Clay High student leaders outline Holocaust survivor talk, prom plans and spring events

Pearson Linhard, a junior student government officer at Clay High School, told the board at its April 16 meeting that students attended a March 26 field trip to the Valentine Theater to hear Holocaust survivor Erica Gold describe her childhood in Budapest.

"Erica was born in Budapest... she is a survivor of the Holocaust and students were invited to hear her story," Linhard said, describing the visit as part of modern world history studies.

Linhard and fellow student government officer Ava summarized a busy spring calendar. Prom Spirit Week is under way and prom is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Premiere, with desserts provided by the culinary program, the students said. Honors Night is set for May 7 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium; scholarship day will be held May 14 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., where the presenters said the school has recorded 44 scholarships so far.

The students described a safety-focused "crash" assembly planned for the morning before prom. "The McK crash assembly has been developed because of a concern for student safety and to demonstrate how quickly lives can be instantly devastated when a choice is made to operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol," Linhard said, noting that the Lucas County Health Department, the Oregon police division and the Oregon fire division will respond in a staged reenactment and that students will see memorial and sentencing components designed to prompt reflection.

The presenters listed additional events: the Clay High School production of Curtains (school edition) April 26–28; the 41st annual Eagle Invitational track meet May 3 (4–8 p.m.) at Memorial Stadium; AP testing May 6–16; the band concert May 14 at 7 p.m.; district track May 15 and 17; senior handprint and final practices May 15–17; a senior car parade May 18; the last day of classes May 24; Operation Graduation May 31 (6 p.m.–midnight); and commencement June 2 at 2 p.m. at the Glass City Center.

The board praised the students for their presentation. "That was one of the best reports we've seen in a long time," a board member said, and invited the students to have their photo taken for posting to the district website.

The student report provided the board with dates and program details ahead of scheduled events; board members did not take formal action on the items during the meeting.