#1StudentNWI: Griffith Gears Up for Homecoming

#1StudentNWI: Griffith Gears Up for Homecoming

What’s happening:

GHS Girls Soccer hosted the second annual Best Buddies/Life Skills SoccerRama event on Saturday, September 15 at the turf field. This event gives the students involved in Best Buddies/Life Skills a chance to be included in team sports such as soccer, which is something they don’t have many opportunities to participate in. Participants are taught the basics of shooting, dribbling, passing, and more, all in a supportive, exciting environment.

Junior April Mendoza participated in the event last year, as well as this year, and looks forward to working with her fellow classmates who are involved with Best Buddies/ Life Skills.

“I love having fun in the sun with new friends and being able to work with them and ensure they have a great time with us,” said Mendoza, who is also varsity captain.

During event, participants weaved through sticks, passed back and forth with players, and shot on goal. At the end, players and Buddies teamed up to scrimmage against each other with a six-foot inflatable ball. Everyone learned to work together, and even though there were many spills, everyone helped each other up and continued to encourage one another. All in all, the event was a huge success for the Buddies, as well as the team.

SoccerRama was brought up by graduate Hannah Ramirez, who wanted to include special education students more. Coach Glenn Maglish arranged it, and now they hope to continue this tradition as long as possible.

What’s coming up:

September brings about the start of sports, long nights of homework, meetings, and of course, Homecoming. For GHS students, Homecoming is practically the whole month of September. From buying the perfect dress to planning the senior prank, Homecoming is one of the biggest events during the school year. This year, the theme is ‘Under the Sea’, giving class council fun opportunities for their floats for the parade before the game. During the month, class councils plan what float ideas they have, and build it the weekend before the parade. Talents come together to create works of art that are then voted on by the student council sponsors.

During Homecoming spirit week, students dress up to get excited for the game and show school spirit. On Monday, dress up day, students will take club pictures. Tuesday is class color day, and juniors and seniors will wear their jerseys for the Powderpuff football game that night. Wednesday is USA day for freshmen through juniors, and gender swap day for seniors. Thursday is character day, and Friday is black and gold, or Homecoming shirts. That night, the Griffith Panthers will take on the Boone Grove Wolves in the highly-anticipated game.

Seniors are celebrating their final Homecoming by planning their last float, designing senior shirts, contemplating their outfits for spirit week, and most importantly, planning their senior prank. Senior Chris Albanese is President of Student Council, as well as a very active member of Class Council.

“I’m really excited this year to help build the float and plan the senior prank,” said Albanese. “I feel like I pitched some good ideas and I can’t wait to see how everything turns out.”

Student Spotlight:

Junior Emily Keck attended HOBY youth leadership conference over the summer and has been active in her community since. Keck has been varsity captain for two years now and has been on varsity for three years. She is also involved in NHS, student council, class council, drama, paranormal society, booster club, FCCLA, and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). This year, Keck is taking AP English 11 and AP Psych on top of her busy schedule. She is also Sports Editor for the yearbook this year.

At HOBY, Keck learned that volunteering and being positive has a lasting impact on not only her life, but others lives as well. She must meet a goal of 100 service hours in order to attend next year as a junior staffer. Over the four days, she had the “best time of her life.”

Keck has also learned responsibility while being Varsity captain.

“Not only do I have to be responsible for myself but for others as well. I really enjoy it though. It’s an honor and something I take very seriously,” said Keck, who has been playing since she was four. “Soccer has given me the opportunity to meet new people. Freshman year I got to hang out with a lot of seniors and the upperclassmen, and now that I’m an upperclassman I get to meet new underclassmen.”

In her free time, Keck hangs out with her friends, and they drive around looking for fun, unique things to do around The Region.

Teacher Spotlight:

Social Studies teacher Jenna Candiano has been at GHS for eight years and has been the director of Griffith Theatre Company for five seasons now. After majoring in education with a focus on historical perspectives at Ball State, Candiano directed multiple shows at her church before heading to Griffith. The Munster High School alumni performed in shows during her high school years, as well as middle school, so she has always been involved in the theatre. She has directed shows such as Addams Family, Cinderella, And Then There Were None, The Music Man, and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, which opens in November.

Candiano doesn’t have a favorite show because every show is different. Between the kids and storyline, each one is unique in its own way. In the future, Candiano would like to take a show to Regionals and do a theatre alumni day. Outside of drama, Candiano is a senior class council sponsor, plays the piano, raises a herd of dogs and cats, is obsessed with “Rick & Morty”, and is expecting in just a couple of months.

“Kids make your job. Their excitement and energy are what bring me and other teachers so much joy at work because everything gets hyped up when you’re around them,” said Candiano. “There is never a mundane day, especially with my theatre kids. It’s amazing watching them take a bare stage and some characters and transform it into a full blown show and a different world.”