Forensics club hosts holiday dinner

Submitted/VIOLET WESTRICK Bob Kelley (foreground) looks on as members of the Gravette High School forensics team line up following their program at the club's holiday dinner Saturday evening, Dec. 15. Pictured are Eliu Bernal (left), Alyssa Allen, Lucy Beck, Jacob Reid, Tyla Hainline, Tiffany Wheeler, William Sheller, Temira Campbell, Tori Bridges and Lexie Betts.
Submitted/VIOLET WESTRICK Bob Kelley (foreground) looks on as members of the Gravette High School forensics team line up following their program at the club's holiday dinner Saturday evening, Dec. 15. Pictured are Eliu Bernal (left), Alyssa Allen, Lucy Beck, Jacob Reid, Tyla Hainline, Tiffany Wheeler, William Sheller, Temira Campbell, Tori Bridges and Lexie Betts.

GRAVETTE -- Members of the Gravette High School forensics club hosted a holiday dinner at the civic center Saturday evening, Dec. 15. Forensics club members are students in grades nine through 12 who participate in speech, debate and drama classes. The students, under the direction of their teacher, Jackie Rieff, served the meal and provided entertainment during the dinner.

Setting for the event was a medieval castle. Students in period dress escorted guests into the room. The king (Jacob Reid) and queen (Tyla Hainline) were seated at the head table. A pair of court jesters (Lexie Betts and Eliu Bernal) amused the diners with lively banter before serving began.

Trumpet blasts preceded the serving of each course. Great excitement broke out following the first trumpet blast and the announcement of the serving of wassail. A punch bowl full of wassail was carried in and placed on the head table as students raced about and cried out, "Wassail! Wassail!" After each guest was served a glass of wassail, the king and queen raised their goblets and a series of toasts was offered by the students.

A second trumpet blast announced the serving of the salad course. Entertainment continued as diners ate their salads and on through the third trumpet blast announcing the main course. A platter containing a boar's head (hog hat) was placed on the head table as plates of chicken cutlets, green beans with onion and potato salad were served to each guest.

Forensics club members gave seasonal readings during the main course, including "Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Tiffany Wheeler sang traditional carols. Alyssa Allen read the Christmas story from Luke, chapter two. After the fourth trumpet blast and the serving of the dessert course, a trio of miniature cakes, guests were asked to join in the singing of "Silent Night," accompanied by Alyssa Allen on the keyboard.

Following the dinner, Lexie Betts explained a little about the forensics club's activities and future plans and reported the evening's program had been presented to residents at Concordia in two performances on Friday. She asked for donations to help fund student trips to future competitions. Alyssa Allen told about how participating in forensics club had benefited her and others in gaining confidence to speak up before a crowd.

Other students participating in the program and serving were William Sheller, Temira Campbell and Tori Bridges.

Community on 12/19/2018