Where in Bolivar County can you see a step show, a live hip hop performance, and a fashion show all in one night? At Shelby Middle School for the Peer Power fall performance.

Peer Power (7th and 8th grades) and Youth Power (5th and 6th grades), both after school enrichment programs, invited parents, friends and community members to their showcase Tuesday night.

“Peer Power employs college and high school tutors to work with middle school students,” said James O’Neill, the director of Peer Power. “It’s student-based, not teacher-based, which is why I think it’s successful. One of the great benefits is the casual environment tutors have with the students. They are able to form relationships because they have been in similar situations.”

Every Monday through Wednesday, students learn math and reading before moving to the enrichment portion. Students rotate between art, physical exercise, and critical thinking games. Thursday is club day at peer power. There are several different clubs, and each club showed off what they have learned so far this semester.

The Scholars on Deck (SOD) step club started the night followed by a performance by the Hip Hop Club. The Hip Hop Club presented two original rap songs written and performed by the students.

Ketravion Davis, an eighth grader and a member of the hip hop club, enjoys Peer Power and his favorite part is “what we get to do to make this program successful.”

The Fashion Club showed everyone that “anything men can wear, women can wear better.” The girls modeled men’s shirts that they had styled to be more feminine.

“My favorite part is the clubs. Next year I want to join hip hop,” said Keyaein Kimber, a sixth grader and a member of the fashion club. “It also includes math and reading to help me get better in school.”

The Pretty Princesses Step Club ended the showcase with an electrifying “girl power” step and dance show.

“We get to play games and learn more to help us in school,” said Jacakiya Parker, a fifth grader at Shelby Middle School and a member of the Pretty Princess Step Club.

After the showcase, the program moved to the gym for the woodshop and cooking presentations. The woodshop club made derby cars and raced them on a wooden track. The students designed, cut, drilled, sanded and painted their own cars.

The cooking club had prepared a meal for students and guests to enjoy. All semester they have been learning about foods from other countries and how to make them. They’ve also learned the importance of being healthier and choosing smarter food options.

There is also a newspaper club that sold copies of their paper after the performance.

“Tutors get the clubs going, but it’s the students who keep the momentum up,” said O’Neill. “All the ideas and projects are student generated, and they take a lot of pride in showing the community their accomplishments, which is what the performances are all about.”