The Seminole Ridge Facial Anomaly Community Education (FACE) Club held its seventh annual holiday celebration for local families whose children have craniofacial anomalies. Club Sponsor Peggy Larson recalled the event’s beginning.
“I was a part-time employee in 2005 when the school opened, but when I came on board full-time the next year, we started our FACE club, and we had our first party — with one guest — in 2006,” Larson said. “Last year we had a record number of 25 families. This year there were only 10, but a fun time was had by all, with lots of food, music and gifts.”
SRHS staff members Michelle Buchannan, Erika Goldrich, Kathy Peers and Sue Smith joined the party to assist with setup and clean up.
• Cheerleaders Take Division Gold — The SRHS competition cheerleaders placed first in their division at the Universal Cheerleaders Association regional competition Dec. 7-8, qualifying them for national competition in February. “The girls laid their hearts on the floor this weekend like I’ve never seen them do,” cheer coach Tamara Licavoli said.
• Debaters Shine in Virginia — The Hawk forensics team had considerable success recently at the George Mason University National Invitational Patriot Games Tournament, the largest in the nation. Wayne Selogy placed in the final round of the legislative assembly, ranking again as one of the nation’s top ten speakers. The public forum team of Erika Thompson and Landen Fresch placed among in the top 32 teams nationwide. Also performing well were Andrew Garcia in humorous interpretation and impromptu speaking, and Rachel Collins in original oratory. “Each performed well for a tournament of this magnitude,” coach Mierka Drucker said. “How proud I am of these dedicated and talented students.”
• Thespians Earn Numerous Awards — The SRHS thespian troupe competed at the district level recently. “We did great, with 10 superior and 12 excellent awards,” coach Ryan Lee said.
A number of the superior-rated solo and group winners now advance to state-level competition in March: Jaqueline Campos (solo musical); Lisa Chandler (monologue); David Madigan and Jessica Quiggle (pantomime); Devyn Higgs, Aletta Kemp and Gigi Spado (small group musical); and Kelsie Brown, Aletta Kemp, Alexis Parada, Rosie Perissien, Jessica Quiggle, Gigi Spado, Antonia Sulpizi and Julie Weber (large group musical).
These thespians and groups also received superior awards: Jaquie Campos and Maddie Dickson (duet musical); Maddie Dickson (solo musical); Fallon McCoy (monologue); Mairead O’Rourke (solo musical); and Jaquie Campos, Maddie Dickson, Claudia Gonzalez, Devyn Higgs and Fallon McCoy (ensemble acting).
Receiving excellent awards were: Gabi Garcia (monologue); Devyn Higgs (solo musical); Rowan Pelfrey (solo musical; monologue); Kristin Wasko (costume design); Courtney Wolfe (monologue); Katie Abel and Jessica Quiggle (duet acting); Kelsie Brown and Rosie Perissien (duet musical); Lisa Chandler and Mairead O’Rourke (duet musical); David Madigan, Joe Prieto and Courtney Wolfe (ensemble acting); and Kelsie Brown, Gabi Garcia, Fallon McCoy, Rowan Pelfrey, Alexis Parada, Rosie Perissien and Kyle Schneider (pantomime).
• Hawk Battalion Joins Community Events — The JROTC Hawk Battalion has been busy as of late. On Dec. 5, the color guard performed at a local naturalization ceremony in which 93 candidates from 44 different countries received their citizenship. The cadets enhanced the ceremony by taking pictures with each of the newly naturalized citizens. On Dec. 6, the guard presented the colors at the school district’s adult education holiday luncheon, and on Dec. 8 the battalion’s saber team and color guard, in addition to their usual functions, conducted a candle-lighting ceremony as part of the 82nd Airborne Division Association’s anniversary dinner. The Hawk cadets were presented with an 82nd Airborne commemorative coin and a necklace picturing St. Michael, the patron saint of the division.
• Hawks Chosen for All-District Concert Band — Congratulations to Cory Sanchez (junior, flute) and Christopher Martinez (senior, contrabass clarinet), who were selected to represent Seminole Ridge in the 2014 All-District Concert Band, and to Kaylee Fagan (sophomore, clarinet), selected as an alternate for the band. “All three represented our school with character and poise as they auditioned with hundreds of students from across Palm Beach County,” band director Daniel Harvey said.
• Community Education Principal of the Year — Seminole Ridge Principal James Campbell has been voted the 2013 Community Education Principal of the Year by the 26 adult and community education schools of Palm Beach County. “I’m happy that the Seminole Ridge after-school and evening programs are so active and have so much support from the people they serve,” Campbell said.
