GENEVA — With the holidays approaching, members of Geneva High School Student Council are once again sponsoring our participation in the Ashtabula County “Holiday Angels Loving Others” (HALO) Project. Each first period class is assigned a particular unnamed family from the area to “adopt.” Students and faculty members will collect money to be used for grocery and gift cards, and will bring in wrapped age-appropriate toys for any children in the families. Student Council will match the amount of money raised by the members of each class, and these gifts will be distributed during the last week of classes before the winter break.
“This year more than ever it is important that we make a large impact on our community,” said Student Council president Matt Pfouts. “I feel that the more student involvement we can get, the better! The community has been so supportive of our school and I am so thankful for everyone’s generosity.”
The members of Project Love are combining their annual fleece blanket project with the HALO project. During the past few years Project Love has made and distributed literally hundreds of handmade fleece blankets for children. Again this year members are asking for donations of fleece fabric, and are hoping to make enough blankets this year to ensure that each child from our GHS HALO project receives his own brand new blanket.
While most of us are dreaming of Santa and sugar plums, GHS juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to get a real world picture of what to expect in college when they meet with recent GHS graduates on Friday at our first Alumni Day sponsored by The Ashtabula County Continued Education Support Services (ACCESS). GHS Class of 2009 alumni have been invited back to speak in junior and senior classes about their college experiences. Students will be able to ask questions on a variety of subjects such as how alumni chose their colleges, what to expect from college cafeteria food, how to deal with difficult room mates. All of us are looking forward to seeing our old friends and hearing their advice for prospective college students.
While we are all caught up in the festivities of the holidays, many GHS students are also anticipating upcoming events and opportunities for the month of January. Drama teacher Robin Christopher announces that auditions for the spring musical, “Godspell,” will be held in the GHS auditorium on Jan. 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Jan. 6 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Everyone who wants to audition must sign up for an audition slot in Room 209. Signup sheets will be posted from Dec. 14 to 18. Students should bring a prepared song to sing for the auditions. There will be 10 ensemble roles, all with at least one solo. An eight to 12 person chorus/dance team will also be cast. Technical interviews will be on Jan. 22 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium, and there will be approximately 30 tech positions available.
Mrs. Christopher is also excited to reveal that GHS drama students will participate in this year’s Regional Theatre Conference Jan. 9 at Firestone High School in Akron. She expects to take approximately 30 to 40 drama students to this conference. Students will have the chance to perform, and they will attend workshops on a variety of theater topics including acting, technical elements, college auditions, stage combat and dance. Students will also see other one-act plays and cuttings performed by other schools. While there, students will be performing a one-act, “The New Mrs. Jones,” to be screened for the state conference. If the play is invited to advance to the next level, six GHS students will be taking the show to the state conference which will be March 19 to 21 at Ashland University. GHS staff and students will have a chance to see “The New Mrs. Jones” after school Jan. 8. Cost will be $1/person and the proceeds will help fund the trip to the state conference.
Student musicians at GHS are all looking ahead to the Solo and Ensemble Contest being held this year Jan. 23 at Warren Harding High School. At this event, band and choir students perform pieces they have chosen from a required list, and are then judged on a five-point scale. At the end of the contest, each performer receives his score and a written evaluation of his performance. Awards and medals are given to all students who receive a rating of “1” or “2.” Good luck to all of our talented musicians, and “Happy Holidays” to all.
