![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
“Una Manada” meaning “One Pack” is the motto Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School has been going by as one of their students, Brady Southwick, has been battling his ongoing fight against cancer.
When Southwick was only three years old, he was diagnosed with Rhabdo-Mio Sarcoma, a soft tissue cancer in his jaw. However, after doing chemotherapy and radiation he was able to beat it. Fast forward to the beginning of his second-grade year, the cancer had returned, this time with lesions in his spine and a tumor in his jaw.
Entering second-grade while also starting up another round of chemotherapy, brought its challenges to Southwick, as one could imagine. Having to wear a ball cap to school was one of his worries returning to school. Principal at SSE, Tracy Vik, made sure that this would not be an issue for him.
“We went in and talked to his classmates and they were absolutely fabulous with it. They are second graders, you know they may be young, but they really understood and were so compassionate,” said Vik.
Following his second-grade year, Southwick was able to defeat cancer for the second time and was able to enjoy his summer playing baseball and get back to being a kid. Unfortunately, after some time, he noticed pain in his leg. After getting his leg checked by his doctor, they found that not only had the cancer returned in his jaw but also had come back in his leg, shattering a bone. This would mean Southwick would have to be in a wheelchair moving forward.
SSE PE teacher Heather Conrad has been at the forefront of making sure Southwick feels the love and support of his peers when he comes to school. Despite being in his wheelchair, Conrad has found ways to keep Southwick involved and included in the daily activities. From having Southwick referee and coach to buying him a remote-controled wheelchair for him to participate in the Pacer. It has been really important for not only Southwick but also for the school to keep him involved as much as they can.
As difficult as this journey has been for Southwick and his family, SSE has been finding ways to support them day in and day out. Whether that be selling bracelets and t-shirts, writing letters or simply saying kind words, they hope that this family can feel the love and support coming from them.
SSE prides itself on being a family-like community. They are one. Supporting each and every person who walks into the building has brought them together to make their school like no other. Having each other’s backs during hard times and leaning on each other for support and comfort is something that they are used to. Vik, with the help of her staff, has built this to be exactly what she once had hoped back in 2016 when the school had first opened.
“We’re the wolf pack and when one of the wolves is in trouble, everyone rallies around them,” said Vik.
This story was originally published on The Statesman on November 12, 2024.
