“Overhaulin’” helps students be organized

As the end of a six-week organizational program for Middle Schoolers, students visited a local garage where Joe Lyons, a Voorheesville Class of 1997 alum, works with his brother and father to build their own ice-racing vehicles.

Nine sixth- or seventh-grade students attended the program, called “Overhaulin’,” was run by Janelle Murray, an intern in the Middle School counseling office this semester. Beginning in January, Murray hosting the group once a week to discuss and practice good organization habits and skills.

The group name was inspired by the TV Show “Overhaulin’,” in which the cast of the show transforms old cars. The group’s purpose was to “overhaul” each student’s organizational skills by taking what he/she currently does and making it better.

At the garage, Joe Lyons, and his brother George Lyons, discussed the importance of organization in a garage setting, as well as the importance of planning and meeting deadlines as they relate to building and racing their cars. Ms. Murray, organizer and advisor to the “Overhaulin’” group, emphasized this trip as just one example of how organization is important in many aspects of life, also relating organization in the garage as being similar to student's organization needs in school.

Building ice-racing vehicles is a family hobby that they have participated in for the last 7 years. The Lyons Racing team is part of the Adirondack Motorists Enthusiast Club (AMEC), a club which organizes and sponsors automobile ice racing on area lakes. Races held this year were located at Algonquin Lake, and Lake George during the Winter Carnival.