Chesterton Middle School
Students in Elizabeth Graupner's speech classes at Chesterton Middle School have spent about two weeks preparing for a mock trial. To assist with this process, she had guest speaker Michael McCready come to her class to help students understand the value of public speaking in real life careers. McCready, center, a Chicago lawyer who recently moved to Chesterton gave tips to the students about proper public speaking and explained how it has helped him excel in his career and personal life.
Anti-Bullying Message
Pro BMX Champion Matt Wilhelm performed for fifth and sixth grade Liberty and Westchester Intermediate School students during an anti-bullying convocation at Westchester Intermediate this week. Wilhelm's message encouraged students to speak up and take a stand against bullying. He shared his own personal experiences of being bullied, the important people who influenced his life, how he has turned his talent into an opportunity to tell his story, and the importance of respecting other people and accepting their differences. The event included BMX stunts, and a long-jump over teachers from both schools. Excited students clamor around Wilhelm hoping for one of his signed posters during the anti-bullying convocation.
2017 National Merit Scholarship Program
Ten Chesterton High School students have been named commended students in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. Those students are:
Nicole Achor, daughter of John and Chris Achor of Chesterton, is active in Horticulture Club, National Honor Society and Varsity Soccer. She plans to major in archaeology.
Alyssa Condie, daughter of Michelle and Bruce Condie of Chesterton, is active in Interact Club as President, Student Government Student Affairs as Vice President, Natural Helpers, Jacob's Ladder Junior Board as Vice President, National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY) Junior Staffer and South Shore Leadership Youth for Community Engagement (SLYCE). She plans to major in neuroscience with a minor in Spanish at the University of Chicago.
Alexa Devereaux, daughter of Lori and Jay Devereaux of Chesterton, is active in volleyball, Student Government, Natural Helpers and National Honor Society. She plans to major in pharmacy.
Jacob Harmon, son of Amy and Stephen Harmon of Chesterton, is active in baseball, National Honor Society, Young Voters Initiative and does umpiring in spare time. He plans to major in business at Butler University.
Hayden Hodge, son of Patricia and Lance Hodge of Porter, is active in Speech and Debate, Academic Decathlon, Spell Bowl, Track, Spanish Club and is a student of the International Baccalaureate program at CHS. He plans to major in business at Indiana University.
Rose Raffin, daughter of of Richard and Cecile Raffin of Valparaiso, is active in track and Cross Country. She is undecided in her field of study.
Erik Ralph, son of Ron and Kristin Ralph of Chesterton, is active in baseball, basketball, National Honor Society, Student Council, Natural Helpers and is on the School Improvement Committee and School Advisory Board. He plans to major accounting at University of Notre Dame or Purdue University.
Wesley Slaughter, son of Marie and John Slaughter of Chesterton, is active in swimming, National Honor Society and Natural Helpers. He plans to major in the area of math and science.
James Van Drie, son of Jeff and Katherine Van Drie of Valparaiso, is active in football, Speech and Debate and track. He plans to major in political science and engineering.
Keagan Wong, son of Kwan and Yufei Wong of Chesterton, is active in Spell Bowl, Quiz Bowl, Academic Super Bowl, Orchestra, Science Olympiad, Speech and Debate, CHS Theater, Spanish Club and is and is a student of the International Baccalaureate program at CHS. He plans to major in Applied Math at MIT as his first choice.
A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, was presented by CHS Principal Jeff Van Drie to these scholastically talented seniors.
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2017 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2017 competition by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSATINMSQT®).
"The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success," commented an NMSC spokesperson. "These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
Liberty Intermediate Student Council
Liberty Intermediate School Student Council Sponsor Sheri Simmons recently announced the Student Council representatives for the 2016-2017 school year. Each student filled out an application along with a written essay expressing why he/she was the best representative for their homeroom class. An election was held and these students were voted in as the new leadership at LIS. Front row: left to right, Brody Mehling, Luke Wymer, Faith Balda, Mark Boothe, Charlee Mackeigan,Sophia Gudino, Addison Botts and Lilly Figolah. Back row, Angelina Hovey, Quinn Barnewall, Brock Redman, Katelynn Ashbury, Greg Guernsey, Reaghan Anderson, Kayla Witsmeer, Ali Stringham and Madelyn Schrenk.
Students celebrate World School Milk Day
Bailly Elementary School celebrated National World School Milk day yesterday by personally decorating cow masks and wearing them at lunchtime.
Westchester Intermediate School
Westchester Intermediate School in Chesterton is collecting gently used or new shoe pairs to help buy Chrome books for student classrooms.
The school is asking the community for help in meeting their goal of 7,500 pairs. So far, the school has collected 425 pairs and need to collect the remainder before their drive ends on Friday, October 14.
Please help by cleaning out your closets of those sandals, baby shoes, heels, boots, cleats, etc. that no longer fit you or members of your family and help us to find them a new home. Any size and season shoes are welcome and greatly appreciated. This donation would not only help the school, it would benefit those who will be wearing the shoes.
Shoes can be brought to the School's Main Office, 1050 S Fifth Street in Chesterton.