Freeman named Teacher of the Year

During a reception Friday Feb. 17 honoring Teacher of the Year nominees, Principal Tim Gilliland named math teacher Cheryl Freeman the 2010-2011 Canyon High School Teacher of the Year.  Teachers nominate colleagues and vote to determine who is honored as Teacher of the Year.

 Freeman was one of five nominees including Tanner Hargrove, Marcie Cook, Jana Meyer, and Brandon Farren.

 “I was really shocked,” Freeman said.  “Because of the other candidates, I wasn’t expecting to hear my name called.”

 Freeman will represent CHS in the district Teacher of the Year competition.  Finalists will be announced in April.

 “I didn’t care much about winning (the Canyon High Teacher of the Year),” Freeman said.  “However, it would be important to win at district so I represent CHS well.”

 Freeman has been teaching for eight years at CHS, teaching dual credit Pre-Calculus Pre-AP and Calculus AB AP.

 “The best part of teaching is also the worst part,” Freeman said.  “I teach juniors and seniors and I get to know them really well.  We share so much together.  And then they leave.  To see them go off and achieve their dreams and to play a part in that is the best part of teaching, but when they leave, it’s never the same.  It’s sad to see them go.”

School plans Feb. 1 community pep rally

All students, parents and community members are welcome at the pep rally Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in the big gym.

The community wide pep rally will feature spring athletics including softball, baseball, basketball and soccer. Hope Wentz will sing the national anthem featuring the ASL Honor Society signing along. Glee club will feature a sample of their competitive performance.

“I encourage everyone to come out and be spirited,” sponsor Heather Hale said.

The courtside couch drawing will take place and raffle tickets are still on sale for $1. The prize includes a half-court seat on a couch with two friends with free pizza, drinks and admission during the Randall basketball game Feb. 7.

The pep rally features a guy/girl routine with nine senior football players assisting the cheerleaders in a routine. Nathan Gonzales, owner of Cheer Texas and former WTAMU head cheerleading coach, has worked with the boys in preparing for the intricate stunts.

“It’s a really a chance to see something different and new,” Hale said. “The stunts will be to the extreme.”

Hat day to benefit Haiti relief effort

Students can wear hats Monday, Feb. 1 to help support disaster relief in Haiti.  Second period teachers will collect $1 from each student.  Proceeds from the event, sponsored by Key Club, will go straight to the American Red Cross specifically marked for Haiti relief.

The European Commission announced an estimate of 200,000 dead.  According to the Associated Press as many as 1 million people are without shelter. In comparison, the population of Potter and Randall counties is 237,240.

Food drive to begin Friday

Students can win $100 for bringing food to the Randall game this Friday, Oct 30 and participating in the High Plains food drive.

Three cans of food earn students one chance in the drawing.  Students can bring as many cans as they wish to earn as many entries as they want.  Cans may be dropped off at the south guest entrance of Kimbrough Memorial stadium from 6:30pm through the end of the first quarter.

The class with the most cans will win a movie afternoon on Tuesday, November 24.

Football player, band members, and any other student not able to participate can bring their cans to the commons Friday morning between 7:45 and 8:15 to earn the entries.