2013 S.A. Election Candidate Preview: Raissa Silva and Amber Sanchez

Since the last 2013 Student Association Election spotlight, two more candidates have been approved to run for different offices. Freshmen Raissa Silva is running for S.A. treasurer and Freshmen Amber Sanchez is running for S.A. pastor. Each candidate was interviewed on their campaign along with what changes they wish to put into action if elected to their desired office.

Raissa Silva (SA Treasurer Candidate)

Q: What do you hope to help achieve by being a part of the Student Association for the next coming school year?

A: “I hope to achieve success as an S.A. officer. I hope to make next year much more fun. To bring school spirit and stretch the S.A funds to cover as many S.A events as possible.”

Q: What do you have to offer as our S.A treasurer?

A: “I am willing to research places and events to stretch the S.A. budget as much as possible. Also, I plan on fundraising for S.A. to increase our budget to cover more events and activities.”

Q: What qualities do you think you have to convince us to vote for you?

A: I am very ambitious, I know how to manage money. I always ‘turn every stone’ before jumping into projects, and I am open-minded when people express their opinion on various matters.”

Amber Sanchez (SA Pastor Candidate) 

Q: What do you hope to help S.A achieve next year?

A: “I want to help develop more spiritual activities.”

Q: What do you plan to add or change about SLA’s spiritual life?

A: “Well technically I cannot change anything but with God I hope to get people involved and to be able to feel the Holy Spirit.”

Q: As a School, what would you like to see SLA become as its student pastor?

A: “Have people who actually care about Christ, to show how God can work in people’s life individually.”

Q: What qualities do you think you have to convince students to vote for you?

A: “I have a relationship with God, I won’t give up, I believe that God can do anything and that he has a plan for this school.”

Q: What made you run for this position?

A: “I want to do God’s work and bring his people back to him; to make a difference for God.”

Judging from the candidates’ answers on the current posts they are running for, our next S.A year seems very promising; with passionate people willing to put their all into what they’re doing. Hopefully we’ll have a fun year and these potential candidates will lead us into a fulfilling and exciting school year.

Lunchtime at SLA: Time For a Change?

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

Students at South Lancaster Academy have a wide range of opinions on life at SLA. In a recent poll, students were asked to share their desires for possible school improvements. Topics such as the school uniform policy, the lack of certain sports and the desire for more off-campus activities were at the top of the list. Students would also like to have Wi-fi available and access to Atlantic Union College campus gyms and pool.

Students have stated their desire to have more class electives offered, as well as AP options and actual college class opportunities to start building college credits.

SLA has made an agreement with Mount Wachusett Community College to allow high school students to take college classes at their campuses for only $30 a class. These credits will be transferable to any college in Massachusetts or any university. As for the AP classes, Mr. Lambert has added two AP history classes to the curriculum; AP Government and AP European History. Many students are eager to take these two new classes next year.

So since students are always complaing and asking for something new, SLA Pioneer decided to investigate what wishes are possible and n0t possible for the SLA students.

Many students would like to have the opportunity to buy lunch at school instead of packing it at home or going without. The Pioneer sat down with SLA treasurer Mrs. Daum to ask her a couple of questions on whether or not having an actual cafeteria would be possible or if students could bring back hot lunches. The answers were very straightforward. The two main reasons are because the school does not have a current food service license and the second is because of money.

For SLA to get a food service license, it would be at least $100 just for the permit. There are multiple steps for the school to take if they would like to get a food service permit. The first is to submit a copy of the Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.) for intended use. The next would be to provide a floor plan and request an appointment for plan review. The final step would be to submit a food service application to the Health Division, pay the proper fees and schedule an initial inspection. The school would have to renew it’s food service permit every year and there would be regular and impromptu inspections.

Another reason the school is not going to have a cafeteria anytime soon is because of cost. For the school to even think about getting a food service permit, the school would have to purchase standardized equipment to operate. To have our equipment become standardized it would cost somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000. Also, if the school got a cafeteria they would have to add extra personal, which would cost more money. The equipment would have to be sterilized after every use as well.

The school used to do hot lunches; the Sivers were in charge of the program a few years ago, with their own food service permit. They could serve food at the school because they prepared it at their restaurant. Classes can only service hot lunch now if the food is prepared and pre-packaged before it gets to school. Taco Bell was an excellent fundraiser for the Eighth Grade class, but it is now shut down. Pizza is also another good example of food that is prepared and pre-packaged before it gets to school. Hot lunch used to be a good fundraiser for classes but now it’s a much tougher option to provide to raise funds. A cafeteria at SLA would be nice, but in reality it is way too expensive for SLA to even think about right now. Students will just have to continue on for now as they have been for the past few years.

2013 SA Election Spotlight: Lydia Felt

Photo Courtesy of Kaitlyn Hutchins

Planning for the 2012-13 school year is already well under way, and one of the organizations include the SLA Student Association. There are seven offices that need to be filled for next school year: President, Vice President, Pastor, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergent-at-Arms and Public Relations.

President, Vice President and Pastor are the three major offices, and to run for these three students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher, no major discipline issues in the previous semester and a minimum of 70% in attendance grades from the previous semester.

Minor offices include Secretary, Treasurer, Sergent-at-Arms and Public Relations. To run for one of these offices, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or higher, no major discipline issues in the previous semester and a minimum of 70%  in attendance grades from the previous semester.

Submission for candidacy is due a week from Friday, May 11, 2012. So far, no one has submitted to run for S.A. Junior Lydia Felt is getting her application approved to run for President and there are rumors that junior Jennifer Sierra will be running for Pastor.

The SLA Pioneer sat down with Lydia Felt and asked her what her future plans are concerning the school and what she plans to do differently as the potential S.A. President next year.

SLA Pioneer: Why should students vote for you? What makes you different from other candidates?

Lydia Felt: “I really want the students to look forward to S.A. events and I want them to know that SLA is a fun place to be. I’ve had experience in S.A. and have served in other major offices already. I have  a lot of good plans for the future.”

SLA Pioneer: What events do you plan to do next year?

Lydia Felt: ” I want to bring back the S.L.A.M. teams so we can have a competition throughout the school year. I want to bring back the Chunky’s and Six Flags outings as well.”

S.L.A.M. stands for SLA Mash, meaning that the entire high school will be mixed with each other and compete against each other. It has been a few years since the SLAM teams were used but it still brings up fond memories. It was an excellent way for new students to break into the school and feel welcome. Some of the events were tug-of-war, relay races, art competitions, etc.

SLA Pioneer: Do you plan to fundraise over the summer so S.A. has more funds for events?

Lydia Felt: “I would like to. My ideas include car washes and a snack bar.”

SLA Pioneer: Do you plan on having an activity for every holiday?

Lydia Felt: “Yes. The S.L.A.M. teams would have different themed activities throughout the year.”

SLA Pioneer: Are you going to have two separate events for the Handshake and Fall Picnic? Or are you going to combine them, like the 2011-2012 S.A.’s president, Harrington Brown, did?

Lydia Felt: “I want the Handshake to be at school and for Fall Picnic I would like to go somewhere off campus; but it depends on how much money we have.”

SLA Pioneer: How do you plan on representing the voice of the students to the administration of the school?

Lydia Felt: “I want the students to have an active voice. I want their opinions and suggestions and I will go to the administration and tell them this is what the Academy students want. I will actively work with them to figure out how to find a solution.”

Lydia Felt has big plans for the 2012-2013 school year and she is going to try to accomplish them all if she wins the election. She also needs good officers to back her up and accomplish her goals. So far no one else is running for any SA office. Students! Step up! Be the change you want to see at SLA!

SLA and Famous Relatives: You’re Related to Whom??

It has recently been noticed that there are a few students and teachers that have some famous relatives and/or famous ancestors. The Pioneer decided to do some digging to see which students and faculty members at SLA are indeed related to prominent figures, whether they be past or present.

Junior Jennifer Sierra is related to NFL tight end Tony Gonzales, who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons. Gonzales has been in the league for many years and is

Picture From Google Images

definitely going to be a future Hall of Fame inductee. Though not related, Jennifer’s uncle and father also worked with Ellen White‘s grandson for awhile.

Freshman Alena Bruso has a relation to another Adventist figure, who was the first person to bring the Adventist religion into South Korea.

Picture From Google Images

Mrs. Daum, SLA’s treasurer, is related to Betsy Ross. Betsy Ross was the woman that sewed the very first American flag  in history.

There are a few students that have relations to U.S. Presidents through their families. Adam and Arlan Gagnon are related to the Clintons through Hilary, who ran for President in 2008. In fact, Adam said the link between their families occurred back about seven generations in their family tree.

Sophomore Dan King is related to President Abraham Lincoln from his mother’s grandfather.

Picture From Google Images

Also related to a U.S. President is SLA’s math teacher, Kevin Bisson. he has a relation to our 27th President, William Howard Taft.

Even I have some famous relatives. On my dad’s side of the family, I am related to many historic figures; the most recent of them being the Roosevelts. This is because my great grandmother’s cousin was a Delano. I am also related to some medieval figures. These include; King John II, who is often shown as Robin Hood’s enemy in folklore.  I am very proud to say that I am related to these figures, as they were all significant in history.

So if you ever have the time, go on a website like Ancestry.com or myfamilytree.com. You might be surprised at the historic figures or celebrities that you could be related to!

National Honor Society Lends a Helping Hand to Others

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South Lancaster Academy’s very own National Honor Society, also known as N.H.S., is participating in a non-perishable food drive through WHEAT Community Services, located in Clinton, MA. The object of the drive is to get as much non-perishable food from donators and supporters as possible. Announcements have gone out to Browning Elementary, Sterling Church, College Church, Village Church, Lancaster Portuguese Church and the Leominster English Church.

WHEAT Community Services was created in 1982 when volunteers decided to help out the less fortunate. Wheat Community Services provides needs in the towns of Sterling, Lancaster, Berlin, Bolton and Clinton. WHEAT assists low income people with food, clothing, temporary shelter, legal aid, helps with rent, fuel costs and utilities, and provides support for abused women.

Last year was the first year N.H.S. took part in WHEAT Community Services non-perishable food drive. Mrs. Hodder was eager to talk about N.H.S.’s participation. “I wanted to have the students participate in a local community service and to help out our local businesses. It was nice to be involved in our local community.”

N.H.S.’s Public Relations officer, Lydia Felt, said “It’s a great outreach and you can really see how thankful people are when you deliver the food.”

The deadline for the non-perishable food drive is May 15,2012. If you would like to participate, you can stop by Browning Elementary or South Lancaster Academy and drop off any non-perishable food that you have at your disposal. If you have any questions you can contact Mrs. Robidoux or Mrs. Hodder at (978) 368-8544.

Last year was very promising and rewarding for the students on N.H.S. and hopefully this year will bring about the same results!