Even though Manitoulin just got its first snowfall, MSS is getting ready for the winter season. The MSS Christmas Craft Sale took place on Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19, giving community members across the Island the opportunity to do their Christmas shopping locally. Vendors were selling jewellery, clothing, knitting, quilts, artwork, and baking. Inside the Christmas Craft Sale customers visited the different colourful displays, purchased gifts for the holiday season, and stopped to talk with friends. Each vendor donated an item to the Penny Table, which was a popular destination. The MSS Band played Christmas songs such as We Three Kings, Deck the Halls, Angels We Have Heard on High, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. On Friday, Ms. McGraw had a chili and scone dinner, and on Saturday the gymnastics team held their lunch fundraiser. The gymnastics team sold chicken noodle soup, chili, baking, sweet potato soup and soft drinks.
The SHARE/Go Green group held their annual Silent Auction at the Christmas Craft Sale. There were many items up for bidding, including clothes, gift certificates, household items. Items were donated by many different businesses: My Ol’Blues, Island Jar, Loco Beanz, Breakaway sports, Turner’s, Avon, Twice as Nice, Dreamer’s Cove, Nack’s, Lucky Stone Village, Stepping Stone Toys, Woods Bros, and the Canadian Yacht Charters, and many private individuals.
The Battery Drive to Save Lives ended on Friday, November 19. The collection lasted a week, with students, staff, and community members bringing their used batteries to the school. The amount of zinc in one AA battery can save the lives of six children. MSS collected 1595 batteries were collected, meaning Manitoulin Island saved 9,570 lives. Teck will donate the Zinc recycled to provide life-saving supplements to children in developing countries and will donate the monetary value to Free the Children for building sustainable infrastructure in Kenya.
Three Fires Confederacy is holding their Winter Clothes Collection. Students can bring in all size winter clothing to Ms. McGraw or Three Fires. Once items are collected, a Christmas tree will be decorated with all of the donations until they are distributed to those in need.
The senior boys’ volleyball team hosted NOSSA volleyball championship on Thursday, November 17. The Mustangs won the finals against Espanola. The boys will travel to North Bay for the OFSAA Provincial Volleyball Championships next weekend. Staff and students are wishing the boys all the best as they represent our school. The MSS Gymnastics have started up again, coached by Ms. Ferguson and Mrs. Theijsmeijer. The girls have been practising their vault jumps, balance beam work, and getting conditioned for competitions in the new year.
The Mustang Senior Band has decided on a destination for their annual band trip: Montreal, Quebec. The band and choir members have begun fundraising by selling chocolate bars, citrus fruit, and soon they will be selling Christmas cards as well. The band will be doing their Christmas Island tour around the elementary schools in December, as well as holding an evening concert to fundraise for their trip.
Mid-term report cards are in the mail, and students are preparing for the second half of the semester while also looking forward to the winter break. ‘Til next time, stay golden, Mustangs.
