Sierra High’s Taylor Maddex easily stood out at the Tuesday night meeting of the Manteca Unified Board of Trustees. It was the color of her shirt, with a matching hair ribbon, that did it.

While her bright outfit elicited plenty of smiles, and some laughter when she gamefully modeled her outfit in front of the school officials and guests in the audience, the message she was trying to send out was a serious one. In the back of her bright pink shirt were the words: “Hear the Howl – Find the Cure.”

She and her schoolmates in the Timberwolves’ Leadership Class were drumming up business by trying to sell the T-shirts and raise breast cancer awareness at the same time. Their selling ploy worked. Superintendent Jason Messer said he wanted three of the T-shirts. Janet Dyk of AgVenture also said she wanted to purchase one to give to Trustee Nancy Teicheira.

The Sierra High Leadership group is just one of a whole slew of activities and projects taking place throughout Manteca Unified and at the school district office to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout October.

“We have all kinds of fun activities going on,” announced Dawn Everson and Kelly Cardoza from the district office in an e-mail to the Bulletin. The month-long series of events kicked off Oct. 5 with “decorate your desk in pink or Breast Cancer Awareness and wear pink.”

On Friday, Oct. 12, will be Walk at Work from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. with healthy snacks to be provided. Everyone taking part is also encouraged to wear pink that day.

For Friday, Oct. 19, everyone is encouraged to “get pink crazy and wear as much pink as possible in every shade of pink available.”

Finally, Friday, Oct. 26, will be “pink accessory day” for all staff. Bracelets, hats, belts, earrings, necklaces, scarves, shoes, headbands and such must be in pink. A Pink Breakfast potluck is also planned for that day – with food in pink color, or the container for the food being brought to work. Five gift baskets also will be given away that day, with everyone asked to wear pink to work.

A memory board in the lobby of the district office is dedicated to Faustina Rosas, the longtime administrative aide to Superintendent Messer, who lost her battle with cancer a few weeks ago. Those who want to write a note or memory on Rosas may do so and then drop it in a box next to the memory board. The box will then be presented to her family.

Another board is for ribbons that are available for sale, where anyone can write In Memory Of or In Honor Of the person that one is buying the ribbon for. Ribbons are available at the receptionist’s desk for a donation of $1 per ribbon.

On sale during the entire month of October are a variety of items for Breast Cancer Awareness. These include Cozies (drink holders) at $3 each or two for $5; magnetic note pads for $3; bracelets for a buck apiece; and gift-basket tickets for $1 each or one’s height worth of tickets for $10 – you get a free ticket on the Fridays that you wear pink. Gift basket giveaways for the lucky winners have the following themes: Day of  Relaxation, Family Movie Time, BBQ, Health and Nutrition, and Autumn/Halloween basket.

With Ruble and Cardoza on the Breast Awareness Committee are Susan Hulsebosch, Dawn Everson, Stephanie Huff, and Melinda Trimboli.

All proceeds from the above offerings go to the Lee Denim Day Fund.