News briefs

May 22, 2009 • written by Nick Nelson, Staff Writer  
Filed under News

Choir honors the outstanding

        This year about 70 vocal and string participants boarded the busses in anticipation for their opportunity to perform at the state competition. However, 40 miles out of Bismarck one of the buses broke down. The choir students waited just over an hour for a new bus to arrive. After the new bus came, the students were on the road again. Following a late arrival, the students were to get ready for the next day, performance day.

        After a long night, somewhat sleeping and slipping in some final practices, state had begun. Choir teacher Jeffery Mueller knows the goal of state is to star. In other words, receive the best possible score for your performance. At the end of the day, four strings had starred and 20 vocals had starred.

        However, the best news from state was West Fargo received four Outstanding Performance awards. After seeing the performances, a judge may award the best solo or duet with the honor of outstanding performance of the day.

        Choir teacher Jeffery Mueller announced the four performances that received outstanding; seniors Brittany Davila and Eric Halvorson in their duet, Davila for her solo, senior Travis Bregier for his solo and sophomore Abbey Immer for her solo.

        “It’s unusual for a sophomore to receive this honor, since they are going against seniors that have been singing for four years,” Mueller said.

        Mueller had not seen four outstanding performances given to West Fargo High School before this year.

        “West Fargo will occasionally get one outstanding,” Mueller said. “In 1996 [West Fargo] had two, which was really rare. When I got the list of four, I was really excited and proud.”

PAC passes the torch

        Principals Advisory Committee, commonly referred to as PAC, has four main purposes. One purpose is to give feedback to the principals about what students think about the school. Secondly, to coordinate co-curricular activities, learning what other activities are doing and making sure nothing is overlapping. PAC also makes the senior class t-shirts. Lastly, PAC members provide senior leadership for the school building.

        PAC is a group of 19 seniors that get together once or twice a month. Since graduation is sneaking up and all the current members will be moving on, there will be 19 seats open for next year.

        Principal Gary Clark, head of PAC, gives the final say of new members to the graduating senior PAC members. The process for becoming a member on next year’s PAC is not an election; it is more of a passing of the torch. During a meeting, all the members throw out names of who they would like to nominate and discuss qualities and activities of the student.

        “The goal is to choose juniors that are from different backgrounds and every club and activity,” Clark said.

        In the end, the decision is up to the senior member. At the final meeting the junior choice will be invited, and it is then that the junior replacements will be inducted as a new member of PAC.

        “All members will talk about the vision for the following year on ways to improve the school,” Clark said.