Even with the crazy winter weather, MSS is looking forward to the spring sunshine. SHARE/Go Green was particularly prepared as they filmed a video for the Earth Day activities in Kagawong. The students featured in the video spoke about why they care for the environment, and what they hope will come from a cleaner and healthier Earth. SHARE has also been busy planning their WE Bake for Change event on April 26. The bake sale funds will go towards the group’s Brick by Brick campaign. Community members will be able to preorder their baked goods through social media then pick up their baking. The group is still hard at work planning their biggest event of the year: WE Day Manitoulin. The group has rallied singers, speakers, and other performers to speak to and empower the youth of Manitoulin Island and invited guests.
Students’ Council is busier than ever planning the magazine drive initiatives that for students who sold magazines. Meanwhile, this year’s game of SpyMaster has officially started with participating students and staff receiving their targets on Tuesday, April 17. The game of mystery tag is intense for the people in the game, as well as their friends who often end up being bodyguards for the targets.
The Students’ Council also has a committee organizing the Grade 8 Shadow Day at MSS. The Grade 8 Shadow Day will give the upcoming Grade 9 students a chance to see how the MSS schedule works, as well as meet senior students who will be leaders next school year. Grade 8s will be partnered with an MSS student and go with them to their second period classes on Wednesday, May 23. The committee working on this new project at MSS is April Torkopoulos, Delaney Madore, Victoria MacDonald and I.
On April 12, the Manitoulin Mustangs staff and students wore jerseys and the Humboldt Broncos’ colours, green and yellow, in support of the families and the city of Humboldt. Over 200 students and 20 staff joined in.
MSS Mustang alumni Travis Scott responded to the photo on Facebook, “I joined the RCMP nearly a decade ago and have spent my entire career in Saskatchewan. I have worked alongside many of the officers that responded to the collision. A tragedy like this is felt very close to home for many in this province. When the population of the province is barely a million people, nearly everyone can relate to the tragedy in some way; whether hockey families or first responder. Great work coming together, the love and support shown is definitely felt out here.”
The badminton team went to Elliot Lake for their NSSSA competition on Wednesday, April 11. The entire Mustangs’ team performed strongly, and several members of the team are moving onto NOSSA from April 19-20. Those advancing include Darci Debassige, who won first overall in the midget girls’ singles, Nathan Temple, who won second overall in the midget boys’ singles, Owen Duncanson and Jake Robinson, who won second overall in the midget boys’ doubles, Boston Thibault won second in junior boys’ singles, Dream Saunders won second in junior girls’ singles, and Shaylee Taylor and Morgan Wall won second in junior girls’ doubles.
The Mustangs’ gymnastics team competed at NOSSA championships in Sudbury on Friday, April 13. Summer Beaudin is a new NOSSA champion, taking gold in Level 2 vault, qualifying her for the OFSAA Gymnastics Festival in Sudbury from April 22-24. Mackenzie Cortes, a Level 4 gymnast, will also be moving onto OFSAA after placing third on vault, bars, and beam, and sixth on floor routine. Mackenzie placed fourth overall in the Level 4 category. The newest member of the team, Ana Migwans, competed well against 35 other gymnasts in the Level 1 category. Coaches Jill Ferguson and Heather Theijsmeijer are extremely proud of the small-but-mighty MSS squad this year, and look forward to building on everyone’s successes at OFSAA and next year.
Coach Theijsmeijer said, “They represented Manitoulin with pride and grit, holding their own when faced with steep competition from 10 schools across the region.”
Students are able to sign up for the April 26 talent show with Mr. Theijsmeijer. The Senior Band has been prepping for the talent show and the evening Spring Concert that same evening. The Vocal Group participated in the Kiwanis Music Festival, placing second overall. Mr. Theijsmeijer was happy with the group’s performance, especially because it was the first time they had participated in a Kiwanis competition.
Spring might be running late, but MSS won’t stop to wait. ‘Til next time, stay golden, Mustangs.
