Junior class raises funds with annual holiday boutique

Finely crafted and inexpensive ceramic bowls and pots sit upon a table. The pottery, pressed with intricate designs, is made by Leah Aguayo’s ceramic classes.

These pieces of art are among the many items sold at the holiday boutique last year, an annual fundraiser for the junior class. This year, the event took place in the cafeteria and Thermond Drama Center on Dec. 7.

At the boutique, vendors rent tables to sell their products. Usually teachers and students also sell their products, according to junior class president, Darby Williams.

Spanish teacher Arnaldo Rodriguex, the juniors’ class adviser, helped plan the event. He sent out information to possible vendors via email, word of mouth and going to other boutiques to find and talk to vendors.

Vendors this year sold a variety of goods, including holiday and garden decorations, arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry and other assorted items.

“I am anticipating lots of people coming to our boutique,” Rodriguex said. “We are placing signs around stores, letting all parents know and advertising on Craigslist.”

Rodriguex said “a core of very active junior class moms” has helped him with the boutique.

“The parents are planning activities for the children to draw more people from the community,” he said. “They are a dynamite team.”

New additions this year such as a bounce house, face painting, and more were planned in order to provide more activities for children. According to Williams, the bounce house was very popular.

Also, a raffle took place where shoppers can get tickets by purchasing products. Each vendor donated a prize, and at the end of the boutique, all the prizes were raffled off.

This year volunteer sign ups were implemented and helped involve more people in the event. As a veteran volunteer, Williams is thankful for the organization that this system brought.

Williams has worked at the boutique for the last two years. While she works she notices the wide variety of items at the holiday boutique.

“There are always a lot of cool products and often times they are made by our very own students and teachers,” she said.

Science teacher Jill McCrystal has sold jewelry such as necklaces and earrings in the past, an item that Williams looks forward to this year.

Rodriguex, who attends the boutique every year, found last year’s boutique to be especially good.

“I remember it as a fun event, lots of people and lots of things to buy,” he said. “It’s nice to see all the displays set up by vendors and the variety of items they bring.”