Santa’s Secret Shop now open
November 30, 2009
As the holiday season approaches, all children 5th grade and under are invited to pick out presents for their families and friends at Santa’s Secret Shop.
Located in the F rooms, the shop is open from Nov. 30 to Dec. 9. Weekday times are from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m., 9:30 to 11 a.m. (SRT), 11:03 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (lunch) and 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. On Dec. 5, the shop is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
According to marketing teacher Janice Brown, Santa’s Secret Shop is entirely student-run. “(Students) ordered all the merchandise and manage the store themselves,” she said. “It gives them an opportunity to start and operate a business.”
Alexandra “Alex” Chandler, marketing student and senior, said marketing students have been preparing for Santa’s Secret Shop since early November. “We started planning early because we had to order all the gifts and set everything up,” she said.
According to Chandler, the kids show up to Santa’s Secret Shop with a list of the gifts they want and money to pay for their purchases. Marketing students walk them through the shop and help them pick out their presents. After the gifts have been selected, the students ring up the purchases at the cash register and then help the kids wrap the presents.
Alyssa Kent, marketing student and senior, said the shop sells a variety of merchandise. “We sell picture frames, coffee cups and stuffed animals, everything really,” she said. By Nina Underman and Sally Bae <nunderman@hilite.org> <sbae@hilite.org>
Coquettes rehearsing for Dec. 3 performance
November 30, 2009
Coquettes, the winter dance team that performs at men’s and women’s home basketball games, will dance at its first game of the season on Dec. 3. The team, which recently held auditions, consists of 17 girls. Coquettes had its first team meeting on Oct. 27.
“We are in the choreography and learning the choreography stages right now,” head coach Sarah Wolff said. “The seniors have put together and choreographed the first dance and are teaching it to the team.”
“For a month before we start performing, we just learn a whole bunch of different dances and choreography that different girls on the team are assigned to create,” Wolff said.
According to Wolff, the girls are split into five teams to create five different dances, each one about two or three minutes. After these dances have been put together, each team is required to teach its dance to the others.
For many, this is not their first time being on the Coquettes team.
“We have a very experienced team this year, we are very heavy in upperclassmen,” Wolff said. “That will help out with performances because we have a lot of girls that have done this before, that have high expectations and feel comfortable being in the front.”
“Mostly everyone that is on Coquettes is someone who has been on Charisma or any of the teams in the past,” Mary “Wesley” Cade, Coquettes member and junior, said. Cade has participated in Coquettes ever year since she was a freshman and said she is looking forward to the upcoming season. By Olivia Walker <owalker@hilite.org>
Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation scheduling Grinch Scramble for Dec. 4
November 30, 2009
The Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation (CCPR) is scheduled to have the Grinch Scramble Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. Along with this event, most other events and activities are planned far in advance and require volunteers and participants.
The Grinch scramble is an activity located at West Park that consists of searching for candy canes, while also, keeping an eye out for the Grinch. Whoever is able to spot the Grinch wins a grand prize. There will also be games and music during the event.
According to marketing manager for the CCPR Lindsay Labas, events like the Grinch Scramble take a good amount of time to plan and organize thoroughly.
“The programmers start planning probably a year in advance,” Labas said.
The brochure, on the other hand, is usually prepared about three months prior to its release to the public.
With each event comes the need for volunteers. And according to Labas, the holidays are the perfect time to participate or volunteer for the CCPR.
“The best part of participating in the holiday events is meeting new people, donating your time to the community and getting in to the holiday spirit,” Labas said. By Audrey Bailey <abailey@hilite.org>
Students for Education to purchase presents for Coburn Safe Place
November 29, 2009
Students for Education, a group at this school dedicated to promoting literacy among the less fortunate, is working to ensure that all the children at Coburn Safe Place in Indianapolis will have presents for the holidays.
“Members will be working in teams to purchase presents for their assigned child,” Ivy Yan, club president and junior, said. “We want to make sure that all the kids down at Coburn get something for Christmas this year.”
According to Yan, club members got their assignments at the Nov. 24 meeting and have until Dec. 8 to turn in their gifts. “We wanted to give members two weekends to get the shopping done,” Yan said. “That way, they’d have more time in case they were busy over Thanksgiving.”
Yan said the club hopes to get each child several gifts for the holidiays. “We’re trying to get them a couple smaller gifts and then something bigger,” Yan said. “Small gifts would be like little toys while the bigger gifts should be some kind of educational game the kids could enjoy.”
Though there were conflicts with school policy earlier in the year, Yan said the club is getting back on its feet. “We plan to have more opportunities for members to get involved next semester,” she said. By Henry Zhu <hzhu@hilite.org>
Board narrows superintendent candidates to three finalists
November 29, 2009
The search for a new superintendent continues with the school board having selected three finalists. The board has already interviewed two of the three individuals for a second time, and the third finalist is scheduled to return within the next week.
The finalists who have already gone through this stage of the interviewing process are Dr. Jeff Swensson and Dr. Michael Benway. Swensson is the current assistant superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Carmel Clay Schools, and Benway is the superintendent of Valparaiso Community Schools.
Both of these finalists have already toured the community and schools, attended a public “meet and greet” session and experienced a second formal interview by the board.
The name of the third finalist has yet to be announced. However, the applicant will soon go through the same interview process as the other two finalists.
The outside consulting firm, BWP and Associates, has been assisting the board with the superintendent search. Ron Barnes, consultant with the firm, said, “I expect the board to make a decision within the next two to three weeks. The board will be vetting candidates and making a site visit to their top choice. This, along with their two interviews, will help them find their best fit.”
Although Superintendent Barb Underwood will not be making the decision regarding her replacement, she said she’d help with the transition. She said, “I won’t be involved in finding a replacement, because this is truly one of those cases where it has to be a great partnership with the board and superintendent.” By Sarah Sheafer <ssheafer@hilite.org>
House to host benefit night at Steak ‘N Shake Dec. 2
November 29, 2009
On Dec. 2 from 4 to 11:30 p.m., House will sponsor a benefit night at Steak ‘N Shake with all proceeds going towards Dance Marathon. All members of the community are invited.
Coupons for the event will be distributed at school and participants are reminded to bring the coupons to the fundraiser to show that 20 percent of their meal cost goes to Dance Marathon.
On Dec. 8, there will be a call-out meeting during second session SRT in the auditorium for students who want to find out more about Dance Marathon. Carson, a former patient at Riley Hospital, is scheduled to speak at the call-out meeting.
“He spoke last year and was very, very ill. He was pale and bloated, had been in and out of school and was taking many medications,” sponsor Sarah Wolff said. According to Wolff, Carson wants to tell this school that the money students donate is put to good use. “Every bit counts,” Wolff said.
There is also another Dance Marathon fundraiser scheduled for Dec. 11. House will sponsor a tailgate before the home basketball game against North Central. This event is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. in the freshman cafeteria.
Wolff said, “There will be all you can eat pizza and soda.” According to Wolff, a ticket for the game is $5, and the profits go to Riley Hospital. By Katie Walstrom <kwalstrom@hilite.org>
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