Students, faculty and staff flooded the Jaworski Center on Vanguard’s campus to buy a $3.00 plate pilled high with syrup-laden pancakes. Student Council members served as chefs, and some even mastered the art of flipping the cakes high in the air for their audience.

The whole affair was a fund raiser to buy additional canned foods for Caritas. Proceeds from the pancake sale will be used by the Student Council to buy canned goods to supplement those brought in by Vanguard students. So far, the student council has raised $850 to spend on food for the needy. Pancake sales came to well over $200.

“The pancake sale was a fun way to raise money for a good cause,” said senior Bricker Bruner, Student Council president. At noon Friday, Nov. 21, Vanguard students will form a human chain to transport canned food from the collection area in a classroom to the Caritas trucks waiting outside.

Cans. Cans. Cans. That’s what Carol Spain and the Student Council are wanting to see. The Cans for Caritas drive is underway and will run through Friday, November 21. The Student Council annually challenges each grade level to see who can bring in the most food for Waco’s less-fortunate.

The Student Council claimed victory last year as they loaded  cans of food onto the Caritas truck just days before Thanksgiving. In all, Vanguard students, faculty, and staff donated 16,355 cans of food to Caritas in 2007.

The Student Council selected this service project in 1995.  That year Vanguard collected 2,687 cans.  Each year thereafter the Student Council raised the challenge for the student body suggesting doubling the preceding year’s total.  In 1997 the students collected 8,332 cans. That same year Vanguard received the coveted Chairman’s Cup beating all other contributors.

Come on, Vanguard families. It’s especially important to help others this year. Let’s rise to the occasion!

Claire Cole, Liz Doty, Tim Latimer and Elliott SoRelle received the AP Scholar with Distinction Award which is granted to students who receive an average grade if at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Cole is the daughter of Cathy and Robin Cole. She is a freshman at Princeton University. Doty is the daughter of Amy and Dwight Doty. She is a senior at Vanguard. Latimer is the son of Lory and Mike Latimer of Riesel. He is a freshman at The University of Tulsa. SoRelle is the son of Drs. Cindy and James SoRelle. He is a freshman at Rice University

Haley Hoffman and Megan Welch received the AP Scholar with Honor Award which is granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. Hoffman is the daughter of Anna and John Hoffman. She is a freshman at Baylor University. Welch is the daughter of Sheila and Ned Welch of Clifton. She is a freshman at Southern Methodist University.

Isla Hamilton-Short and Travis Probe received the AP Scholar Award which is granted to students who received grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. Hamilton-Short is the daughter of Drs. Helen Short and Jeffrey Hamilton. She is a freshman at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. Probe is the son of Drs. Barbara and Robert Probe of Temple. He is a senior at Vanguard.

National Merit Semifinalist and National Hispanic Scholar for the Class of 2009:
Stephanie Marten-Ellis

National Merit Commended Students for the Class of 2009:
Jed Cole
Erin Frisch
Travis Probe

A touch of London took to the stage November 7-9 in the Jaworski Center as the Vanguard Drama Club performed Agatha Christie’s most famous play, The Mousetrap.

The Mousetrap is the longest running play of any kind … 56 continuous years and 23,000 performances in London. The two-act play takes place in one Monkswell Manor (Berkshire, England) during the 1950s. It is the opening night of the guesthouse run by a newly married Mollie (a perfect, worried Hannah Howard) and Giles Ralston (a manly, protective Reece Thompson).  Upon the entrance of the guests, it is observed that they are all without exception unpleasant, odd or unexpected! One, a suspicious Mrs. Paravicini, played with delightful drama by senior Erin Frisch, even appears out of nowhere, a Russian victim of an overturned car – or so she says….

There will be no more arrivals, except for the skiing sergeant (a pensive, skeptical, resourceful Cody McKenzie). In an ominous prediction, he warns: “Somebody’s going to be killed in the manor.” The radio news has already informed the audience that somebody has recently been killed outside. Now the Sergeant menacingly offers:  “One of you is a killer.”  And there can be no more departures – the snow is five feet deep. The audience shivers as eight people are cut off from civilization; even the telephone wire has been cut.

Senior Jantzen Slaughter did a wonderful job as the flirty, artsy Christopher Wren, who may or may not be an architect. Blair Beene won the most laughs for her haughty, imperious, disapproving bother, Mrs. Boyle. Alexandra Deaver played a very cool Major Metcalf, and Michelle Ramadan shone as a chic young woman haunted by her past. Suspicions flew, tempers flared, murder was committed and ultimately the perpetrator was briskly found.

Hats off to Jane Millar for her great program. Kudos also to art teacher Mr. Perdichi for his fabulous set – the audience really was transported back to 1950’s rural England. Caitlin Leslie, Ashley Lopez, Elizabeth Powell and Colton Treadwell did a great job as the crew. The biggest commendation must be saved for last — Miss Woods did a wonderful job as director. Woods teased excellent performances out of all of her young cast and crew. Most agree that they cannot wait to see what the Vanguard Drama Club produces in the spring. One thing is certain if the past is anything to go on  —  it promises to be a great show.