CC School News
Cedar Cliff Butterflies With Support!
By: Emma Dice
Families grieving are being recognized, helped, and supported to get through hard times. Children’s Grief Awareness Day is a day to support children and families who are grieving. Cedar Cliff’s Key Club had students write on blue pieces of paper shaped like butterflies to show their support.
An email sent out November 14th by the president of Key Club, Mrs Kutz, said, “You will be given a butterfly and we ask that you write in memory of loved ones who have died, in honor of someone who is still grieving, and in support of grieving children and families everywhere.”
Butterflies are used as a symbol of hope, while blue is the color used to represent Children’s Grief Awareness Day. Part of the email sent out November 14th said, “This week, Key Club invites you to wear blue on Thursday.” The butterflies were put up in the cafeteria on Thursday as well.
This tradition has been going on for 10 years and it’s done by schools all around. In past years, the Key Club has donated to the Highmark Caring Place, a safe place for grieving families and children where they can share their stories. The place is split into age groups so each age can get the specific help they need and free dinner is offered. You can also make a quilt with a picture of your loved one for free after you’ve completed the program.
Key Club is doing other activities this Christmas such as making holiday bags with food and toys. They’ve also made dog toys for Speranza Animal Rescue. In February, the Key Club will be selling candy grams for students to give to their friends.
A Message for the Creative Students of Cedar Cliff High School!
by Carly Stump
Are you interested in sharing your artistic talents with others while expanding skills? Mr. Nazario’s Cedar Cliff Art Club is accepting interested students ready to share, learn, and create!
Mr. Nazario created this extra-curricular club in 2016 for any student who wanted to share their love and interest for art. “More importantly, by design, the club is a ‘safe space’ for the students to express art and be themselves,” says Nazario.
The Art Club presents students with a variety of opportunities and activities such as face painting at our elementary school events, community volunteer opportunities, and assisting with the construction of set designs for the Cedar Cliff plays. Annually, the club paints holiday display windows at various local businesses, which showcases the talents and creative approach of our students here at Cedar Cliff High School. According to Nazario, the community really loves to see what the club creates each year!
Joining the Art Club brings the opportunity to run for club office. Each year the students elect a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. In addition to making cool art, the club also hosts an annual talent show/open mic opportunity to show your friends and teachers what you can do! The club’s current enrollment is 23 students and is always happy to have more students enroll.
While Mr. Nazario is the primary teacher advisor, the club is also strongly supported by Mr. Burnham, Ms. Herbert, and Mr. Sload! See any of them if you have questions.
Meetings are held every Wednesday in Room 11 from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm. This club even has it’s very own instagram page where updates and reminders about the club are posted "@cedar_cliff_art."
Come check it out, meet new friends, and unleash your inner artist!
Munching On School Lunches?
By Lacey Wiles
Over the years, schools have had pretty normal lunch choices for students like pizza, chicken sandwiches, and cheese/hamburgers with smiley fries.
Today, Cedar Cliff High School has struggled with lunch choices and that begs the question as to... why?
Brenda Meixner, the manager of the Cedar Cliff High School cafeteria, was asked why? Meixner replied, “The food we have is limited. Although we might get those lunches back, it won’t be until next year because we don't get enough food from the stores we shop from.”
This appears to be a supply chain issue as a result of the pandemic and there seems to be no immediate solution. While there isn’t a lot of choice, the cafeteria does a good job with what is offered and the food is good to eat and it is free.
Keep your heads up kids, things will come back to normal... especially the food!
JROTC: A Home inside School
By: Madisynn Stumper
Do you know what JROTC is? It stands for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Course and its mission is to make better citizens out of the students enrolled. The course is an elective, so a student is not required to take it, however; once a student chooses it, they must stay for the course.
One may be wondering why students join and what cadets do in a typical JROTC class. 9th grader, Micah Myers, was asked, ¨What's the biggest thing about JROTC?¨ and he responded, ¨The biggest thing about JROTC is the friendships, relationships, and how I can go there and feel safe, it is a safe environment. I give them all of my trust.¨ He further explained what happens in a typical class, ¨It depends on the day. You usually do training. One we train for leadership, discipline, and just being a team in general. Sometimes we just play games like, ping pong, and indoor volleyball.”
JROTC cadets also learn things they do not learn in other classes such as tying a tie, which Myers said he had just learned to do.
Another 9th grade cadet, Julian Rodriguez, confirms what Myers said about why he likes JROTC, ¨Everyone is just very supporting and are there to help you…and the environment due to how it feels safe and comfortable.¨ He further explains, ¨It's a family in a special way First Sergeant Sullivan is a father figure towards me; it's like a getaway place.¨
JROTC has more to offer than your average class. It provides a strong sense of belonging, guidance, and teaches leadership skills as well as basic skills needed in real life. This is evident in the success of the program at Cedar Cliff High School.