This year, Student Council put on Winter Week from December 5 through December 9.  They do this every year to raise money for the annual Toy Drive.  During the week, students could dress up according to what day it was: Monday was PJ day; Tuesday was Christmas in Hawaii Day; Wednesday was the Winter Olympics; Thursday was Camo Claus day; and Friday was Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Along with dressing up, students could buy different foods like chocolate chip pizza and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. On Friday, the last day of Winter Week, students could pay $5 to buy out of fourth block to either watch a volleyball game or Home Alone in the auditorium instead.

The school raised $8,905.48, surpassing the overall goal to raise $8,074, which is every grade’s graduation year added together. With this money, Student Council members went to Walmart at 5 a.m. on Monday morning to buy as many toys as they could. From there, the Travelers Rest Police Department picked up the toys and distributed them among the local families. The TR Police Department was able to give toys to 200 children. “We work with the TR Police Department and it is really neat to see all of our efforts help the local community,” says Deanna McCarrell, librarian and Student Council adviser.   The Toy Drive wouldn’t have been able to happen without the TR Police Department and the Student Council is thankful for them. “We do it every year because there is a need in our community,” says Austin Grumbles, student body president.  “There are kids that can’t afford Christmas and we love helping them in any way we can.”