 school accounts.

At last year’s event, the students did everything from removing graffiti to weeding the sports fields. In addition, the money they raised paid for computer software, music stands, baseball pitching machines, tables, microphones and literature and magazines.

This year, organizers hope to raise more than $25,000 for the school. The work begins at 8 a.m., and students and faculty members will participate.

“Students not only have fun working side by side with teachers and other students, but their labors give them a sense of ownership of their own campus,” said Jim Sargent, faculty chairman for the event. “They feel more personally responsible for their own school environment.”