Clubs Create Holiday Cheer for Charity Orchestra Takes the Symphony
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The Wildcat Tales Plano Senior High School Plano, TX 75075 www.wildcattales.com @PSHSpub Volume 78 Issue 3 November 30, 2020 Clubs create holiday cheer for charity Students spread their kindness outside of school... By Brooke Burnett There are many people in need in the least,” Spears said. the community, especially with the The Planoettes have also joined effects of COVID-19, so to help those in on the generous spirit, and have who need it, many school clubs have hosted the canned food drive, which hosted several charity drives. ran from Nov. 3-15. Many generous “I know that right now a lot of students and staff dropped off canned people are in need, especially with the goods, both boxed and bagged items, pandemic when a lot of people don’t as well as plastic bottles. have jobs,” said senior Gianni Spears, “The Planoettes are really big the community service about community service and officer of student congress, “So I feel helping all of Plano, we just want to Photo courtesy of Salvation Army USA West. a drive was very important for those give back to the community as much who can’t just go to a store and buy as we can to help support that food to them,” said Megan pick them up and send them into the these things.” everyone around us,” said Planoettes Kaplan, a Jr. Lieutenant on the drive for people who do need it,” said Student congress has hosted a toi- Jr. Lieutenant Brooke Sidler. Planoettes, “I really hope we’re able Spears. letry drive for people who have a hard There were boxes in the cafeteria to feed as many families as With all of these drives going on, time getting the hygiene products they and every building on campus so possible.” the school’ clubs hope to improve the need. Items like toothbrushes, tooth- students learning remotely and These Plano organizations believe lives of the less fortunate people in the paste, soap, shampoo, cleansing wipes students learning in person all had that now is the time, more than ever, community and help those in need. and other toiletries were donated. a chance to donate and give back to to host food drives. By improving the “[This drive] is really going to These items will go to Family the community. The donated items lives of struggling residents, these impact someone’s life, and I know Place, an organization dedicated to will help many hungry families in the programs are hopeful that the local many people are able to donate, so helping victims of domestic abuse, North Texas area. community as a whole will improve everyone should put in the effort to buy which have increased due to the coro- “Now more than ever it’s really as well. at least a couple cans to give back,” navirus. important to donate to organizations “A lot of these things are laying Kaplan said. “To imagine how they would feel that are helping out all of those around our houses and we don’t even makes me feel very comforted, to say families, it’s really imortant to get all look twice at them so we can easily Orchestra takes the symphony outdoors The new auditorium is nature in the orchestra’s annual outside performance... By Kai Kuntz On Nov. 16, the school’s Not only that, but the concert orchestra director April Kondrat was allowed for students to finally finally able to have the school’s first play together and catch up for the orchestra concert of the year. first time in maybe months. With the COVID-19 pandemic “It was actually really nice to still going on, Kondrat had to get play with other people,” Ashley creative if she wanted her students to get the chance to play all together. Holmes, a Chamber cellist, said. “Having it outside allowed us to “In class we only have six peo- have 100 kids,” Kondrat said. “Doing ple and I feel that some sections it outside also allowed us to social aren’t accurately represented.” distance.” Kondrat’s mischievousness Setting up for the concert in the The outdoor orchestra concert, photo courtesy of yearbook staff. has yet to fail as she continues to circumstance brought on by the try and find new ways to make “We set up chromebooks, the giant “It wasn’t about the music, it was pandemic was not as bad as the Plano’s orchestra learning experi- screen, and connected to zoom to about having a live audience.” orchestra’s directors expected either. ence that much better during the stream the concert for at home stu- Kondrat’s hopes and intentions “That part felt the most normal, we Coronavirus outbreak. set it up like any other concert,” dents,” Kondrat said. have appeared to rub off onto other With everything that went into the “The concert was nice Kondrat said. “Although there were students as they also believed the concert, Kondrat was actually very because there were kids I hadn’t no stand partners, so it felt like we concert to be a positive outcome in pleased with its outcome as it had heard play until the rehearsal,” were setting up for a band concert.” the midst of a gloomy time. reached and checked off every box that Kondrat said. Students were finally given the “Considering that half of the stu- opportunity to play for their parents, she wanted it to. “The whole point of it [the concert] dents do online school and it was their but there was a special feature first time playing in person, I think she added to those that couldn’t was for it to be a community event,” Kondrat said. did a wonderful job.” Melis Demiralp, a physically attend. violinist in the Chamber orchestra said. This Issue... Page 2- Cabaret Night Page 5- Jingle Jangle, Indie Rock Page 3- Great Schools, Local Election Page 6- Yungblud, The Crown Page 4- Senior Voters, Student Page 7- Girl’s Basketball, Signing Spotlights Day News THE WILDCAT TALES November 30, 2020 2 Theatre’s Country Cabaret charms audience Square-dancing has never seemed so splendid... By Emma Coleman This November, the theatre department put on its annual Cabaret show, this time going back to the deep country roots of Texas. “We have started to incorporate a theme and more ensemble numbers into the show since I have been at Plano Senior,” The theatre department’s director Mr. Racey Ballard said. “We were looking for pieces of literature that had a sense of hope and joy, and we wanted pieces that would inspire and uplift others.” With new obstacles to tackle, and just a month to work on the show, the technical crew, teachers and cast all worked hard together to create an exciting and uplifting performance for the school’s The theatre’s Country Cabaret production, photos courtesy of yearbook staff. community. hopeful story, not only for the audience, but for The teachers and students’ determination to be “I think the biggest change was the presence of themselves. on the stage once again pushed them to work hard masks and shields,” Bailey Edwards, cast member “This has been a challenge and will to put on a great performance, despite the obstacles of Country Cabaret, said. continue to be,” Ballard said. “We will just need created by the coronavirus safety and social-distanc- COVID-19 has created many challenges that the to be extra creative with what we do, I believe the ing guidelines. theatre students have had to work around in order to audience is going to be filled with joy hearing the “Thanks to Mr. Ballard, we were able to adjust perform. stories, even if some components are limited.” our rehearsal process to be safe, but also still have “Theatre is about listening, reacting, and telling However, the ability to perform this year’s Cab- an opportunity to do what we love,” Cohen said. a story all through the emotions aret Night is one opportunity cherished by many of Country Cabaret was an uplifting depiction of portrayed in your face,” cast member Rotem Cohen the theatre students. Even with the perseverance and dedication, by theatre teacher said. “With half of [your face] covered up, we all restraints, many of the cast members are Racey Ballard, and performed by the students in the had to work a little harder during the acting aspect thankful to finally do what they enjoy. Plano Senior High musical theatre. of rehearsal.” “For me, as well as a lot of seniors, the special “This is a very professional and hardworking Despite the new limitations created by the part was that we got to perform at all,” Edwards group we have,” Ballard said. “They are very grate- pandemic, the theatre department has said. “It was grounding to have the opportunity to ful to be getting this experience and it constantly persevered in order to put on a show that tells a do what we all love and enjoy.” shows in rehearsal and performances.” Photos courtesy of Lauryn Clemons Opinion THE WILDCAT TALES November 30, 2020 3 The importance of local elections From city council members to senate seats, here’s why voting matters... By Emma Coleman representatives and their Democrat This year, local elections in Collin challengers. This emphasizes the County have proven to be just as changing and dividing political important as the notorious Presidential atmosphere of Collin County. election. In District 67, Democrat candi- Although many focused date Lorenzo Sanchez ran against predominantly on the Presidential the Republican state representative election, and Trump winning by Jeff Leach, this year.