JHS dress down day in memory of Rachel

It has been “Spirit Week” at Johnston High School and that will wind up tomorrow with Blue/White Day and the traditional Pep Rally to get the football Panthers pumped up for Saturday’s Homecoming game vs. Mount Pleasant High School’s Kilties of Providence.

It’s also going to be “Dress Down Day” tomorrow on Cherry Hill, where people like Ronald Lamoureux – who directors JHS’ national award-winning Music Department and Marching Panther Band – hope people will remember a beloved student named Rachel Elizabeth Carson who passed away suddenly on Jan. 14 from complications of acute leukemia.

Lamoureux and Oliver Reid, to name a few music mentors, hope students in all four JHS grades – as well as faculty and staff members – take time to remember the late Carson who was a treasured member of the JHS music department and school’s first ever a cappella group.

“Rachel’s peers talked about establishing a scholarship in her name when she passed away,” Lamouruex explained. “Towards the end of the last school year we received the first donations; one from St. Paul’s Church of Palmer and some from students.”

Thus, Johnston School Music Association (JSMA) is, Lamoureux announced: “going to take on the task of administration of the award(s) that we hope will grow and continue going forward.”

Lamoureux also announced that “our first major push is going to be Friday (tomorrow) during “Dress Down Day” and music department students will visit advisory student groups to collect for the Rachel Elizabeth Carson Memorial Scholarship Fund.

He said those students that wish to participate will be given a sticker and be allowed to wear a hat throughout the entire school day tomorrow.

The JHS Band/Orchestra Director also noted that Rachel’s mother -- Mardee Carson -- suggested that the Music Department tie the hat idea into “Dress Down Day” because her daughter liked silly hats.

“We’re hoping kids at the school will buy into the fun and break out some extravagant head wear,” Lamoureux added. “It is important for us to build this (scholarship) fund and remember an extremely special friend; we want to recognize and reward excellent students that share some of the interests and loves of Rachel; not just this year but every year.”

He also wanted it known that “we’ll need loads of help and support from faculty and kids in the school. JHS is full of generous, caring people, so we’re confident we can get this (scholarship) established.”

A grant that will help JHS students continue their education in memory of the late and well-liked Rachel Elizabeth Carson, who had a real love of nature and enjoyed camping and being outdoors. She also had a passion for science and music.

Lamoureux, who has the entire JHS Music Department ranked among the top high school programs in the state, also recalled: “In Mr. (Oliver) Reid’s Music Production class, Rachel created some really beautiful compositions. She also enjoyed writing skits and acting in our Friday Night Live performances.”

For Rachel Elizabeth Carson, countless JHS students will also attest, touched a lot of people’s lives and that’s why Lamoureux, Reid and Chorus Director Matt Gingras – and student groups within the JSMA are hoping her name lives on forever; and in form of a scholarship named in her honor and more important, memory!