SGA plans new events for the year

Buoyed by the success of the Homecoming spirit week, the SGA is planning many new events for the rest of the school year. According to SGA president Eric Hysen, the SGA has many more events in store than it has held in previous years, including several charity drives and a downcounty spirit week.

"We've got a very strong group of people in SGA this year," Hysen said, explaining that this year's staff will have the ability to plan and execute several events at a time.

Currently, the entire school is involved in a canned food drive for a homeless shelter in White Oak. The drive, which began on Nov. 1, lasts until the end of the month. On Nov. 14, Blair will participate in Mix-It-Up Day, a national program that encourages students to get to know others outside of their usual groups of friends.

"We need to recognize and celebrate the diversity at Blair," said SGA treasurer Amina Goheer, who is in charge of this event. "Students self-segregate and we need to break these boundaries."

Mix-It-Up Day will include performances by cultural clubs at lunch, with tables set up for clubs featuring cultural food.

The SGA is planning a series of Friday night events, which will start with the talent show on Nov. 17. Tryouts for the show will be held November 8-10 from 2:15-3:30 p.m. On Friday, December 8, student bands will have the opportunity to perform and compete in a Battle of the Bands. The Friday night event series will also include Blair Idol night in January and a film festival in March.

The Charity Challenge will run throughout the month of December. Each grade level will contribute money through a penny drive for a charity chosen by each class's president. It will culminate with assemblies containing performances by cultural clubs the day before winter break.

The SGA hopes to establish a new tutoring program this year, in partnership with Blair's National Honor Society. The program will include a central location for walk-in tutoring and student tutors who will visit academic support rooms as needed. "The SGA at large wants to instill this as a tradition," said Simon Kanter, SGA coordinator of the tutoring program. "It's something that really needs to be made available."

A downcounty spirit week has also been proposed for the week of February 12-16. All the schools in the Downcounty Consortium will observe the same spirit day themes during this week, which will culminate in a pep rally and a dance.

Other events include a blood drive on November 10, a club showcase on November 22 and a diversity showcase on December 22.