LANGUAGES
The French Club will spread holiday spirit through caroling in the main lobby on the day before break, Dec. 23.
‘I think that caroling will spread a lot of holiday spirit to Methacton,’ said Carly Wickham, a club member.
The German Club also gave back to the community by pairing up with the global organization Soles for Souls. The foundation collects all types of shoes and gives them to children in need. The organization takes new, to slightly worn shoes.
Run by senior Matt Melachrinos, the club collected more than 100 pairs of shoes. With the surprising results of this year’s drive, the club hopes to couple up with the charity again.
Finally, the Spanish teachers have once again paired up with ACLAMO, a 35-year-old organization that largely benefits lower income Hispanic families.
Collecting about $675 that was divided into 45 supermarket gift cards for 45 families, the Spanish Club concentrated its efforts in the Norristown area.
THE ARTS
On Jan. 18 the Methacton’s National Art Honor Society will travel to Audubon Elementary to make holiday crafts with the students.
The annual trip to the elementary school is always a hit with the students .
‘[The best part] is seeing the kids having fun with the projects after all your hard work,’ said Min Lee, an officer of the club.
Earlier in the year, Tri-M Music Honor Society also gave back, spreading holiday spirit to needy families at a time when they need it most: Thanksgiving.
Their goal was raising money to create baskets to give to the families that included food items needed for a complete Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey, and a $15 gift card to buy perishables.
Tri-M collected money through the teachers’ Chili Cook-off and through donations of students and families of the high school. They were very successful this year, raising more than $300 to donate 18 complete dinner baskets to families throughout the district.
‘The generosity of our Methacton community is extraordinary. It is comforting to know that even though times are tough, people are willing to dig into their pockets, and share with their neighbors,’ said Ms. Magann, the club’s sponsor.
The Warrior Performance Group’s is contributing a collection of new blankets, pillows and spare change for the Laurel House this holiday season. The change will be cashed into gas and supermarket gift cards. The Laurel House is a safe haven for victims of domestic abuse and their children.
‘[This cause is important] because people, especially younger kids of families domestically abused, lack basic necessities that we take for granted. People forget how essential items such as clean pillows and blankets are until they don’t have them,’ said Banu Ibrahim, president of the group.
ADOPT-A-FAMILY
Each of the four student congress is ‘adopting a family’ for the holiday season. For about two weeks, Student Congress members collected money from MHS students during homeroom. The families, selected by the class sponsors, are being provided with gifts from the students who participate in Student Congress. The gifts include gift cards, toys, nonperishable food and clothing.
The club’s goal was to collect about $400 after two weeks.
After collecting the money, Student Congress members will gather to wrap the gift baskets, which will then be delivered to the families on or close to Dec. 22.
Mr. Ryan, one of the Class of 2013 sponsors, thinks that it is important to help families in need over the holidays.
‘It’s important because those who are less fortunate are usually overlooked by those who are not during the holidays, and it’s very fulfilling to be a part of,’ he said.
Jordyn Slocum, who is a member of the Class of 2013 Student Congress, agrees with Mr. Ryan.
‘Sometimes you don’t realize that people are much less fortunate than you, so being able to help was a lot of fun,’ she said.
Methacton’s chapter of the National Honor Society took part in the Adopt-A-Family project too.
STUDENT COUNCIL AND FCCLA
Student Council concluded their two-week canned goods drive for Philabundance with 1,900 pounds of food.
Freshman Jamie Ryker got special recognition for out-donating all other students with 64 cans.
Council members traveled with Mrs. Fabrizio and Ms. Brennen to Plymouth-Meeting to drop off their food and to meet Preston and Steve from WMMR who host Campout for Hunger annually.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America contributed to a much smaller group, the staff, during the 36th annual Holiday Tea on Dec. 9.
The Holiday Tea is a luncheon hosted for Methacton’s faculty after school. The cooking classes spend weeks preparing the food, including appetizers and desserts. The students who put in the most work were elected servers.
The Tea is an event much-anticipated by the faculty.
‘[The tea] is spectacular. It’s one of the finest events every year,’ said Mr. McCullough, while piling his plate with the food FCCLA prepared
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OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AT MHS
On Dec. 3, Methacton’s two Relay for Life teams spread holiday cheer while raising money for the American Cancer Society by Christmas caroling.
The two teams, Ribbon Warriors and Warriors Helping to Overcome Cancer (Warriors H2O), spend all year raising money for the national and annual Relay for Life event.
Their holiday fundraising activity this year was dubbed Caroling to Help Cure Cancer by captain Brittany Schrader.
‘I am always amazed and grateful at how much people give to help others during this holiday season,’ she said.
The teams went door-to-door in Providence Oaks singing holiday songs like Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman and then asking for a donation. They made $260.
The teams hope to make the fundraiser an annual effort.
‘Everyone enjoys the event, and it is a fun way to bring holiday spirit and the spirit of Relay for Life to people’s homes,’ said Emily Ma, captain of Ribbon Warriors.
Key Club remained indoors and did their part by selling ornaments at all lunches from Dec. 12 to Dec. 16.
All proceeds went to Heifer International, a charity that helps impoverished families across the globe obtain a sustainable income through the donation of an animal.
‘Everybody is cheerful during the holiday season, so we wanted to find a way to channel some of that energy and holiday spirit toward helping a good cause. We have raised money for Heifer International in previous years, and we like their unique mission statement,’ said Neil Shankar, editor of the club.
Another club that is helping those who are less fortunate is Kids Against Crisis. For the past four years, the club has been selling ‘You Are a Gift to Me’ boxes, which include candy and have a ribbon on the oustide that includes that sender’s name and a message. Students had the chance to purchase small gift baskets for friends during lunches for only $1.
Along with the gift boxes, KAC also hosted a benefit concert. The money from the boxes and the Battle of the Bands went to the Methacton Emergency Fund, which provides heating for families who cannot afford it. Mrs. Cattie, who is in charge of Kids Against Crisis, said her club is one that responds to people in trouble.
‘When the ho
lidays come, we need to consider what we have and try to help those who may be not as fortunate as us,’ she said.