The Tornado Times

= The Tornado Times

Winter 2010

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Hickory High School has a long-standing tradition of excellence in the areas of academics, athletics, and the arts. However, we also have a tradition that often goes unspoken and unnoticed. I would like to share some of the reas= ons that Hickory High School is such a special pl= ace. During the past two years, our global and local economies have made survi= val a challenge for many of our students and their families. Losses of jobs a= nd homes have left many of our students fearful of the future. With this in = mind, our Hickory High School family reached out to share with those less fortunate.

Our PTA Board provided wrapped presents for thirty students during the holiday season. Without their kindness and generosity, these students would have had nothing to open at all. The gifts included sweatshirts, scarves, toboggans, socks, toiletrie= s, candy, and money. The expressions on the faces of the recipients of these heart-felt gifts were priceless. Most were overwhelmed that someone who d= id not know them cared enough to provide them with needed and much appreciat= ed items. Several students shared with me that this was the first time in th= eir lives they had opened a wrapped gift. Many opened the paper with care and asked if they could keep the paper.

In addition to the PTA’s generosity, the Key Club provided a holiday celebration for students from= two of our neediest elementary schools. These students were brought to HHS fo= r a meal, gifts, and a visit from Santa. Key Club students and sponsors worked hard to make this a special memory for our future students. One teacher at HHS and her husband made sure that ten families had a holiday meal, and t= he Latin Club provided food for three families. The HHS Kids in Need Fund supplied grocery store gift cards for ten HHS families in need. The Inter= act Club provided grocery store gift cards for three HHS families, donated shoeboxes to Samaritan’s Purse, and assembled stockings full of sma= ll gifts to Hospice patients. They created luminaries for Light Up Hickory a= nd Catawba Memorial P= ark, distributed holiday cards to residents at the = Brian Center, and collected household items for The Women’s Resource Center. The Juniorettes adopted one of our HHS preschool studen= ts and her mother and provided them with gifts and gift cards. Juniorettes also made a contribution to the Kids in Need Fund. A former HHS teacher a= nd her husband provided a new coat, sweatshirts, and a gift card for one of = our students as well. Countless HHS students also rang bells for The Salvation Army, served food at the homeless shelter, and gave of their time to volunteer in numerous ways.

Before the holiday break, one of our teachers gave her students what some might consider an unusual assignment. She asked that they perform an act of kindness over the holid= ay and share the act and how it made them feel with their classmates in Janu= ary. Acts included visits to nursing homes, shoveling snow from the driveways = of the elderly, and paying for the order of the person in line behind the students in fast food restaurants. Students shared their feelings of satisfaction and joy. They also shared their unified belief that they cou= ld make the world a better place. Listening to these students and witnessing= all of the acts of teachers, clubs, and our PTA has filled me with pride and humility. It is wonderful to be a part of a school that understands the importance of citizenship, service, and community.

Sincerely,

Kim I. Mattox, Principal

mattoxki@hickoryschools.net

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

We have one semester behind us and a new decade ahead – 2010 – sounds like science ficti= on.

The PTA will be hosting a brief meeting at 7:00 pm on Monday, March 1st <= span style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana; color:black'>along with a delicious Italian Dinner provided from 5:00-7:00 pm. Dinner tickets can be purchased from any PTA board member or at the f= ront office. Along with a chance to meet your student’s new teachers, we will be voting in our new slate of PTA officers for the 2010-2011 school = year, so please plan to attend. The PTA encourages a= ll parents to become involved in our school and with our students. There are numerous committees and help is always welcome.

We will also be having our annu= al silent basket auction prior to the meeting. The baskets are prepared by t= he student clubs, and 20% of the money raised goes back to the winning club.= The remainder is presented to the prom committee, so please come to the meeti= ng early, support the prom, and keep bidding!!

Have a great spring semester. <= o:p>

Shauna OBrien =

PTA President

PTA Board Volunteers 2010-2011 NEEDED

The PTA wants YOU! PTA board volunteers are needed for the 2010-11 school year. Board volunteer positions available include: Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, School Store Co-chair, Teacher Appreciat= ion Co-chair, Spirit Auction Co-chair, Grounds Co-chair, Basket Auction Co-ch= air and many others. Please contact Neal Orgain, President-elect, at nealorgain@aol.com or 244-9051 cell if you are interested. This is a great way to enhance your child’s education a= t Hickory High School by becoming more awa= re and knowledgeable of HHS and its needs. The board meets once a month during t= he school year. People interested should contact Neal by February 15. The new board will be voted on Monday, March 1 at the Open House at HHS.

Thank you.