School Choirs Will Sing As One

Students from Ferris High School and Lewis and Clark High School will combine voices next Wednesday when the schools’ choirs present an evening of traditional Christmas music at 7:30 p.m. in the Ferris auditorium.

“We’ve never done this before - gotten the two choirs together,” said Ben Brueggenmeir, student teacher at Lewis and Clark. “My father came up with the idea to combine the two choirs.”

Brueggenmeir’s father, Paul Brueggenmeir, directs the Ferris choir.

Kathy Blair directs the Lewis and Clark choir.

The musical alliance will bring together 250 voices for a 90-minute performance, free to the public.

The two choirs will rehearse together for the first time on the day of the concert, Ben Brueggenmeir said.

Making a point for the homeless

Six seniors from Ferris High School will camp out in the cold tonight to highlight the plight of Spokane’s hungry and homeless.

Associated Student Body officers, with parental permission, and their advisor, Jim Missel, will sleep in a tent in front of the school at 37th and Regal.

“I think it’s good for the kids to have an understanding of how people need shelter and food,” Missel said.

This is the second year ASB officers have staged the event.

During last year’s camp-out, ASB officers received $200, 10 turkeys and donations of food, clothing and blankets. “People just came by and gave students food and money,” Missel said.

All donations will be given to the Spokane Food Bank, he said.

Missel said he had to go through “all the channels” to arrange the sleep-over. “We had to clear it through Superintendent (Gary) Livingston and the police chief,” Missel said.

Hillary Prue, 17, ASB secretary, is looking forward to spending the night outside - even though she expects to shiver.

“I’m going to wear a lot of clothes. I brought all my ski stuff. When I get up, I’ve got to go to class,” Prue said, adding, “I probably won’t get a good night’s sleep because it’s so cold.

“The next time I see homeless people I think I’ll have a better understanding. It will hit home,” she said.

Last year students did their homework by flashlight, Missel said.

“We had all kind of kids bringing something by - I hope that happens again this year,” he said.

Sac sponsors pizza night

Sacajawea Middle School is sponsoring a pizza night fund-raiser at Lincoln Heights Pizza Parlor, Dec. 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

The restaurant, at 2932 E. 27th, will donate half of its gross receipts after the first $300 in food sales to help finance the Sacajawea Outdoor Education Site, said Rita Connor, staff member at the school.

Plans for the site at 33rd and Lamont include a simulated glacier, pond, weather station and archeological dig site, Connor said.

She said the fund goal is $9,000 and $7,500 has been raised to date.

Looking to the Legislature

Students 14 and 15 years old interested in serving as legislative pages in Olympia may receive an application by calling State Sen.-elect Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, at (360) 786-7888 or the Secretary of the Senate’s office at (360) 786-7550.

Applications must be submitted by Dec. 31.

Brown will sponsor eight 3rd District pages, each for one week of service, during the 1997 session, which convenes Jan. 13.

Pages deliver messages and run errands, but “more importantly, they get the opportunity to see their state government close up, and to play a part in the legislative process,” said Courtney Schreive, Democratic Party spokeswoman.

Pages are paid an average of $35 a day, based on five days’ work, Schreive said.

Students must pay their own transportation and housing costs, though some arrange for home-stays. Some meals are provided, depending upon the housing situation, Schreive said.

, DataTimes