Clarke Central High School students attend the first Big Event on Jan. 18, 2023. After The Big Event debuted last year, the second Big Event will take place during first period on Jan. 24. “(I hope) students see that there’s an opportunity to let their hair down (and) actually socialize (and that) even though we focus on academics, there is times we can also allow ourselves to relax and take a break,” Associate Principal of Operations Tamika Henson said. Photo by Isabelle Duncan
CCHS will host The Big Event on Jan. 24 as a reward for students who displayed exemplary attendance in the first semester.
The Clarke Central High School administration will sponsor The Big Event for the second time ever on Jan. 24 as a reward to students who consistently attended school in the first semester.
The event is open only to students with fewer than 10 absences and 15 tardies, and builds upon last year’s, which took place during Advisement on Jan. 18, 2023. The previous Big Event featured games, music, and several other activities. This year, the administration has expanded and adapted the event to continue emphasizing the importance of classroom attendance.
“We are really proud of the fact that the majority of our students are doing the right thing, going to class and behaving, so we want (students) to be able to have a good time and just take a break,” Associate Principal of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Summer Smith said.
“We are really proud of the fact that the majority of our students are doing the right thing, going to class and behaving, so we want (students) to be able to have a good time and just take a break,”
— Dr. Summer Smith,
Associate Principal of Curriculum and Instruction
For the first time, the event was planned with input from the new Student Climate Committee, founded by Family Engagement Specialist Christian Barner at the start of the school year.
“We’re gonna get some feedback on what students would want as far as activities, music, food, snacks, whatever students might want,” Barner said. “If this is gonna be a fun event for students, we want to make sure that it’s actually fun.”
The event was originally planned to take place on Jan. 17 for just freshman and seniors, with a separate event scheduled for sophomores and juniors. However, due to the delayed start time on Jan. 17, the event was postponed and scheduled for all grades.
To accommodate the event in students’ schedule, the day will feature an extended first period that lasts until 11:07 a.m., with the rest of classes proceeding on the usual Wednesday Advisement schedule. The activities will take place during the extended first period.
“Yes, I am excited to hang out with friends I don’t have classes with. It should be a good time,” sophomore Za’shun Hardeman said. “I’m ready to go crazy at basketball, but I also want to see what other activities they got and expand a little bit.”
