What’s Happening
School is back in session for the 2017-2018 school year, and it’s the time for all kinds of club meetings. As usual, the announcements are packed with call-out meetings for varying clubs and programs, like Interact Club and all the foreign language clubs. Beyond that, the cheerleading squad is looking to go co-ed and is in need of male students interested in being lifters, and intramural volleyball sign-ups are right around the corner. The pool is also looking for lifeguards for every block who can guard for school credit, so there really are plenty of opportunities for students to get involved in their school.
On Monday, Aug. 21, students were given a special pair of glasses and told to keep an eye on the sky. The eclipse was viewed by the entire student body and all staff members during their eighth block class. The Wednesday before, students were told about the event. Most classes only stayed outside for a half hour, while others spent their whole class outside while working on projects relating to the eclipse. Many sat on the grass and gazed at the clear sky while another class flew a drone overhead and took pictures of the crowd.
What’s Coming Up
Friday nights are for one thing and one thing only during the fall, and that’s football games. The Trojan student section is arguably the most fun one in the region, with students going all out for themes such as USA Night, White out, Black out, and Hawaiian Night. As of Friday, Aug. 25, the CHS Trojans were undefeated with a 35 - 21 win over the Hobart Brickies and a 33 - 21 win over the Munster Mustangs. The next game is an away game on Sept. 1 against the Michigan City Wolves. The next home game is Sept. 8 against the LaPorte Slicers.
Of course, football isn’t the only sport gearing up this fall. The girls' soccer team currently has a 4 - 3 record. Their most celebrated win is over rivals the Valparaiso Vikings with a 2 - 1 victory in two overtimes. The next game is on Aug. 29 against the Merrillville Pirates at home. The boys' soccer team also has a solid record of 3 - 0 - 2, with a 2 - 1 win over Valparaiso. Their next game is Aug. 28 at home against the Culver Academy Eagles. Besides that, the boys' tennis team, girls golf team, girls tennis, and cross country teams are all doing well as they get further into their seasons.
Staff Spotlight: Emily Wilt
For the past year, Emily Wilt has been one of the librarians at CHS. She says she prefers working at a school library because it offers her so many more opportunities to collaborate.
“It’s a fantastic feeling knowing that I get to help the next generation learn how to approach the world with a careful, critical eye. Humans are producing more information every day than we have in our entire history, and that's a lot to sift through.”
She also loves connecting with students and watching them grow over the course of their years in school. Those students, however, may not realize all the things a librarian does, and that they have master's degrees in their field.
“As a library media specialist,” Wilt said, “I am teaching classes, planning programs, collaborating with teachers and students, selecting and cataloging books, maintaining our website and social media, and more. But I only have time to read on my lunch break!”
Finally, when asked what she feels the number one most important book every high schooler should read is, Wilt said that it should be whatever book holds their interest.
“I'm most interested in pairing students with the book that they won't be able to put down,” Wilt explained, “in the hopes that when they finish that one, they will be hungry for the next, and so on. It's incredibly difficult to find time for pleasure reading in high school, and even more so when you get to college and/or your career, so I want to reinforce that love of reading anything before students graduate so that they will become lifelong readers.”
Student Spotlight: Kayla Smith
Senior Kayla Smith has been riding horses for 11 years, starting with lessons at the age of six.
“The lessons progressed to joining 4-H come third grade, and riding at the fair,” Smith said.
Smith has three horses, Twist, Wizard, and Ginger.
“I’ve had Twist, registered as Twist of Fate, for five years now, and she’s 20 years old. I’ve had Wizard for a year, and he’s 15. Finally, I’ve had Ginger for six years now, and she is 22.”
Smith competes in a variety of events with her horses.
“In Western riding, I compete in barrels, pole bending, keyhole, speed and action, flags, western pleasure, bareback pleasure, horsemanship, halter, showmanship, reining, western riding pattern, versatility, freestyle reining to music, and trail riding,” Smith noted. “In English riding, I compete in hunter over fences, hunter hack, English Equitation, English Pleasure, English showmanship, and dressage.”
Smith’s favorite part of riding is getting to see her best friend every day.
“I get to ride whenever I need to clear my mind, and even though Twist doesn't speak English, she understands me and I understand her. I’m able to have an incredible bond with an animal that is twice my size, and trusting her with my life. She trusts me with hers whenever she gets in a trailer or when we're competing. One wrong move could be disastrous, so I love how amazing the bond is between a horse and a rider.”
Besides riding on her own, Smith is on the LaPorte County EZ Riders Drill Team.
“The EZ Riders team is a group of 17 people who do a number of maneuvers on horseback all in sync,” she explained. “Besides riding horses, I’m involved in 4-H where I participate in scrapbooking, photography, and fine arts, which is painting and drawing. I’m also in creative writing club, I help backstage with the school plays, and I’m on the school newspaper staff.”