By Caitlin Ham

“Community Unity week is so fun because the spirit days are awesome and it’s fun to get involved and see everyone else getting involved too. Bringing canned goods is a good way to help our community and bring together both schools through good deeds.” -senior Angelique White

It’s game week for cross town rivals BSHS and BSS. Although the competition is fierce, Community Unity Week is an opportunity to unite rival schools through the common goal of giving back to the community. Monday’s spirit day of Country vs. Country Club kicked off the week, followed on Tuesday by Mathlete vs. Athlete, PJ vs. Professional Wednesday, Hex Day Thursday, and finally Purple vs. Gold to kick off the big game on Friday night.

During Community Unity week, students collect canned goods and other non-perishable items to donate to the Community Services League. Students compete among their school wide peers as well as competing against South. Senior Jacob Tribble believes that Community Unity week is a great build up of anticipation to the big game on Friday night.

“Both South and us collect money and canned goods for Community Services League and it’s really important that the Blue Springs community sees both schools working towards a common goal of giving back to our community,” Tribble said.

Alongside canned goods and other non perishable items, both schools are collecting cash donations as well as donations from local businesses. Blue Springs has never won the canned food drive but business and marketing teacher Chris Vancamp is very hopeful in beating South this year.

“It is an opportunity for the school district and area businesses to come together to support the community services league. I think both schools have a win at everything we do mentality making this fundraiser not only a great way to support our community but create healthy competition between our schools,” Vancamp said.

When students bring canned goods and other non perishable items, their fourth hour teacher marks an X on a bingo sheet and the first two classes to complete the bingo sheet win a donut or pizza party. Senior Angelique White believes this a good motivator for students to bring more donations to beat south.

“Community Unity week is so fun because the spirit days are awesome and it’s fun to get involved and see everyone else getting involved too. Bringing canned goods is a good way to help our community and bring together both schools through good deeds,” White said.