Resident: San Marco October 2019

O CTOBER 20 19 | RES ID E NTNEWS. NE T

DeFoor speaks at Episcopal student government installation District 14 City Council Member Randy DeFoor was on hand as new members of student government at The Episcopal School were installed Aug. 26 at the Munnerlyn Center. DeFoor, a member of Episcopal Class of 1982, spoke at the event, sharing her experience as a student body president and explaining how the leadership opportunities she experienced at Episcopal shaped her life. Included in the student government cabinet are President Lizzie Conklin, a senior, Vice President Jake Murphy, a junior, and Secretary Ansley Walker, a sophomore. Class officers were also installed. Serving the senior class are President Anders Amlie, Vice President Emilie Fazio, Secretary Tori Zlatanoff and Senators Jack

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San Marco teens donate mission money to hurricane relief By Marcia Hodgson Resident Community News

The devastation suffered by residents in the Bahama Islands had such a profound effect on two San Marco teenagers that they emptied their proverbial piggy banks at Southside United Methodist Church to assist islanders that have been left homeless. For the past two years, Sarah Sasser, 15, and her 13-year-old sister, Rachel, have worked a total of 130 service hours selling pumpkins in SUMCs annual pumpkin patch and accruing “mission” dollars through other work at their church. Although no actual money is exchanged, SUMC compensates its youth for church work in mission money that can be used to help kids attend church camp or go on youth mission trips such as the annual week-long trip to Guatemala it sponsors each year. Over the past two years, the Sasser sisters had not tapped into their mission money account and were incredibly surprised to learn their combined total in mission money was $2,000. “I didn’t realize that working the pumpkin patch could have such an impact on missions until I was told that we had $2,000 in our student account,” said Sarah. “Our family discussed different missions; however, we couldn’t decide where to send the money. After watching Hurricane Dorian as it damaged the Bahama Islands, we knew that was where we should send it.” Rachel agreed. “After seeing the devastation after Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, I realized that we were so blessed with all that we have, and that we should help the people of the Bahamas who don’t have as much,” she said.

District 14 City Councilwoman Randy DeFoor gave the address at the installation of Episcopal School’s student government Aug. 26.

Laborde, Nial Murphy, Charlotte Rosenburg and Mabel Smith. Serving the junior class are: President Isabella Wright, Vice President M.J. Goodman, Secretary Hannah Goldfield and Senators Jack Adams, Kami Eppley and Anna Kate Smith. Serving the sophomore class are President Dan Ferber, Vice President J.P. Coll, Secretary Gabby Parker and Senators Lizzy Curran and Parklyn Gardner. Serving the freshman class will be President Chloe Simpson, Vice President Cohen Chesser, Secretary Kate Adams and Senator Ella Bisher.

Members of student government at The Episcopal School this year.

Fundraiser helps Wolfson band overcome growing pains In just a few years, the marching band at Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies and Leadership has grown from a handful of members to a company of 63 members, 23 of whom are freshmen. The growth, however, presented a problem. The band was too large to travel on the bus with their instruments and their band trailer was beyond repair. Wolfson Band Director, Cristina Ledford, embraced the growing pains by launching an online fundraiser. Over the summer, parents of Wolfson band members as well as alumni and community members contributed $4,500. With the proceeds, a new trailer was purchased that will accommodate the band’s instruments as they travel to “away” games and competitions. Ledford said she appreciates the investment, not only in the trailer but also in the band students. "The support from the administration, community, and parents

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Sarah and Rachel Sasser hold a mock-up check of their donation for Bahama Disaster Relief to Samaritan’s Purse, a nonprofit in Boone, N.C.

Even their younger sister, Anna, was affected by the devastation in the Bahamas and wanted her sisters to help. “My youngest child is 10 years old, so she does not work in the pumpkin patch,” said Christine Sasser, the girls’ mother. “Previously, she has said she liked hurricanes because she got to go to Mimi’s, (her grandmother’s house), but when she saw what happened to the Bahamas on TV, she knew it was bad.” Sarah and Rachel, who are homeschooled and attend Providence Extension Program in Mandarin two days a week, selected the Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund sponsored by Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse nonprofit in Boone, N.C. “We had visited Boone, North Carolina, which is the headquarters of Samaritan’s Purse. Because they visited the headquarters, I think they felt that’s where they wanted to send the money,” Christine said, adding that even as the hurricane raged on, Samaritan’s Purse was filling up DC-8 airplanes with supplies to send immediately and planned to set up a temporary hospital to assist hurricane victims.

Summoning all Trick-or-Treaters

Wolfson’s new trailer is just what its marching band needs to travel with all its instruments.

October 11–13, 17–20, 25–27, 30–31 6:30–10:00 p.m. (gates close at 9 p.m.)

has been wonderful, especially this year. The students and I are so excited about the direction the band is going in, and we thank everyone who had a part in helping us raise the funds needed to purchase the new equipment trailer." Ledford also invited Wolfson’s band alumni to play with the band at its homecoming game Friday, Oct. 25. Former band members can contact her at ledfordc@duvalschools.org.