Today is Friday, February 10, 2012
Today is Friday, February 10, 2012
The school is hosting its annual Holiday Faire on Friday, December 11 during lunch in the large gym.
Open to both clubs and individuals, the Holiday Faire is a chance for students to “show their culture for the holidays” according to ASB Clubs Commissioner junior Teresa Fabbricino.
Sellers may set up booths and sell for the duration of lunch. Booths are provided free of charge and electric outlets are available by request.
Due to the California Senate Bill 12 which was put into effect July 2007, the school is restricted to sell food with a limited number of calories and fat content. The bill has reduced club fundraisers and limited the sale of food items on campus.
For clubs, the faire is one of a few rare opportunities when students may sell food on campus to fundraise.
“We have lots of different types of food, and it’s also a really good opportunity for every single club to be able to raise money,” Teresa said. “And it’s fun.”
According to Assistant Principal Cristy Dawson, more and more clubs have begun to sell food over the years.
“I think this year it’s turning into a giant food faire,” Dawson said. “Now it’s really crazy.”
The large gym will be organized by food types, with booths selling main courses located on the right side of the gym and sweets and desserts circling the left side.
According to Dawson, the only condition is that clubs and individuals do not market the same products. ASB accepts proposals to sell food on a first-come-first-serve basis.
This year, 35 clubs will be selling in comparison to last year’s 22. Among these are the Garden Club, which is selling pesto pasta made with the school garden’s homegrown basil and the Animal Welfare Club, which is selling dog treats.
Clubs are not limited to selling food items, though. Random Acts of Kindness will feature a cookie-decorating booth and the Astronomy Club will offer face painting.
“It’s so joyful,” Dawson said. “Everybody gets to kind of represent their clubs.”
This year the only individual selling will be Joanne Thomson from Adult Ed, who will continue to sell the pot holders that she has sold in years past.
For some, selling in the faire means more than profit; it is also an experience.
Junior Caleb An, Vice President of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Club, says that the Holiday Faire is a chance for “club members to actually do something, because [FBLA is] a business club.”
FBLA, which sold potstickers last year and will be selling them again this year uses the faire to learn more about business. Last year, the club made a profit of $200 and “[the potstickers] sold out with a lot of time to spare.”
“We thought there’s definitely a bigger market there,” Caleb said.
In response, the club has a stock of 600 potstickers this year; 3 potstickers will be sold for $2.
“We’re a business club and even though we talk and study business a lot, sometimes it’s just good to go out and actually sell stuff,” Caleb said. “It’s what business is all about.”
The faire will also feature an appearance from “Santa,” played by sophomore Bobby Andris, and two “elves” in the form of sophomore Chuck Kuo and junior Peter Ambiel.
“They’re from the North Pole,” Dawson said. “[They’re] raising good cheer.”
