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Volume 51, Issue 2 December 15, 2010 Everett High School 3900 Stabler Rd. Lansing, MI (517) 755-4472
Deshawn Qawwee, Phillip Moore, and Tray Dodd-Brown enjoy the music as they dance at the Snowflake Ball. This year marked the 1th year of the event.
Shaquila Doss Reporter The Snowflake Ball was held December 4, and for four hours the cafeteria was transformed from a boring room that we see everyday into a ballroom filled with students dressed in formalwear, dancing the night away.
The Ball has been put on for 16 years and the tradition will continue on for years to come. The ball was first started in December 1994 by social studies teachers Judith Hightower and Myrna Mitchell.
The idea came from East Lansing high school, which was the only school doing this type of dance at the time. Mitchell decided that the Lansing schools deserved something similar and started the Snowflake Ball tradition. When the dance first started it was not a formal event, but students were the ones who changed that. The tradition has been carried on and it has continued to be a formal event. “Because the event is formal, students have more invested into it and it gives them an opportunity to shine,” said economics teacher Lothar Konietzko, who has been a part of Snowflake ball for about ten years now. All Everett students are allowed to attend the ball. Students from other schools are also allowed to attend, but under certain criteria. Students that have been to the see WINTER BALL, page 6
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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• Meet Mr. Purdy • Seniors make blankets for kids
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During the holi- Hartley. donate, and in return they get extra credit days, many people Hartley’s class was the largest collec- for some classes. take time to think tor of food ten times in the past years. The Viking success club has sent out about those who One year his students wrote a letter to a letter to all the teachers in the building need help. Volunteers Sam’s to ask for donations and they gave to get everyone involved, but some stuPahoua Chang of America, Salva- a truckload of food for donations that dents did not know about it. tion Army and many Everett gave to local food shelters. “I do not know anything about the Reporter others all work to food drive going on at Everett,” said raise money and junior Pedro Alviarez. gather clothes and food for the needy. The food drive started on NoAt Everett, many groups are working vember 10 and will end on December to help the community as well. 17. There is still plenty of time to let The Viking Success club is having the word spread and to get donations. a food drive to donate to local food As of last week, they had collected shelters like Volunteers of America. over 300 items from Hartley. History teacher Ben Billings, with Billings did a food drive on his the help of accounting teacher Greg own. Over 310 items were donated to Clugston, collected food for the City the Lansing Rescue Mission. Billings Rescue Mission of Lansing. Also, the and his son delivered the items on Nolibrary is again building a mitten tree vember 22. Billings is truly thankful to and students and staff are encouraged all his students for helping donate. to add to it. He said he knows times are tough for In the past, National Honor Soci- Bins of collected food wait in history teacher Ben many people. ety has been in charge of food drives. Billings’ room before Thanksgiving break. “Usually we get over a thousand, This year, they have been involved in but for some reason this year we are a The Viking Success Club is a club other projects, said adviser Frank Semin- that does community service. Adviser little bit low,” said Billings. ski, but they do have plans of to do some Gwen Scutt has been running the club for When Clugston asks his students to sort of community service for Christmas. over ten years. John Zielinski has been a help in the cause with Billings, he said he At the meeting on December 10 they will long time supporter to this club also. tries the best he can to participate and decide. “I’ve helped out with Viking success help out. He and his ABC club (AccountMath teacher Eric Hartley always for about 10 years now. I’m the faculty ing Business Club) were big helpers. participated in the food drive, and said he advisor,” said Zielinski. “I try to do it every year with Mr. has collected anywhere from one thouTheir first project of this year is the Billings; it’s good to give back,” said sand to five thousand items. food drive. A factor that helps the food Clugston. “I just think it’s a great cause,” said drive be successful is asking students to CHAD SANDERS
guadalupe gonzalez
Snowflake Ball Students help community by donating to local charities (Like A G6)
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Toys For Tots Drop off a new, unwrapped toy at drop boxes all over town, including Toys R Us, Art Van, MSUFCU, NuUnion, and ACO Hardware. lansing-mi.toysfortots.org
• 2012 yearbook problem • New driver bill could affect many students
Volunteers of America and Goodwill 5411 South Cedar Street 6250 S Cedar St Donate gently used coats, hats, mittens and other clothing.
City Rescue Mission 607 E. Michigan Ave. Drop off food to help feed homeless and needy families and individuals. Or, volunteer to help at the shelter. www.lcrm.org
voami.org goodwill.org
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• After school dance class • What the sinking fund means for students