The American Red Cross recently held a blood drive where students age 16 and up, teachers, and other members of the community who happened to stop by were invited to donate blood. While the blood drive is an annual event, different clubs at RHHS take turns helping out. This year Richmond Hill’s Student Council, and its teacher sponsor Jennifer Sack, led the charge.
This blood drive is being considered a radical success by those in charge, school officials and the Red Cross, because of the massive turnout as compared to previous years. This year’s drive attracted just shy of 250 potential donors, and that’s just students. This figure blew away last year’s count of 34. When asked about the dramatic rise in student participation Sack replied, "I think 16-year-olds were allowed to do it (give blood) this time, and they weren’t before" The Red Cross devoted 12 workers for the full day event, lasting from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. although they generally run over, to cover the substantial amount of student donors. However, while the number of potential donors was high the screening process was, and is, exceedingly detailed and rigorous, with good reason. For example, members of a local youth group were deferred because of being in an area with a substantial risk of malaria, and many more students were denied on account of things such as antibiotics, iron levels, and even household painkiller use. Because of the strict analysis only around half of the donators were cleared, which still met the Red Cross’s goal of 100.
The blood drive is expected to occur once again next year, and it appears as though the philanthropic members of the RHHS student body are sending a clear message: bring more bags.
RHHS getting some face time
For some time now, since the start of this academic semester, the RHHS film and video class, under English instructor Erin Turner, has been working in a joint partnership with WJCL reporting sports news. Richmond Hill was one of just a handful of schools to be included in this project. RHHS film/video students record sports material, both video and pictures, which is then posted on the WJCL web site. RHHS student reporters are ecstatic with the program as, "It gives us a lot of freedom. We can report on anything we want" said student reporter James Berry. The stories are uploaded directly to the WJCL website, available at thecoastalsource.com for viewing.
The students enjoy seeing their school in the spotlight, the reporters enjoy the face time online, and the athletes don’t seem to mind being made the center of attention.
Events to Look For:
Richmond Hill High School First Annual Lip Synching Contest
RHHS Book Club
Wrestling Season Kickoff