By Tim DeLouchrey
Sports Editor
Students and faculty alike have gathered around physical education instructor Meredith Kehaias in wake of the death of her husband, creating fund raisers to help aid Kehaias through the financial struggles she now faces. The fundraisers, which include a “Throwback Teen Center” and a volunteer babysitting group, were created by students in Melanie Jozokos’ senior health classes. The teen center will take place on Thursday, January 22.
Jozokos credited her B block class specifically for creating the idea for the teen center.
“Seeing them come up with this idea made me so proud to be a teacher,” said Jozokos.
The “Throwback Teen Center”, or TBTC, as many students have come to refer to it as, is a replication of the middle school teen centers that both Stony Brook and Blanchard hosted for their students. They were essentially dances with other activities available for students who were not interested in the music. At the Throwback Teen Center, all of the activities that were present in middle school will be making an appearance with a few additions. The activities, which can be found on the green posters hovering around the school, consist of dancing, DDR, basketball, ping-pong, floor hockey, open mic, corn hole, and a raffle. Floor hockey is sure to be a hit; the physical education department actually added another round of it to the activity selection in class due to such high demand.
Admission will cost $10 minimum and donations exceeding $10 will also be taken. Students are also allowed to donate even if they do not plan on attending. Pizza and other snacks will also be served at the event.
“I grew up in a different town during middle school so I’m definitely excited to see what it’s all about,” said senior Arjun Prakash.
Jozokos and Sean O’Leary, another physical education teacher, have been spreading the word among the faculty, sending out emails about Kehaias’ situation and encouraging faculty members to drop in at the TBTC.
Students have been spreading word about it in hopes of strengthening the attendance. Senior Cory Mains, who was in Jozokos’ B block senior health class, said, “I think a lot of people will go. It’s for a really good cause.”
Plenty of students, seniors in particular according to Jozokos, have also been marketing the event in hopes of strengthening the attendance.
Senior Sam Brewer has been playing an important role in encouraging the event as well.
“I’ve basically been making posters and videos to help spread the word,” said Brewer. “Whatever you can find on the flyers is what I’ve been telling people… It’s for Ms. Kehaias.”
Brewer continued to say that the event is more about the cause than the event itself: “It was kind of tough to explain it to the freshmen because most haven’t had her, but the ones that had knew how much she loved her students and so we are trying to show some love back.”
