With the new year just around the corner, some of the students already start thinking about their new year resolutions while others oppose the idea altogether.

“[A resolution means] to change something and make it better,” sophomore Austin Denfeld said when asked what a resolution means to him.

To many people, a resolution means different things. Overall, a New Years resolution is changing something about yourself, whether it is academically or personally, such as eating healthier, taking better care of your skin, or aiming to be a C+ student.

“[My resolutions are] to go to the gym, make all state choir, [and] learn to play the violin,” junior Paige Bagley said.

Bagley sets her sights on reasonable personal goals while others think of impossible abstract resolutions.

“Obviously my resolution is to wrestle an alligator,” freshman Sydney Simpson said.

Even though some people take resolutions seriously, others do not see a point in them at all. Some students never make the resolutions or have stopped making them due to previous failures.

“I think they’re stupid,” freshman Kevin Andrews said. “I don’t think people should try to stop doing what they don’t want to [stop doing]”

Many people form their own opinions on resolutions as to whether they are a good thing or a bad thing. Students that experienced failure agree with the latter.

“Resolutions aren’t always a good idea,” senior Taylor Todd said. “They cause [you] to set yourself up for goals that don’t always happen.”

After all resolutions are about trying something new, and accomplishing goals in order to make yourself better, whether it’s making it to the dream college or making it to the next grade.

“My resolution is to start off on a clean slate,” Todd said.

 

That smile that left for the longest time finally came back. They fit the wig to her little head and BAM, a light bulb clicked. That is the moment Jim Stack decided to grow his hair out for donation. He wanted to change a child’s world, like somebody changed his sister’s.

The school board will meet on Monday to discuss Stacks request to grow his hair out for Locks of Love.

“I hope the board approves my request. Donating my hair to Locks of Love is a very special project to me. When we recieved my sister’s wig, she was so happy” Stack said.

Being impressed with the groups work and inspired by his sisters happiness Stack did research on the organization and decided to do something to help.

“I spoke to the president [of Lock of Love] and asked how I could help,” Stack said. “She said the best way I could help would be to grow my hair long and donate it to the group for a wig. I decided that was something I could do.”

Stack brought this idea to principal Tonys King who believes there are other ways to donate that wouldn’t break school policy.

“I know Jim’s sister and am glad she is doing well, but I can’t bend the rules for one student.” King said.

King told Stack that she would support a fundraiser for the organization but Stack was told the group doesn’t need the money.

“I’m told a lot of people donate money. Not very many donate hair. Anyone can donate money, but it takes time and dedication to grow your hair and donate it.” Stack said.

Stack has come up with compromises for King to consider since the length of his hair would go against dress code. He realizes he will not be hurting anyone and that tucking it into his shirt would cause less of a distraction.

“After I reach my goal of 10 inches, I hope I can inspire more people in the town to grow their hair and donate it.” Stack said.

Stack watched his sister live with the illness but when the wig came her attitude changed and m received a clean bill of health.

“I think it’s cool that Jim want’s to do this. He was so upset last year when his sister was diagnosed with cancer.” Student council president Gilbert Castillo said. “He told me he felt helpless throughout the whole ordeal.”

Showing his support for the group and the need to help kids like his sister, Stack’s new mission means a lot to his family.

“He is a very giving young man. I don’t know how many teenagers today would put so much time and effort into helping someone else. The wig made all the difference in the world to Jasmine, our daughter.” said Stack’s mother Holly Stack.

After auditors found a $14,000 discrepancy in school funds, Leaguetown parent/teacher association (PTA) treasurer Mary Burns is facing criminal charges and up to 10 years in jail.

“I know Mary has been having some health problems,” PTA finance officer Jeannette Lumpkin said. “that doesn’t give her the right to take money that doesn’t belong to her.”

Since last fall contributions to the PTA has been disappearing, it started with the loss of $2,000. Lumpkin and other PTA staff members had assumed it was Burns since a lot of the donations were in cash.

“Mrs. Burns seems to be a caring person. I guess she got frustrated because she couldn’t provide for her family like others could, and she saw a temptation and took it,” Junior English teacher Marilyn Lenk said.

They first noticed the disappearance when the junior English class was scheduled to go on a trip, unfortunately with the lack of money they couldn’t. Some juniors found out about the theft later on.  Most students were not pleased.

“I feel sorry for Mrs. Burns’s son, Jack, because he’s having to take the heat of his mom stealing all that money,” Junior James Grigsby said.

The schools took this as a sign to warn all parents that contribute to the organization about theft and about the control they have over the PTA.

“We would certainly prosecute if we found a school employee who was taking activity funds,” the superintendent of schools Curtis King said.

The organization felt bad when they found out that one of their friends would deceive them and the students like that and so easily.

“We decided to pursue charges in order to stop her from doing this to other people,” Lumpkin said.

The organization didn’t want to accuse anyone of the crime but after the audit they knew it was Burns. The teachers and principal are supportive of the PTA charging Burns with theft.

“Something we were afraid would tear our school apart actually brought the school and PTA together,” Leaguetown PTA president Sydney Long said.

 

    After principal Tonya King denied junior Jim Stack’s request to grow his hair out for Locks of Love Stack wrote a letter to the school board asking them to reconsider. The school board will vote on this issue on Monday.

    “Donating my hair to Locks of Love is a very special project to me,” Stack said. “When we received my sister [Jasmine’s] wig, she was so happy.”

    Locks of Love is an organization that helps provide sick people with a wig made of human hair to look as natural as possible. Every month they receive about 200 request and end up having to turn 150 families away.

    “After I reach my goal of 10 inches [of hair], I hope to inspire more people in town to grow your hair and donate it.” Stack said.

    The schools handbook states that male’s hair can not be below collar level. Stack agreed if he could grow his hair out he would tuck it into his shirt to keep from distraction the other students. Principal King did not agree to the compromise.

    “We have rules for a reason and we just can’t go breaking them anytime we want. I can’t bend the rules for one student.” King said.

    King offered to support a school wide fundraiser instead. The school board received a letter from the Locks of Love president, Gisel Roco,  that said Stack was a good candidate for donation and he had a letter of permission from his parents.

    “I don’t know how many teenagers today would put so much time and effort into helping someone else.” Stack’s mother Holly Stack said.

    The student council wrote a letter to the school board in support of Stack’s movement with 350 student signatures, 78 were male. Due to the letter, school board president Bill Valdez called members to a vote next Monday.

    “I can not comment on this issue until next week.” Valdez said.