Carnation sales blossom before Valentine’s Day

Bellaire International Student Association (BISA) continues their 30-year annual fundraiser selling carnations to students. Carnations can be purchased for $2 from BISA members or in front of Room 2721 during Cardinal Hour.

“On each carnation slip, there is a little space for people to write a personalized message,” senior and BISA Co-President Meadow Lam said. “Usually people write something sweet, draw something or put an inside joke, but it’s just a way to make the carnation even more unique.”

Preparation starts two days before carnation distribution on Feb. 12. Club members and volunteers will come together on Feb. 10 to soak the flowers after trimming their stems and leaves. The following day, an after school meeting will be held to twine and wrap the carnations before tying slips onto them.

“I’ve participated in BISA carnation sales for four years now, and it’s always a blast,” Lam said. “I love getting to be a part of something that spreads joy to others. My favorite part about carnations is seeing everyone’s heads turn when I walk into a classroom as if they’re all waiting to see who got a flower. It is a lot of work behind the scenes, but it’s most definitely worth it in the end.”

The carnation sale is the main fundraiser for BISA club. Most of the money goes towards BISA Fest, a student-run event where Bellaire’s diverse student population comes together to explore cultural foods and performances. Funds are also set aside for club T-shirts and money for service project handling.

Junior Ruby Olsen bought a carnation for a friend as a way of “expressing a little appreciation and bringing some joy to a normal school day.”

“I think it’s a nice way to put a smile on someone’s face, and the price is so reasonable,” junior Ruby Olsen said. “It’s exciting to get to show you care to the people you are close to.”

BISA Sponsor Micaela Segal oversees the student-run project and is “incredibly proud” of how her student officers handle involvement, logistics and promotion for the club. While the carnations support BISA’s operations, they often promote the club by reaching Bellaire’s community.

“I think that carnations are important in the visibility of the club across campus,” Segal said. “It’s really the first time a lot of people hear of BISA throughout the year, which is important because, come BISA fest, there will be name recognition and more people will feel interested in the event.”

Sales will conclude on Feb. 10, and flowers will be distributed on Feb. 12 during fourth period. Stop by Room 2721 or contact a BISA club member to purchase carnations for more information.

Choir sets the tone for Valentine’s Day

Choir is selling Singing Valentines to teachers and students as a fundraiser for choir services, such as vocal lessons. Singing Valentines are $10 if performed in person and $5 if delivered sung through the classroom phone.

“We have been selling during lunch to hopefully get more people to buy a Singing Valentine,” Senior baritone member Carlos Mata said. “We are all really hyped to sing and have fun with it.”

Singing Valentines can be bought online through Ludus or during Cardinal Hour on Main Street. All Singing Valentines will be delivered Feb 12. Students can select their preferred class period for delivery. If students choose the landline option, choir members will call the designated classroom and sing through the phone.

Varsity choir members are split into four groups, each performing a variety of songs. The Harmonia section, consisting of the varsity girls, and the Musaic group, consisting of the varsity boys, each have two groups.

The song options performed by Harmonia include: “My Guy”, “The Glue Song”, “Count On Me”, “You’re The One That I Want”, “I’m Yours” and “L-O-V-E”. Songs performed by Musaic include “My Girl”, “Beautiful Girl”, “Sha-Boom”, “Longest Time”, “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

“It feels really nice that we are able to provide a little bit of that Valentine spirit and be able to sing these love songs to people,” Mata said. “Sometimes it can seem awkward for the person, but still they seem like they are having fun with it.”

Each order form has a slot to write the choir students’ name that sold the valentine. This money will go to help pay for personal expenses, such choir fees or to save up for their spring trip.

“We’ve been practicing a few times every week to prepare,” junior and Harmonia member Charlotte Heemer said. “It’s exciting to see the reactions when we sing to the class.”

The last day to purchase Singing Valentines will be Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. To purchase a Singing Valentine, students can ask any choir student or visit Room 2210 during lunch.

Peyton Promubol

Senior and Co-President Madeleine Luca teaches senior Noah Sullivan how to make a crochet heart. Luca has been co-president since her junior year.

Crocheted with love

The Crochet and Knitting Club will be selling crochet heart keychains at their next meeting on Feb. 11. Keychains are $2 and can be purchased online or in person.

“This is the first year we’ve done this fundraiser of making heart keychains, and I think it’s a really good fit for Valentine’s Day,” senior club officer Lavinia Gobler said. “We don’t really celebrate holidays like we did back in elementary school, so this was really fun.”

Flyers posted around the school include a form to preorder keychains. During the Crochet and Knitting Club meeting next Wednesday, students will receive their orders.

“We want to continue providing materials so that members can continue using them for service projects,” senior and President Miranda Wang said. “The fundraiser is a good way of doing both fundraising, but also having a fun project for people.”

The money fundraised is used to purchase yarn, crochet hooks and basic materials for club meetings. Though recently introduced, the keychain-making process has communicated “positive” messages and feelings.

“I hope that selling and making keychains help Cardinals see how fun and fulfilling crochet can be,” senior and Co-President Annie Tsang said. “I’m so glad that we had volunteers help us crochet the heart keychains.”

Students have the option to choose between red, pink, yellow, purple and select patterns. Keychains can be picked up at Room 2728 Feb. 11. For more information, follow Crochet and Knitting club on Instagram @bhs.crochetknitting.