![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
True Gem
Freshman publishes first book
Regina Gillberg
Picture of Raeann with her book, “True Gem”, courtesy of Regina Gillberg.
April 26, 2022
Racing to the computer lab every morning right before school, Freshman Raeann Gillberg types furiously, writing and editing constantly to complete the story she has worked on for years.
Every little kid has a dream that they just won’t give up on. They have a story that they want more than anything to tell.
Gillberg made her dream a reality when she published her first book this past November. “The Ageless Gem” was published through Touchpoint Press, after doing her middle school Gifted and Talented (GT) project on how to publish books.
Described on the Barnes and Noble site in a review by a reader as a “delightfully adventurous debut,” the story set in Petra, Jordan revolves around the brother-sister duo of Peter and Lily, who must unravel the mysteries of “The Ageless Gem,” their bedtime story. Gillberg hopes “The Ageless Gem” will be the first of a seven-book series, each book taking place in one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Gillberg came up with the idea for the series in elementary school when she entered her first writing contest and discovered her passion for the written word. Her mom was the first person who read it.
“I thought it was really good, you know, especially being as young as she is,” said Gillberg’s mom. “I don’t think I could have ever come up with a story. I was just really proud of her and just thought it was awesome.”
After Gillberg finished constructing “The Ageless Gem,” she sent it off to be published. Without wasting any time, Gillberg quickly moved on to start the sequel.
“I finished the second one, and also the third one,” Gillberg said. “I haven’t really started the fourth one, but I have an idea of what most of the books are going to be about.”
Kimberly Villarreal, Gillberg’s freshman English teacher, said she is an “amazing writer and reader.”
“When she [Gillberg] told me it came out, I ordered a copy,” Villarreal said.
Villarreal is reading her signed copy of “The Ageless Gem” with her son.
“ It seems like a very cute story, very creative writing,” she said.
Gillberg has all of high school to complete “The Ageless Gem” series, but she has much more she wants to accomplish.
“I have some other ideas for some other series I want to write, but I’m going to finish ‘The Ageless Gem’ series first.”
Gillberg’s book can be purchased at Barnes and Noble and on Amazon.
This story was originally published on Comm Arts Media on January 25, 2022.
