Pepsi Voting

I just want to remind everyone to continue voting for the NCSSM food drive in the Pepsi Refresh grant project even after the students leave campus for winter break.  For all the details on how to vote and to see the other projects in our voting coalition please visit http://www.my10votes.com/.  We have a chance to win $50,000 as well as the media support and other financial support of Pepsi.  This will be a huge help and could make the difference between us breaking the record this year or not.

Community Service Projects

In December, we decided to focus on appreciating what we have and giving to others in need.  As part of this we decided to take on 2 community service projects as a hall.
First, we will be participating in the Angel Tree program where we get the name of a local child whose family is not able to provide Christmas gifts.  The child provides a wish list and we use that list as a guide to shop for gifts.  Our angel this year is an 8 year old girl whose dream gifts are a black bratz doll, a monster high doll, clothes, and underwear.  We will be going shopping Tuesday after school to get her gifts, and I have encouraged all the students to make a small donation to help make this girls Christmas better.
For our second community service project, we partnered with 1st Beall to take stockings to the Carter Community School.  This is a grade K-3 school that is just up the street from NCSSM.  We will be going Tuesday at lunch to deliver stockings and visit with the students, and we have invited Dr. Jon Miller, a humanities teacher at NCSSM, to come with us as a special guest and read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to the children.  We hope to make a positive impression on the elementary school students and give them something special and fun to remember.
I hope that you all will continue to support us in our efforts to serve other people in out community.  I think it is very important for the student on hall to learn to give back and be good community members and it is my hope that these projects will give them an opportunity to do that.

Winter Favorites

I asked each of the girls to tell me their favorite thing about winter, and these are the responses I got.  Winter break seemed to be the clear winner, but I am going to believe that it is only because all the girls are so excited to get home and see their families.  Can you guess your daughter's favorite before you look?

Our Favorite Things about Winter:

Catherine-Winter clothes

Reena-Getting to see her family

Brittany-Snow

Natalia-Fireplaces

Eunice-Apple cider

Brooke-Presents

Kerstin-Hot chocolate

Rebekah-Her birthday and watching her brother open Christmas presents

Paulina-Winter break

Jenna-Christmas lights

Axita-Christmas decorations

Denise-Cold weather

Alice-Christmas carols

Nishkala-Smells of Christmas like pine trees

Chuchitra-People are nicer

Elizabeth-Snow

Shannon-Snow, Christmas, and being able to see her breath when she is outside

Hannah-Salvation army people with the bells and red buckets

Abagail-Waking up early enough to see the sun rise

Meaghan-The weather and winter break

Tina-Winter break

Andrea-Making seasonal foods

Janice-Peppermint mochas from Starbucks

Grishma-Decorated pine cones (the painted gold sparkley ones)

Lauren F-Christmas cards

Lauren L-Spending time with family

Peitong-Winter break

Tolu-Snow

Emma-Winter break

Deveney-Scarves

Connie-Spending time with family and friends, candy canes, and Christmas carols

Linsey-Gingerbread houses at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville and getting to spend time with family