Winter Wonderland Dance

On Friday night, the social committee hosted the first MHS dance of the year. A good amount of the boarders attended, as well as many day students, resulting in a turnout of about 50 people overall. Kali created an amazing dance playlist, and dancers posed for pictures while resting up between songs. There was also a fantastic selection of snacks provided by Kali, Sam, Ethan, Lisa, and other members of the social committee. Even though this was not specifically a boarders' event, it seems to have really kicked off our holiday season!

Kali, Gwen, Lisa, Courtney, and Ethan enjoying the party

Courtney, Gwen, and Lisa being incredibly photogenic 

Geoff and David :) 

Claire and Lisa looking adorable

Christmastime Is Here!

Yesterday night, the boarding house got together to set up and decorate a christmas tree in the living room. For an hour and a half we sorted, struggled with, and rearranged the tree, lights, and some ornaments. A big thanks to Gwen, Lisa, Claire, Kali, Ian R, and Paul for working the whole time. Watch us set it up below!

A Boarding House Thanksgiving

On the Thursday before Thanksgiving break, the boarding house had its most festive social event yet. Each member of the household helped out with either cooking, set up, or cleanup for a 40-person wide Thanksgiving dinner. The event was organized by Gwen and supported by the rest of the social committee, each of whom took part in at least three preparation jobs. Other students and house parents helped out according to their assigned job and as needed. Thanksgiving dinner at the boarding house was a huge success--all of the students, house parents, and about 15 members of the staff (all of whom were invited) were able to attend.

Dinner itself included a luscious array of dishes, including turkey (carved by Gwen, Hannah, and Paul), stuffing and cranberries (homemade by Courtney and Rachel), mashed and sweet potatoes (peeled, cut, cooked and mashed by Ian R., Ian B., Nathan, Noah, Claire, Sam, Kali, Lisa, Betty and Gwen). and pumpkin and apple pies (carefully sculpted by Hannah and Savannah). The atmosphere was set by Kali, Katie, Sam, Claire, Ethan, David, Lisa, and Dan, and cleanup was facilitated by John, Eunsan, Gwen, Lisa, Rachel, Sam, Geoff, Ashley, and Nate. Sorry if anyone was left out here--I assure that everyone had a hand in creating an amazing dinner.

I (Gwen) want to offer a big shout out to all the students and house parents for helping, and all the faculty that attended! It was truly a fabulous and successful event, and I hope that students will continue to carry on the tradition of Boarding House Thanksgiving next year. Enjoy the pictures below.

David sneaking an extra bite of turkey

The beautiful dinner environment as created by students

Courtney, Katie, and Lisa posing before dinner

Sam, Courtney, and Gwen taking dishes out of the warmer

Everyone enjoying our ultra-community dinner

John pretending to help with cleanup

Happy Halloween!

This Halloween brought many fun times to the boarding house! For school on Wednesday, several girls, including Claire, Kali, Courtney, Lisa, Betty, and Gwen went to school in adorable and scary costume makeup. Later that day, we had a fantastic halloween party. It included cookie decorating, board games, and a dance party/balloon war. It was a very fun night to spend with the whole boarding house!

Claire, Kali, Betty, and Courtney ready for school 

Katie showing off her ghost cookie

Geoff photobombing with Betty and Kali with their cookies 

Dan gettin' groovy on the dance floor

The ladies joined in

Applying to College!

Two of our boarding seniors, Gwen and Kali, recently pressed submit on their first college applications! Whether this was done to the soundtrack of their favorite song or while screaming with their friends and over the phone to their parents, both girls are very excited to have met the early action deadlines for Northeastern and University of Michigan. Congratulations!

No School!

Due to storms from hurricane Sandy, school was canceled Tuesday the 30th. (Yay!) After sleeping in, us boarders found a few ways to entertain ourselves, including a dance party the night before, baking cookies, and building a fort in the living room. The fort stayed up all day, and hosted activities such as movies, card games, and lots of snuggling!

Hannah and Savannah baking pumpkin bread

Ethan, Kali and Noah setting up the fort

Katie and Kali working hard

Building the fort

Lisa, Ethan, and Gwen hanging out in the fort

Lisa avoiding the camera

Dan and Kali doing HW

Ethan working in the fort

Claire and Katie avoiding the storm

Pumpkins!

It's October again! This month's festivities were kicked off late with pumpkin carving. The grocery shoppers picked up seven pumpkins that were snatched up and carved by John, Lisa, Hannah, Claire, Paul, and Ethan. They came up with some pretty cool designs, such as a dragon and a carriage. This weekend, John Fedore made us a delicious snack of the leftover seeds.

Custard and a Movie

On Friday night, six MHS boarding students went with English teacher Mike Larsen on a journey to East Coast Custard, and then to the Cedar Lee Theatre to see Perks of Being a Wallflower. Even though it was a rainy, chilly night, the ice cream was absolutely delicious and definitely hit the spot. Flavors ranged from pumpkin to chocolate cheesecake, and everyone enjoyed eating and laughing for a few minutes before rushing off to the movie theater. The movie was also fantastic--it was directed by Stephen Chbosky and starred Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Erza Miller. I strongly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet!

All in all, it was a perfect way to spend a Friday night. Next, look for documentation of our day off, pumpkin carving, and upcoming Halloween party!

                                     Pictured: Ethan, Eunsan, Courtney, Gwen, Hannah, Kali.

Manicotti and More at Mike Waski's

Our gracious math teacher, Mike Waski, was kind enough to invite six of the boarders over on September 14 for dinner and a game. John, Ethan, Ian R, Kali, Gwen, and Claire helped him and his wife to make crepes and bruschetta for a delicious dinner. Afterwards we played a very outdated version of Trivial Pursuit, and enjoyed ice cream sundaes.

                                     

Greek Festival

On a sunny Sunday in late August, a group of boarders set out into Cleveland to experience some culture. Kali, Katie, Gwen, John, Ethan, Courtney, and Sam all went first to the Latin Festival at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which turned out to be a bit lackluster, and then to the Greek Festival in Cleveland Heights, which was a bit more successful. The boarders enjoyed buying and eating Greek salad, gyros, and french fries. Afterwards, they walked around the indoor part of the festival (which was held in the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral) and gawked at various jewelry and dessert kiosks. Overall, it was a great experience to have early on in the year and helped some of the returning and new boarders get to know each other a little better.

Photos courtesy of Kali 

The Chalk Festival at Museum of Art

 On September 15, a small group of us went to the 23rd annual Chalk Festival hosted by the Museum of Art. Chaperoned by Carrie Barnabei, Kali, John, Claire, Gwen, Courtney, Ian R, Hannah, Ethan, Lisa, and Nathan created two squares down by the lagoon. It was really cool to see all the art and to create some of our own!

By: Claire Stacey       Photos courtesy of Kali Vitek