#1StudentNWI: Chesterton High School May 2017

#1StudentNWI: Chesterton High School May 2017

What’s Happening
With eleven days of school left and only seven days of classes before finals, everyone at Chesterton High School is prepared for summer. But first, the end of the year festivities must commence. Almost every other day is an awards banquet or some other special event, keeping students from feeling burnt out.

On May 13, the CHS Jazz Ensemble hosted their annual Springtime Jazz Concert. The special guests at the All That Jazz Opus XLIV was the Jim Widner Quintet. In the time before the concert, the quintet aided the Jazz Ensemble members and rehearsed with them so the members could improve.

Also on May 13, the CHS Horticulture club hosted the Spring Fling. The event was held in the school courtyard, surrounded by all the flowerbeds. The entrance fee was $4 and the event was held from 11AM to 3PM. The purpose of the event was to bring the community and school together while celebrating nature, and the courtyard was full of many fun activities. The Spring Fling included live music from students at the high school, face painting, arts and crafts, sidewalk chalk art, a treasure hunt, a dahlia care and information booth, a crash course on compost, jump rope and hula hoop competitions, and a small dahlia and mum sale. The dahlias and mums were all raised by members of the Horticulture Club in their greenhouse.

The most important end of the year banquet is occurring this week. The annual senior banquet is scheduled for Tues., May 16. The dinner is held at 6PM at the Sand Creek Country Club and the tickets were sold for $30. At the banquet, students are honored with their various cords and pins and the senior superlatives are handed out.

Chesterton-1Student-May-2017_02 On Thurs., May 18 from 3 to 5PM, the Chesterton High School library is holding their end of the year party. This year, students are encouraged to bring new or gently used books to the library in exchange for tickets, and those tickets can be used at the book swap during the party. Also during the party, the library is hosting a Poetry Jam. Students can come and read their poetry, and a “special staff member” will come to read poetry from their own book of poetry. Finally, the reading challenge will come to a close. The last day for participants to turn in their bingo boards was Fri., May 12. Students who turned their forms in were entered to receive one of eight prizes, and the final drawing is happening during the end of the year party.

After the library’s party, there will only be three more regular school days before students take their finals, and then only two more days until the official Class of 2017 graduation! The graduation ceremony is Fri., June 2 at 7 pm, either in the fieldhouse or outside on the football field. The class speaker this year is Social Studies teacher Luke Starkey.

Chesterton-1Student-May-2017_03 Student Spotlight: Matt Neely
Junior Matt Neely is well-known amongst Chesterton students, and certainly for good reason. He participates in several competitive activities around the school, including academic-based competitions and athletic events.

“I play on the boys volleyball team and participate in Science Olympiad,” Neely said, “and I’m a member of National Honor Society. I play libero for the volleyball team, and my events for Science Olympiad this year were Anatomy and Physiology, and Forensics.”

One of Neely’s favorite parts about volleyball is that he can play a defensive position in a sport that is both exciting and relaxing.

“I enjoy everything about volleyball. I find it relaxing yet thrilling as well,” Neely said. “My position allows me to be a major defender and there's nothing I love more than digging up a hard hit or serve.”

He enjoys being a member of the Science Olympiad team because he has always loved science and being able to compete.

Chesterton-1Student-May-2017_04 “As for Science Olympiad, I thoroughly enjoy learning about new topics that I find extremely interesting. It allows me to enhance my love for science all the while competing with other students.”

Besides his activities at the high school, Neely has been a Boy Scout for over ten years.

“Outside of school, I am a Boy Scout, and I have been since first grade.”

Neely’s favorite part about being in Boy Scouts is all the opportunities it provides him with an all the lessons he has learned from his years as a member.

“I have been in Boy Scouts for eleven years and have grown to love being one. I have learned to love camping. In fact, I often consider my tent to be my second home. I have learned numerous lessons and obtained multiple skills from being a Boy Scout that have already been used in my life and I know will continue to impact me for the remainder of my days.”