As the second semester has begun and shades of spring become increasingly apparent, events at Granby Memorial High School are beginning to signify a shift in the yearly calendar as well. GMHS’ vast assortment of student clubs, activities, and athletic teams have all devoted countless hours to perfecting their craft in anticipation of the busy, competitive March which awaits them.
As an event which garners attention throughout the Granby community, Granby Dramatic Arts has been rehearsing feverishly in preparation for its spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors. The production will span from Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19 at the Granby Memorial High School auditorium, with show times set for 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday before the cast is scheduled to perform its final show with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets will begin to go on sale in early March and will be listed as $15 for students, teachers, and senior citizens and $18 for adults. More information can be found by visiting @gmhsdramaticarts on Instagram. Come out to GMHS to support our student cast and crew!
Similarly, the music department concluded a popular time of year in late February when it welcomed visitors to its mattress fundraiser and subsequent Coffeehouse event on Saturday, Feb. 25. The fundraiser spanned seven hours and encouraged members of the community to take advantage of a wide array of mattresses at rates as significant as 50 percent off, with all proceeds being devoted to the causes of both the GMHS Music Department and the Class of 2023. Coffeehouse began later in the evening, showcasing high school students who auditioned to perform music of their choice.
With regard to athletics, most of GMHS’ varsity teams completed their regular seasons by mid-February. The regular winter season witnessed a broad spectrum of highs and lows, and witnessed relentless support from students as they regularly flocked to “The Den” to support the Bears through rivalries, senior nights, and more. At the time of publication, the many teams who have qualified for their respective conference and state tournaments are yet to have their fate decided and many of those competitions continue until mid-March. In exciting news, Granby Senior Tyler Kroninger set a school record for his event during the Boys’ Indoor Track Class S State Championship at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven on Thursday, Feb. 9. Following the conclusion of the winter campaign, the spring athletics season is expected to commence in late March and features a range of sports including baseball, lacrosse, outdoor track, softball, golf, ultimate frisbee and tennis. The boys tennis team enters this season having won back-to-back state championships.
In an initiative to combat hunger, National Honor Society will be hosting its annual Empty Bowls event on March 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the newly-constructed cafeteria at GMHS. The event is student-run and organized, featuring handmade bowls in addition to unlimited soup and bread donated by local restaurants. All proceeds generated will benefit local food banks, and several hundred attendees are expected.
Lastly, on Saturday, March 25, GMHS will be holding its second dance of the school year with a glow dance theme. Since the onset of the pandemic, accommodating two dances in one year had been challenging, and the event on March 25 demonstrates the continued progress being made within the Granby school community to provide safe and fun activities for students.
Following a full winter season, it is with high hopes that GMHS enters a busy period of student activity and achievement.