The Senior High School joined the global community by recognizing and supporting World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. Students took to the auditorium stage for dramatic dance performances, skits, musical numbers, poetry readings and video presentations to join the movement to fight HIV/AIDS across the world.

Kicking off the assembly was a candle-lighting ceremony featuring four candles that symbolized the eradication of HIV-related deaths and discrimination, the support of those infected by HIV, strength as a community to fight the disease and equal opportunities for those infected. Thirty-four plus signs, each one representing 1 million people with HIV/AIDS, were randomly placed under the auditorium chairs and students held them up to symbolize how they are working to get the number to zero.

Throughout the assembly, organized by counselor Brianne Hyer and physical education teacher Katie Dorsey, students performed skits, showed their videos, recited poetry and reiterated facts and myths about the disease. “What we have accomplished together has made a difference already,” Dorsey and Hyer said. “If we made this much progress in one year, think about what we can do in three.”

With more than 34 million people around the world affected by the disease, World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.