The MPHS Goin’ Gold Band Drum Majors and Color Guard officers with their awards (L to R): Jose Fuentes, Jocelyn Marroquin, Shpat Zeqaj, Addison Heeren, Orion Senence

The 2023 Goin’ Gold Band reacts to being named Grand Champions.

Contact: Kelly Cowan

Mount Pleasant High School Goin’ Gold Band wins again.

 

The Mount Pleasant High School Goin’ Gold Band competed at the US Bands Ark-La-Tex Regional marching contest in Bossier City, LA, on Saturday, October 21. The competition featured 15 bands from Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

After prelims, the Goin’ Gold Band went into finals as the Number One seed, almost three total points ahead of second place. They were ultimately named Grand Champions, nearly two total points ahead of second place. The Goin’ Gold Band swept the awards, earning Best Music, Best Visual, Best Colorguard, Best Percussion, and Best Overall Effect awards.

The Goin’ Gold Band will march in the UIL Area contest for the opportunity to move on to state this Saturday, October 28, at 1:15 pm at Mesquite Memorial Stadium. They are under the direction of Dr. Theodus Luckett III and assisted by Jamey Sterrett, Brian Bass, Alicia Hargett, Karen Luckett, and Sheri Sullivan. The Colorguard is directed by Marty Newman and assisted by Peyton McClendon, Johnathan Tepetate, Victor Diaz, and China Paloblanco.

The MPHS Tiger Den Staff (L to R) – Francisco Tovar, Dylan Bennett, Yair Gonzalez, Jahn Leija, Antez Jeffery, Mea Banda, Emilia Vega, Ariana Jones, Michelle Zelaya, Lorena Ponce, Leslie Garcia, Leilani Hardwick, Rocio Herrera, Annie Munoz, Cecilla Villeda 

MPHS campus restaurant open for business

The MPHS campus restaurant, The Tiger Den, is open for business! Under the guidance of Chef Kathleen Anker, Practicum in Culinary Arts students operate an actual working restaurant in front of the newly renovated Mount Pleasant High School. The restaurant is open for business every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. 

Students serve a set menu with an added weekly special to allow the students the experience of making various dishes. The fixed menu includes an entrée choice of pulled pork nachos, pepperoni or supreme personal pizza, cheeseburger, chef salad, grilled chicken salad, or a loaded baked potato, with or without pulled pork. The entrée comes with a choice of two sides from seasonal veggies, wedge fries, mac & cheese, a side salad, or fruit cup, a selection of dessert from a fudge brownie, a pumpkin cream cheese cupcake, a chocolate chip cookie, or New York cheesecake and a drink choice of Coke, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Sprite, water, or tea. The total meal price varies from $6.00-$8.00 depending on the entrée.

The MPHS Culinary program students begin in Introduction to Culinary Arts, designed to provide training opportunities in the food service and hospitality industries. Instruction includes training in primary food production, nutrition, sanitation, and restaurant management and services. From there, students can continue into a two-period Culinary Arts course that begins with the fundamentals and principles of the art of cooking and the science of baking. 

As a third-year student, they can continue into a two-period Advanced Culinary Arts course that extends content and enhances skills introduced in Culinary Arts. The Advanced Culinary Arts students prepare the ingredients they serve in the restaurant. 

Finally, fourth-year students can complete the program in a three-period Practicum in Culinary Arts class that combines classroom instruction with actual business and industry career experiences. The Practicum students are responsible for all aspects of running The Tiger Den, from cooking and plating to taking orders, serving, and cleaning at the end of the day.

To dine at The Tiger Den, park in front of Mount Pleasant High School. The restaurant is on the far left side of the building. The Tiger Den operates its own Facebook page, announcing menus and additional information such as unexpected closures. For the latest info, follow them by searching for The Tiger Den – MPHS Culinary Arts on Facebook.