Parsippany Hills High School’s
April 2016 | Volume XLII Issue 1
Note from the
In this
Editors
Hello PHHS Key Clubbers! We are so excited to introduce our very first Key Notes installment of the new service year. Each month, we’ll send out new information regarding service projects, volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, and more! We hope that you’ll use each issue as an important resource. Keep updated on club happenings with the articles and the Key Reminders. Be inspired by the Quote of the Month. Contact the board with questions and suggestions. Discover what others are doing, and learn how to join in. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish this year, so stay in touch!
Issue: 33
Dinner Theater Recap + Interview
55
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
66 DCON Recap 98 Peek Outside PHHS
Quote of the Month: “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Maya Angelou
Yours in Caring and Service, Tara Srinivasan and Shreya Nair
On the
Cover:
Division 20 Key Clubbers team up to walk with the Kiwanis float in the Morristown St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Dinner Theater The Dinner Theater is one of the largest and most
Recap
anticipated PHHS Key Club events of the year, by both Key Clubbers and the community! On the day before the PHHS Drama Club’s official spring musical opening night, Wednesday, March 16th, senior citizens attended the Key Club-hosted dinner party, where they ate a delicious meal served by the Key Clubbers and socialized before the exclusive showing of the musical Legally Blonde. The meal consisted of water and iced tea, salad, baked ziti and a dinner roll, and coffee and cookies. In the two weeks before this event, Key Clubbers brought in food and beverage ingredients, utensils, and other necessary supplies; on the day of, they helped prepare the food, set the tables, and wait the tables once the senior citizens had arrived. Though only lasting about 2 hours, the event was a wonderful opportunity for Key Clubbers to work together, connect with the community, and spread smiles.
Apr 2016
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Interviewing the Senior Citizens 1.
2.
3.
4.
What has been your favorite experience at the Dinner Theater so far?
Senior Citizen A: I loved chatting with the high schoolers who were serving us, they were very polite and attentive. Senior Citizen B: It was exciting when the kids in the play came out in their costumes and sat and talked with us!
Are you excited for the play? A. B.
I am! My granddaughter is in the play this year. Yes, I am looking forward to it, the Hills has a wonderful drama club.
Have you been to any other Key Club events? A. B.
(After being told what Key Club is.) I don’t think that I have, but I’d love to come to more! Yes, I’ve been to their room at Halloween at the Hills!
Do you have any suggestions on how we can improve for next year? A. B.
Serve alcohol. (Laughs.) I think it would be good to advertise more, since I only heard of this from other seniors.
Interviewing the Key Clubbers 1.
What do you enjoy most about this Key Club event?
2.
How have you helped so far today?
Key Clubber A. I have a lot of interest in helping out others, showing respect, improving my social skills and etiquette... being a waiter at this event really helps me to do that. Key Clubber B. I like the ability to get closer to the community and have conversations with the elderly people. A. B.
I helped set the tables and make some of the food. I also talked to some elderly people. We’ve been handing out food like salad and pastas to them.
3.
What do you think we should do better next year?
4.
Would you volunteer at this event again?
A. B.
Apr 2016
We should have more variety in the food options we offer. Not much… Perhaps we should figure out a way to serve the food faster. A. B.
Of course… And especially for the food! Definitely!
4
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday, March 12th marked
a day held dearly for the residents of Morris County: The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Each year, spectators of all ages line the streets of Morristown to see over 4,000 marchers, of over 120 diverse groups, spread community festivity with colorful floats, music, dancing, candy, and more. Also participating in the parade, as they had done previously for the last couple of years, was Morristown Kiwanis, with a decorative float displaying the proud Kiwanis symbol. Key Clubbers from both Morristown High School and Parsippany Hills High School came together to march with the float, representing Key Club and supporting our local Kiwanis branch. Apr 2016
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Recap
The th Annual New Jersey District Convention The 70th Annual New Jersey District
Convention, long-awaited by many and perhaps dreaded by others, finally came to pass on Friday, April 1st to Sunday, April 3rd. The event marking the sad close of the 2015-2016 service year and the exciting arrival of the 2016-2017 service year was filled with inspiration, anticipation, and tears. Throughout the weekend, which was James Bond-themed, “agents� of service from all over the district attended ceremonies where they were recognized for their achievements, caucuses where they were able to meet the candidates for the district board (and eventually vote on them), workshops where they investigated new ways of serving and improving their clubs, and contests where they had the opportunity to showcase their talent. Amidst all this activity, agents even were able to enjoy an afternoon relaxing on the beach or exploring shops and restaurants on the boardwalk. Apr 2016
PHHS Distinguished Officers: President: Patricia Kou Vice President: Vanessa Ting Secretaries: Justin Lu and Asha Patel Treasurer: Vishal Mansuria Editors: Sharon Christian and Tara Srinivasan
Additional Awards: 100% CMRF Award Early Bird Award Spirit Stick Competition
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Also joining in the festivities as Keynote speaker was Chief Programs Director of Kiwanis International John Shertzer, who offered some inspiring words about what it meant to be a Kiwanian. Parsippany Hills and Division 20 was also wellrepresented; all of our officers became distinguished, and after shouting our hearts out we won the Spirit Stick! Finally, the old district board officially stepped down to make way for the new district board. Vanessa Ting was installed as our Division 20 Lieutenant Governor, Luke McGeown as District Governor, Meghan Nevola as District Secretary, Ciara Clarkin as District Treasurer, and Julien Rosenbloom as District Editor.
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Peek Outside PHHS:
What’s KCI Up To?
ICON DCON is over— but the fun doesn’t
end yet! The Key Club International Convention is only a few months away, from July 6th-10th, and takes place in the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia. There, 1,600 Key Clubbers from all across the US, Canada, and the Caribbean will meet and bond to celebrate all the things Key Club has done, along with learning more about leadership and organizations, listening to unforgettable speakers, and electing the international board. Learn more about registration at www.keyclub. org/events/convention/registration.aspx.
Apr 2016
All over Key Club
International, Key Clubbers are preparing for Eliminate Week, May 2nd-6th. It is a week dedicated to spreading awareness for and raising funds to eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus (MNT), a disease that threatens the lives of mothers and babies. Although Eliminate is no longer the service project and the goal to raise $110 million has already been reached, the fight does not end there— MNT still remains a deadly threat in 21 countries. Visit http://sites.kiwanis. org/Kiwanis/en/theELIMINATEproject /home.asp to find out more about how you can help. 8
Questions or comments on all things Key Club?
Contact the PHHS Executive Board President: Asha Patel akpatel17@pthsd.net Vice President: Karoline Xiong kxiong18@pthsd.net Corresponding Secretary: Crystal Tran cvtran18@pthsd.net Recording Secretary: Michael Tran mctran17@pthsd.net Treasurer: Vishal Mansuria vmansuria18@pthsd.net
Editor: Tara Srinivasan nsrinivasan17@pthsd.net Editor: Shreya Nair srnair17@pthsd.net Historian: Thomas Shweh tshweh17@pthsd.net Historian: Juliana Urbis jturbis18@pthsd.net
or our
Division 20 LTG: Vanessa Ting ltg20.ting@gmail.com
Key Reminders Spring CSH Cards are due by the end of April
Parsippany Hills High School’s April 2016 Volume XLII Issue 1
Next general meeting: Tuesday, April 19th