Changemakers: Quick Start Guide

A Message from the Collegiate Prep Changemakers Team

At Collegiate Prep, we’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when scholars come together to serve their schools and communities. Through Changemakers, our scholars are learning to lead with kindness, build compassion, and recognize that they are never too young to make a difference.

We believe every scholar deserves the chance to grow as a servant-leader — not just at our school, but across our district and beyond. That’s why we want to share what we’ve learned and invite other PTAs/campuses to start their own Changemakers journey. We’re here to encourage, inspire, and share what has worked for us. Every campus will bring its own heart and effort to the table, and that’s what makes each Changemakers program unique and meaningful.

If your school is ready to grow compassionate leaders and create a culture of kindness and service, we’d love for you to join us. Together, we can raise up a generation of Changemakers who don’t just talk about making a difference — they live it.

Step 1: Build Your Leadership Team

• Identify 1–2 parent/guardian champions (often through PTA).

• Consider partnering with a staff sponsor who can help connect your projects to the school community and provide additional support if needed.

• Start small — you don’t need a big committee to begin.

Step 2: Spark Interest & Register Scholars

• Share the vision with families at PTA meetings, open house, or through school newsletters.

• Create a simple sign-up form (paper or online) so families can register their scholars.

• Keep the pitch simple: projects are family-friendly, meaningful, and fun for scholars.

Step 3: Choose Your First Projects

Select 2–3 activities for your first year. Here are simple starter ideas:

• Kindness Rocks: Paint rocks with uplifting messages to place around campus/community.

• Cards for Seniors: Create seasonal greeting cards for nursing home residents.

• City Beautification Projects: Partner with your city for seasonal cleanups like Fall and Spring Beautification Days — or consider adopting a park, trail, or street for a longer-term commitment.

Tip: Start with activities that are simple to organize and fun for scholars.

Step 4: Plan & Communicate

• Set dates early and build a simple calendar of projects.

• Communicate clearly with families using consistent channels (school newsletter, website, PTA email, flyers, GroupMe, or social media).

• Keep messages short and action-focused: what, when, where, and how.

Step 5: Run Projects Smoothly

• Keep projects age-appropriate — PreK–2 often works best with a parent present.

• Have a clear plan for materials, roles, and timing.

• Take photos to capture participation and impact.

Step 6: Track & Reflect

• Keep a simple log of projects completed, number of participants, and estimated hours served.

• Ask scholars quick reflection questions (e.g., “What did you do?” “Who did it help?” “What did you learn?”).

• Tracking helps demonstrate impact and builds excitement year after year.

Step 7: Celebrate & Share

• Recognize scholar leaders with certificates, shout-outs, or bulletin boards.

• Share updates and photos with families so they see the impact.

• Tell your story publicly (school announcements, PTA social media, newsletters) to inspire more participation.

Support You’ll Receive

To help your campus or group launch smoothly, we’ll share a starter set of tools and examples you can adapt for your school. You’ll also have access to encouragement, ideas, and lessons learned from our team as you make the program your own.

• Sample Changemakers' registration form

• Sample Excel project tracker to log projects and hours

• Sample program announcement communications (newsletter, email, social media)

• Sample annual calendar to guide project planning

• Sample Certificate of participation template

Next Step

Ready to launch a Changemakers group at your school or community? Contact us at communitysupport@chcppta.org to learn more and take the first step toward building scholar leaders and strengthening your community. 

Let Us Know

If you decide to start a Changemakers group, we’d love to hear from you! Letting us know helps us celebrate your success, stay connected, and see how this movement of compassionate young leaders is spreading. Email: communitysupport@chcppta.org.