By Travis Gettys
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEWPORT - Athletes and other students who take part in school activities come to expect the encouragement of supporters, but some students never get to feel their community rally behind them.

Members of a new booster club at Newport High School aim to change that.

By doing little things, such as distributing materials with the school's logo on them, group members hope to encourage school spirit in those students who don't have much.

"We have a lot of kids that are very, very into school, and a lot of kids who aren't - they just go because they have to," said Willis Gregory, treasurer for the Newport Pep Team.

Traditional booster clubs typically focus on students who participate in activities, such as sports or band, but Helen Hesch, the group's secretary, hopes to encourage students who aren't involved to become so.

"If they're more excited about other things, they'll be more excited about school," said Hesch, who is a teacher at Newport Middle School.

Gregory said boosters could make school more fun by throwing pizza parties to reward students for good attendance.

"Just the small things, a thank-you for being there," Gregory said.

Gregory said club members hope to get both parents and community members involved with students.

"Parents will benefit because their kids will do better in school," said Gregory. "Businesses will benefit because a lot of their employee base will come from these kids."

The group will hold its first official meeting Monday at 7 p.m. in the Newport High School cafeteria.

E-mail tgettys@enquirer.com