October 2019

NEWS

Holiday Mart Joins Traditions Local merchants participate in new fundraiser at the high school reunion Oct. 11.

BY MALEAH DOWNTON WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

At the high school reunion, alumnae shopped at various booths for the first-ever school Holiday Mart Friday, Oct. 11 in the gym.

The Holiday Mart is a new addition to the high school reunion experience. Small booths lined the gym showcasing various items for sale to alumnae. Though the Holiday Mart was a new addition, it enhanced the event‘s atmosphere, according to Director of Development Amy Drouin.

“It gives them something to do while they’re here besides drink and eat,” Drouin said. “It’s a way to engage the community and our alumnae. It makes it more of a fun experience.”

Reminiscent of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri’s Holiday Mart, the school recruited local sellers from around the Kansas

City area.

Of those displayed, principal Natalie McDonough presented her shared business with her sister Chantelle Underwood of baby T-shirts and embellished hair bows.

Having a booth at the school‘s first Holiday Mart was an obvious winwin, according to McDonough.

“I love to make things and so does my sister. It’s just a nice stress relief for us,” McDonough said.

“When Ms. Drouin asked us if we would like to sell something to support Sion we said ‘Of course!’”

In addition to offering a unique opportunity for the high school reunion, the Holiday Mart provided a great venue for these small business owners. Donor Relations Coordinator Tracy Jones took the opportunity to begin selling her hand-painted crafts.

“This is actually the first time I’ve ever had a booth or tried to sell them. I usually just do it for myself or for gifts,” Jones said. “The opportunity was there so I thought this would be a good chance to see how well it would go over since I was

going to be here anyway.”

This year’s high school reunion celebrated the classes of 1969, 1999 and 2009 who celebrated 50 years, 20 years and 10 years respectively.

As part of the class of 1969’s celebration, they presented all guests with their very own rendition of Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman.” Lead singer of the performance Nanette Crump-Moss ‘69 said that she loves the high school reunion and all that it represents.

“It’s great to be with friends—it’s a big accomplishment,” Crump-Moss said. “A lot of us have stayed close.

It’s just great to celebrate Sion.”

Though this year marked only the beginning of the Holiday Mart, the advancement department plans to implement it into tradition. In the coming years, the Holiday Mart is expected to grow vastly, according to Drouin.

“Next year, it would be awesome if we could have the same thing Friday night, but it would be open to the public the next day,” Drouin said.

“So, Saturday would be a big huge fundraiser for Sion.”

HOLIDAY MART ITEMS FOR SALE Crazy Whims Nativity Animal Set Indy Love Bows Baby Onesie Beebo Boutique Sion Earrings

Perfectly Plated Christmas Plate Cedar Street Toffee Sea Salt (Photos by Maleah Downton)

A Night of One Acts Students performed various skits, plays and improv at the annual student-directed Night of One Acts Oct. 9.

BY MALEAH DOWNTON WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The annual Night of One Acts, a student-directed show, was held Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in the gym.

The student directors were seniors Hannah Sue Kennish and Peyton Wade. The two directors each hold very distinct backgrounds in theater. Wade worked mostly on stage, while Kennish has focused her work backstage on crew. Their unique experiences were what enhanced their directing skills, according to Wade.

“We really worked well together, and we were a good team,” Wade said. “We were able to see both sides of the coin.”

Night of One Acts had a major increase in attendance compared to last year. As the play began, two additional rows of chairs were added to accommodate the influx of attendees. It was estimated that there were over 130 at the student-run show.

“Mrs. Killian had planned to put out almost 120 chairs and I told her not to even put that much out because last year we had about 80 people show up,” Kennish said. “However, it was way more of a turnout than we were expecting—way more than last year.”

Freshmen students composed a large portion of the show. Their involvement was at an all-time high, according to Wade.

“I think I was the proudest of the freshmen,” Wade said. “They’re brand new, it was a really tiny cast, but they

stepped up.”

A new addition to the performance was the inclusion of Commedia dell’Arte, the Italian based improv comedy with stock characters. Visual and performing arts teacher Maggie Killian recruited students from English teacher Shawn Watt’s creative writing class to write scenarios for the Night of One Acts’ performance.

“It was really fun,” Watts said. “They came up with them pretty quickly. It was a nice, short and easy way to get into writing.”

Of the plays performed, there was only one student-written play. Sophomore Tyra Frazier wrote “Lemonpops and Teardrops.” This was Frazier’s first experience with showcasing one of her self-written plays.

“It was nice to have people watch something DANCE MOMS Sophomore Tess Tappan and senior Phoebe that I’ve done,” Frazier Mullen act as dance moms in “Tryouts,” directed by senior Peyton Wade at Night of One Acts Oct. 9. (Photo by Sela Kincaid) said. “It was also ROUND OF APPLAUSE Co-director senior Peyton Wade received vulnerable to me. I put a flowers from the cast and crew at the conclusion of Night of One lot of emotion in it. It was Acts Oct. 9. (Photo by Kennedy Wade) a little scary.”

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