Both students and faculty at Lexington High School embraced the giving spirit for the holidays through participation in a t-shirt fundraiser that will benefit families in need within the school district.
The proceeds of the fundraiser will go towards the purchase of several gift cards to area restaurants and stores to be distributed to eleven families in need.
Teacher Sally Giefer noted that the school raised about $1,300 and that over 250 t-shirts were sold to faculty and students. Teacher Dan Studer created the design for the shirts, which dubbed the slogan, “Three Bunsens Burning,” in honor of chemistry teacher Jeff Strickler.
Each year during the school’s holiday program, Strickler sings “Three Bunsens Burning” as part of the faculty’s rendition of “Twelve Days of Christmas,” and that phrase has since become a unique characteristic of Lexington High School’s culture.
“Everyone remembers Mr. Strickler and that phrase even years later after graduating,” said Spanish teacher Emily Depew.
For this year’s program’s finale, the faculty performed the much-anticipated “Twelve Days of Christmas.” As soon as Strickler, who was dressed in his white lab coat and goggles, strutted towards the front of the stage and stated his famous lines, the auditorium roared in applause.
Also exuding the Christmas spirit, Lexington Village staff and employees participated in the Richland County Children’s Auxiliary to help children in need. With this project, organizations and businesses are provided the opportunity to “adopt” a child or children for Christmas.
Administrative Assistant Brenda Wilson noted that approximately 44 village employees participated in the project. The Auxiliary, she said, “brings back that excitement of buying presents for children, because many of the village’s staff’s children are all grown up, plus it serves as a nice reminder to give from the heart, not just to give for the sake of giving.”
The village staff was assigned four Richland County children (ages five and under). Each child had items listed on his or her wish list so the village could purchase items according to the child’s interests. Once the gifts were purchased, they were brought into the council room, filling up the whole room, said Wilson.
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Auxiliary arranged to pick up the gifts in order to distribute them to the children.
