Tara teens find project close to home

• By ELLYN COUVILLION
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Nov 4, 2009 - Page: 2D

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When the members of a new club at Tara High School were seeking a charitable project this year, they found one with a special connection to the school.

Principal Luanne Estess has a 14-year-old granddaughter, Mary Beth Cvitanovich, who has Rett syndrome, a neurological developmental disorder.

The syndrome, which primarily strikes girls, affects their speech, hand skills and coordination.

When the students of the new Common Courtesy Club, called “CCubed,” learned that October was Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, they decided to raise funds for research.

“It’s the first thing we’ve done as a club,” said Elizabeth Dibenedetto, 16, club vice president.

For two weeks in October, club members wearing lavender ribbons — lavender is the official color of the International Rett Syndrome Foundation — collected money from their fellow students.

Students who made donations got a lavender ribbon to wear, too. Those who gave $3 got a free jean day and the homeroom that ended up with the most “jean days” was going to win a breakfast from a local restaurant, said club President Coty Carver, 17.

“Please help us support Mary Beth,” the club members told their fellow students in morning announcements.

Estess said that students came to her this year with the idea for a club that would “reach out to all kinds of differences in our student population.”

Tara High, she said, has a large population of special-needs students.

“This club welcomes everyone and makes sure everyone feels at home at Tara,” Estess said.

The motto of the club is “care, concern and courtesy for everyone.”

Guidance counselor and club sponsor Lissa Copeskey said the fund drive is an opportunity to educate students about Rett syndrome.