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01-05-2025
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2024-25 High School Confidential: Week 28
May 1—Welcome to Year 9 of High School Confidential, powered by Danville Area Community College. It's an award-winning project made possible by aspiring student journalists from every corner of our circulation area. Each Thursday through April, they'll tell us what's happening in their hallways at . At least once a week, we'll also hand over our Snapchat account (News-Gazette) to our correspondents for behind-the-scenes tours. Feedback? Email N-G/VP Jim Rossow at . On to this week's report, which closes out the school year: Academy High hosted its annual athletic banquet at Papa Del's, where each athlete received their own specialized award. The group celebrated hard work and important moments from their seasons. Finally, prom was at the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center. As voted on by students, the theme was "A Fairytale Prom." Seniors will head to Washington, D.C., on the 70th annual trip, excluding the COVID-19 year. The students will depart from the high school at 5:30 a.m. Saturday and return late Thursday. On the trip, the class will visit the U.S. Capitol building, the White House and the Vietnam Memorial and go on a Segway tour throughout the city. The class is excited to attend and then come back for prom. Pictured: the 1991 seniors — including my dad — on their trip. Students visited Danville Area Community College for a Chemistry 100 lab, where they tested the solubility of different chemicals. On Saturday, Bement hosted prom at the Monarch Event Center in Monticello. The theme was "Red Carpet Masquerade," and seniors Ian Glennon and Lily Culp were voted prom king and queen. BHRA hosted Terrence Talley, who moved all who listened and gave the students a simple but strong message: "Don't give up." Students and staff shared laughs and even tears throughout this event. At the beginning, the teachers were asked to dance, which provided immense entertainment for the students. He then told stories of experiences from students he has met throughout the years and ones he experienced himself. Near the end, students reminded each other and their teachers that they are loved and appreciated. Art students participated in Eastern Illinois University's annual Love for the Arts workshop and competition. Blue Ridge earned first place overall in the art competition with nine ribbon winners. On Friday, the high school will host it annual Aloha Day, a 20-plus-year tradition that pits classes against each other at the end of the school year. Aloha Day takes months of preparation, from T-shirt ordering to decorating. Students compete in games such as 4-square volleyball, towel race, hula hoop, tug-of-war, knockout and dodgeball. Before the games is a special lunch made by cafeteria staff with help from the student council. Each class is assigned a hallway to decorate, with points going to the winners. Another tradition: Students in art class design Aloha Day-themed T-shirts, which then get voted on by the student council. This year's designs were drawn by sophomore Jake Bolsen and freshman Autumn Gant. Seniors took a celebratory trip to Tampa, Fla., where they lounged on the beach, enjoyed good food and visited Busch Gardens. Grace Bishop said her favorite part was seeing baby dolphins on a sunset cruise; for Valerie Duzan, it was the roller coasters and safari ride at Busch Gardens; and Sara Goss said, "at the Clearwater Aquarium, we got to see so many different animals: otters, nurse sharks, stingrays, dolphins, sea turtles and a bunch of fish!" For other students, a highlight was flying for the first time. The traditional trip allows seniors to celebrate their dedication to years of education and have one last bonding experience together. Physics class went to Six Flags Great America for "Physics Day," where they explained the physics of all the roller coasters and students were able to ride at a discount. Students got out of their comfort zone, since not many of them had not been on a roller coaster before, but all enjoyed at least one ride. Danville "Hadestown" — an emotional, sad and heartbreaking play — saw the actors execute it wonderfully as many people in the crowd caught themselves crying. Main actors like Brooklyn Warfield (Hermes), Gavin Baugh (Orpheus) and Andrea Downing (Eurydice) filled the air with their sadness. When the play was over, everyone gave the actors a standing ovation, and it was well deserved. Photo courtesy Kady Richey and Brooklyn Warfield. For its food truck unit, Tiffany Dirksmeyer's advanced foods class toured a food truck last Wednesday. Two Reds BBQ came to the school and showed the class the layout of the truck's interior, which corresponded with what they were learning in class. The FFA chapter hosted a teaching experience for younger classes. The preschool and kindergarten classes took a field trip to the high school to learn about plants in the greenhouse and try food from the different plants. The high school horticulture class did a great job showing the kids everything about plants. It also was prom week, Addison Kerchenfaut and Carter Eichelberger announced as queen and king at promenade. The dance started off with an air-guitar battle, which the king won. The night ended with the annual after-prom activities hosted by junior parents. Heritage held a powerful mock car accident the day before prom to promote safe driving among students. The event made a big impact, reminding everyone to make smart choices. The next day, senior Kashton White — one of the actors in the mock accident — was crowned prom king alongside queen Gracie Tate. The night was filled with celebration, and students enjoyed a wonderful, memorable prom. Last Wednesday, anatomy and forensic students joined teacher Adam Elliott on a trip to Danville Area Community College to attend its Cadaver Lab led by Amanda Poffinbarger. They got to interact with an interactive anatomage table with help from Kelly Johnson. A successful learning day ended with a delicious lunch at Culver's. Pictured, left to right: Cole Miller, Athan Linares, Macy Warner, Olivia Swartz, Willamina Clayton, Ociel Hernandez, Jayden Bolton and Orion Gonzalez FFA students traveled to Crescent City Grade School to talk about safety at their Camp 911. Members discussed important topics such as blind spots, awareness while driving next to tractors, and PTO safety. The student council organized a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for junior high and high school students, creating an exciting evening full of spirited competition and fun. A wonderful prom night rounded out April. Prom court is nominated by seniors, and upperclassmen vote on king and queen. Prom court girls were Nadia Bollhorst, Sophia Trenkle, Katelyn Edgington, Emily Mennenga and Finley Howard. The boys were Andrew Fleming, Tate Sigler, Braeden Fox, Bo Zeleznik and Ethan Bagnell. Bagnell and Bollhorst were honored as king and queen. Photos via Wendy Brent. On Friday, National Honor Society and student council had their Senior Citizens Banquet. This year, the theme was "Hawaiian," so the tables and gym were decorated for a beach-type feeling, along with games like bowling, bags and ring toss. Students served salad, pulled pork prepared by the Milford FFA, potatoes, fruit and cupcakes made by the Milford FCS Club. The banquet had a huge turnout, and the community had a great night. Pictured: Caleb Clutteur, Gage Vogel and Brian Zecher preparing food; and Sesilia Salinas and Sophie Newman getting the salad trays ready to serve. The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America club went to Illinois State on Friday for a tour of campus, getting a look at historic pieces of clothing and trying cafeteria food. Pictured, left to right, Lexi Muhl, Charley Ulrich, Jace Webb, Grace Hughes, Paityn Badgley and Bren Henry. The "We the People" constitution team completed its year with a 22nd-place finish at the national finals in Washington, D.C. It's the best finish in school history in the 48-team event. Two SJ-O units earned special distinctions: Unit 4 (Lauren Harris, Sonia Patel and Luke Ditchfield) placed second in the country on Day 2 of the competition; and Unit 1 (Will Besson, Luke Ditchfield and Jackson Ennis) finished the two-day competition No. 5 in the nation. STM celebrated prom week with all sorts of fun activities. It began on Tuesday with an all-school Mass coming back from Easter break. Next was a "Pajama Day" and "Anything But a Backpack Day." Then freshmen and sophomores dressed up as babies, while juniors and seniors dressed up as senior citizens. Friday was "Field Day" — a half day of classes followed by games between houses — groups students are assigned to as freshmen. The Family of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton won the coveted family trophy for the first time in school history, winning by 140 points. Finally, a "Kentucky Derby"-themed prom took place over the weekend, Joe Keck and Rebekah Taylor winning king and queen. At Saturday's prom, a grand march was held for the first time since before the pandemic — and was a huge hit. The community showed out and packed the stands to see the students dressed up for coronation. Crowned as king and queen: Jeffrey Dines and Alexa Jamison. This year also marked the first year for post-prom — and it was a success. Thousands of dollars were raised for prizes and activities. Every student who attended left with a prize, gift card or money. Track runners Charles Medlin and Mark Lehmann take part in the 400-meter relay. The Hilltoppers have enjoyed a strong start to the season. Seniors Garrett Pollock and Shaylun Christenberry were the recipients of the Lincoln Prairie Conference Principal's Award on April 16. The award is for seniors who excelled in academics and athletics in their high school career. Principal Amy Jones attended the event with the recipients. After receiving the award, Christenberry said, "a small school should not define your ability." Pictured, left to right: Pollock, Jones and Christenberry. Cami Badman's dual-credit English composition class completed their Senior Scrapbooks, which included things like a timeline of their life, a section on their family, a college essay/resume and a letter from a parent. In addition to the scrapbook, students also made a slideshow about their high school journey and a speech on three important memories in high school. They will present specific predetermined parts of their scrapbook, their "high school journey" slideshow and their speech. FFA held its end-of-the-year banquet, where Trey Waldrop was elected president, Abbie Meyer vice president, Ava Whitson secretary and treasurer, Savanna Taylor reporter and Tristan Anderson sentinel. These newly elected offices and FFA member Keyton Lance got to judge livestock, including goats, sheep, cows, bulls and pigs. Uni's Sprabitat (Spring Initiative + Habitat For Humanity) Club hosted a jewelry sale benefiting Spring Initiative, an after-school organization for kids in Clarksdale, Miss., and Uni's PTSA. With jewelry donated from supporters of Uni and Uni's National Art Honor Society, the sale was a huge success. Pictured: Bonnie Weaver running the table and Elanor Siechen holding up a purchase. Unity celebrated both current students and alumni last week. On Thursday, 21 students were inducted into the National Honor Society, recognized for their excellence in leadership, scholarship, service and character. Unity also proudly welcomed Mala (Bedient) Thapar into the Alumni Hall of Fame. A 2004 graduate, she was a two-term student council president, a National Honor Society member and a four-year varsity athlete in cross-country and track. She earned a degree in biology with a minor in theology from St. Louis University in 2008, followed by a master's in public health with a focus in epidemiology and behavioral science/health education. Mala built her career at the American Academy of Pediatrics, dedicating 12 years to advancing programs in pediatric obesity prevention, child health policy and advocacy. In 2022, she launched her own health care consulting firm, Thapar Consulting, LLC. Today, she lives in Hinsdale with her husband, Nitin, and their children, Niam and Raina. Tigers got in the prom spirit, but going all out for Spirit Week. The days were "Emo Day," "Meme Day," "Barbie and Ken Day" and "Surfers vs. Bikers." After months of preparation, Villa Grove's Special Olympics athletes and coaches gathered to compete at the Spring Games at Eastern Illinois University. Due to inclement weather, however, the games were cancelled. Because of their hard work and dedication, coaches and helpers will be prepared to compete and host their own Special Olympics competition at Villa Grove (date TBA). State Sen. Chris Balkema invited students from Watseka and other schools in the 53rd district to visit the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on April 23. The students, handpicked by Watseka civics teacher Amy Bandur for leadership qualities, had the opportunity to explore the capitol, talk to representatives and lobbyists, and even have a mock debate over a fake bill. On Friday, the Class of 2026 spent the day decorating for prom and promenade. The junior class worked very hard and had a great time preparing for prom. Thank you to all the teachers who helped make this possible.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
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2024-25 High School Confidential: Week 25
Apr. 10—Welcome to Year 9 of High School Confidential, powered by Danville Area Community College. It's an award-winning project made possible by aspiring student journalists from every corner of our circulation area. Each Thursday through April, they'll tell us what's happening in their hallways at . At least once a week, we'll also hand over our Snapchat account (News-Gazette) to our correspondents for behind-the-scenes tours. Feedback? Email N-G/VP Jim Rossow at . On to this week's report: On Saturday, the ALAH Fine Arts Boosters held their annual program and fundraiser featuring the talents of junior high and high school students alongside a colorful display of artwork. The high school band under the direction of Ethyan DeLaughter performed two songs, "The Great Locomotive Chase" and "Over the Rainbow." The junior high band from the three grade schools in the district joined them for a combined piece, "Superheroes R Us." Chorus sang four selections: "Somebody I Used To Know," "Cleopatra" and "Just the Two of Us" performed by the baritones and altos, and "Where You Are." The chorus is directed by district choral instructor Stephen McClarey. Representing Drama Club were seniors Ryan Appleby and Maddix Stirrett, who served as masters of ceremonies, the two actors making good use of the suits they wore in "Mamma Mia" in March to entertain the large audience with hilarious jokes throughout the evening. Pictured: Jessica Millet, senior solo; masters of ceremonies Appleby and Stirrett; Mackenzie Condill and her artwork; Chloe Custer, Kat Perez and Khloe Dowds; and Matthew Miller and Dylan Price's duet. Spring sports are underway. The softball team snagged its first win, beating Warrensburg-Latham 11-6 behind seniors Kharma Giles, Brynn Jones and Emmy Reynolds. Last Monday, students who earned enough participation points over the school year in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America took a daylong field trip to Naperville. The students took a tour of North Central College and ended the day with TopGolf. Pictured: freshman Leila Hood; sophomores Makenna Kindred, Cassie Block and Cooper Winkelmann; and junior Ariel Ponce. The student council hosted area senior citizens and community members at an event on March 30, supervised by Kami Russell and Jennifer Guminski. The students provided food such as pie, fruit, macaroni and cheese, baked beans and pasta salad in addition to chicken. Students served tables, plated food, supervised bingo and cleaned the tables. Last week, with the softball team having an open afternoon due to a canceled game, players made posters and supported the baseball team at their game against LeRoy. On March 20 at Gordy Park, the baseball team beat Meridian 13-3 behind the hitting of Cole Giberson and the pitching of Brody Somers. Pictured: Micheal Freese. Thespians put on quite the show last weekend. Students performed the comedy play "The Butler Did It," a production by Tim Kelly. It was one of the largest casts Chrisman has seen in the past few years. Director and social studies teacher Bridget Spillman said she was very proud of her students. The production of "Once Upon a Mattress" was a success as cast and crew put on two performances on Friday and Saturday nights. It's their second year back after musicals took a break for a few years. With a group of about 40, the show made an impact on the community and brought a smile to many faces. FFA members held their annual petting zoo last week, hosting a variety of animals and even bringing tractors to school for all to see and climb on. The exhibition included chickens, bunnies, horses, lambs and even a cow. Pictured: Nathan Zwilling on a tractor, Adriana Cullotta with the lamb, and Kesiah Musik and Naiah Loy. After a fundraiser in memory of Ava Mead — a 10-year-old from Sibley who passed away in August — some high school students were able to be on hand as the memorial was presented to the fifth-grade class. Afterward, it was announced the fifth-graders had the honor of being the first ones to use the playground equipment. Last Wednesday, three students from the senior AP Government and Civics class took a field trip to Springfield to participate in state Sen. Chapin Rose's Youth Advisory Council. The students toured the Illinois State Capitol building; visited the House and Senate chambers; and met with Rose and Supreme Court Justice David Overstreet. After participating in a picture competition, Rose selected four pictures to be placed in his various offices — and Hoopeston's was picked. Students had the opportunity to argue a real bill in a mock committee hearing and learned valuable information about the court and legislative systems. Photos via Thomas Sage. In March, Le Roy Elementary partnered with Crumbaugh Library to host Read Across America. All grades participated in various dress-up days throughout a week that included Mystery Readers, book buddies and a book swap day. To kick the event off, staff members (left to right) Grace Meyer, Christina Henry, Julie Scheuer and Michael Gerber dressed up as Masked Readers. At the assembly, each undercover staff member took turns reading a book to the kids. The kids then tried to guess who the Masked Reader was. Third-grade teacher Sherri Morgan (between the zebra and dinosaur) was in charge of the event, working alongside Denise Woltkamp, who works at Crumbaugh. Leaders of the school's literary magazine, "sonder," finished their decision regarding whose pieces will be included in the 2025 magazine. Sonder is instructed by sophomore Kaitlyn Young. On April 3, business classes attended the Olivet Createur Conference at Olivet Nazarene University and took in keynote speaker Tim Tebow's inspirational speech about his accomplishments as an athlete and an advocate for people with special needs. Then, students attended Tebow's Q&A about his charitable Tim Tebow Foundation, a nonprofit fighting for the MVPs (Most Vulnerable People) around the world. Students also attended Spark Sessions with speakers who talked about various ways to succeed in life with subjects about making money, mission work, valuing time and many other educating topics. Pictured: * (left to right, back to front) Corbin White, Kaleb Kuester, Elijah Long, Braydon Kissack, Tyler Runner, Beau Wright, Peyton Cluver, Molly Coffey, Brinlynn Gredy, Anna Mann, Eliana Salinas, Sesilia Salinas, Kris Butler, Brycea Brown, Janelle Parker, Lilly Carter, Shauna Durflinger, Sydnee Longest, Gage Vogel, Preston Janssen, Caleb Clutteur, Clayton Bedeker, Kami Muehling, London Clark, Joie Girdler, Abbi Beckman, Madisyn Laffoon, Montana Carter and Payge Clevenger; * (left to right) Joie Girdler, London Clark, Kami Muehling, Braydon Kissack and Caleb Clutteur; * (left to right) Brinlynn Gredy and Sydney Longest enjoying lunch; * and (left to right) Montana Carter, Anna Mann, Madisyn Laffoon and Abbi Beckman enjoying pizza outside. Students of all ages joined in on a celebration for Amaya Duzan and her signing to play volleyball at Ohio Christian University. Duzan is a hard-working student and athlete and is loved by teachers and students. She does volunteer work in the kindergarten classroom as a student aid and plans on studying early education at OCU while also pursuing her volleyball career. For Mental Health Week, put on by the student council, each student on Monday received a goody bag in their locker. On Tuesday, the positivity wall was set up in the hallway for students to write positive notes to each other. On Wednesday, inspirational bracelets were hidden around the school for a scavenger hunt. On Thursday, each student received a mental-health awareness temporary tattoo. And on Friday, each student received a list of compliments written about them by their peers. Rantoul Jazz band participated in a competition last weekend. The spring musical "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" took place last week with 90-minute performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The musical marked the finale of six seniors who ended their high school drama careers with a bang: Gabe Yallaly played Charlie Brown, Rebekah Taylor played Sally Brown, Abbie Vavrik played Lucy Van Pelt, Kaleb Ritter played Linus Van Pelt, Bekah Goebel played Snoopy/Freida Rich, and Noelle Taylor played Snoopy/Marcie. The students were also recognized for their continued love and participation in the arts. The high school had three student teachers from the University of Illinois this semester. Friday was Nathen Zock's last day, and three students — Ava Ridge, Callaway Cox and Brenna Boyd — bought him a cake to celebrate his time at Salt Fork. Students have enjoyed learning from the teachers and building new relationships and wish them luck in their future endeavors. History teacher and CAMA (Coalition Against Methanfetamine Abuse) organization adviser Tim Carroll on Friday guided a field trip to the Old Book Barn in Forsyth as a surprise for the seniors. The other members helped plan the event with Carroll and wanted to keep it a secret. All of the seniors are avid readers, and the trip was especially meaningful for them. Each senior received a $50 gift card to use at the bookstore. A member said: "Mr. Carroll is one of our favorite teachers, and it meant so much to be able to spend the day with him. We're incredibly grateful for his kindness and generosity." Pictured, left to right: Taylor Williams, Carroll, Taylor Hepburn, Taran Borntreger, Lydia Richardson, Maggie Milburn, Brooke Tharp, Hailey Purcell, Lela Duzan and Shaylun Christenberry. The Scholastic Bowl team competed at Sectionals, beating Dietrich and Cisne and losing to Cumberland. Pictured, left to right: (top) Leah Fleming, Kya Allen, Claire Kursell, David Eaton, Grant Martin and Avram Bate; and (bottom) Linnéa Graham, Gage Wilson, Simon Parri, Isabel Donovan and Elise Fleming. All school year, Ava Rauguth has worked tirelessly to become the Key Club Student of the Month. To earn the recognition, one must have the most service hours out of everyone else each month. Rauguth dedicated over 15 hours to making tie blankets to benefit the Linus Project. Thanks to her unwavering dedication and commitment, she was honored as the Key Club's February Student of the Month. As underclassmen were doing their mandatory state testing, seniors volunteered at different sites, from several community gardens to the ClarkLindsey retirement community to Eastern Illinois Foodbank. Pictured at the foodbank: (left to right) Cora Lewis-Patterson, Marina Bowers-Wong and Khuyen Nguyen repacking cereal into more manageable sizes, and Joseph Torellas counting packages of frozen beef. The school celebrated Student Council Week with a variety of activities and spirit days. Monday was "Anything But a Backpack Day," Tuesday was "Pajama Day," Wednesday was "Hawaiian Day," Thursday was "Student Council Shirt Day" and Friday was "Neon Day." At Thursday's annual Great Auction, more than $10,000 was raised as classes, clubs, teachers and businesses donated items to be auctioned off throughout the day. The event also featured performances from students and staff, along with exciting games like Human Slot Machine, Full Court Putt-Putt and Musical Chair Knockout. Students also played "Guess That Tune" on the piano with Vice Principal Matt Reed. Also: An American Red Cross blood drive took place Tuesday. The money raised will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Last week, students in Art 3: Ceramics & Sculpting class were throwing clay and getting their hands dirty in preparation for their final. Last week, four students were picked to attend state Sen. Chapin Rose's Youth Advisory Council in Springfield. Kirstyn Jones, Kyle Krause, Aiden Henry and Ryan Lillard were put into groups with other schools and got to participate in a mock debate, as well as tour parts of the Illinois State Capitol and attempt to win a fun photo contest. State Rep. Jason Bunting came to enrich Amy Bandur's civics classes with political knowledge. He shared primary insight on his job as a representative and how state politics work. Members of the Class of 2025 picked up their caps and gowns as they prepare for graduation. "Our Jostens rep, Jessica Hageman, met with the seniors at the beginning of the school year to begin planning for graduation and getting sizes for the gowns, etc.," Westville sponsor Chad Sollars said. "Today, Jessica delivered the seniors' items. This school year went by quickly. Time is a thief." Pictured, left to right: Cambree Asmar, Cameron Steinbaugh, Sonny Smith, Mason Montelongo, Madison Bridgewater and Hageman. Next to the Jostens' setup: Andrea Skinner, who is selling prom and after-prom tickets to excited juniors and seniors. Prom is April 26 at the Crooked Creek Whitetails Estate. Pictured buying tickets: Madi Turner, Duncan Auter and Andrea Skinner.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2024-25 High School Confidential, Week 24
Apr. 3—Welcome to Year 9 of High School Confidential, powered by Danville Area Community College. It's an award-winning project made possible by aspiring student journalists from every corner of our circulation area. Each Thursday through April, they'll tell us what's happening in their hallways at . At least once a week, we'll also hand over our Snapchat account (News-Gazette) to our correspondents for behind-the-scenes tours. Feedback? Email N-G/VP Jim Rossow at . On to this week's report: Students participating in the state competition in Science Olympiad presented for peers and faculty showcases everything they learned in their designated events (examples are entomology, experimental design, wind power and forensics). The team is looking forward to competing at the state event and is hoping to walk away with a few medals as well. Pictured: Sorin Popescu and Evie Price. On Friday, Math Club officer Tyce Alumbaugh had the honor of pieing five teachers in the face. The entire high school was dismissed early to watch the event as a reward for answering 70 math-themed trivia questions correctly during "Pi Week." Teachers pictured: Braden Snyder, Marika Rosenberger, Melissa Miles, David Salefski, Kraig Rogers and Principal Doug Kepley taking photos. On March 12-15, Rusty Cambell and Bethanie Marshal chaperoned three students — Cole Crawley, Maya McCool and Macey Gernand — on a trip to the Illinois Reading Conference (IRC) in Springfield. Students who participated were juniors or seniors who wish to be teachers in the future. The event provided valuable lessons that can be applied to teaching in the future for all grades from preschool to eighth grade. They specifically looked at how to make reading more appealing to students while still allowing them to obtain useful information. On March 21, Meagan Meade and FFA members hosted their annual Farm Day, a yearly tradition in which students bring in many different animals including a pig, goats, chickens, a cow and horses. The event included a one-legged chicken named Little Chirp — named by first-grade students — and a blind cat named Daisy. The elementary students started off the morning with a hay ride to the Piatt County fairgrounds to see the animals. Pictured: freshman Ramie Shaffer teaching elementary students about ducks raised by the FFA members. On March 29, Chrisman's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) attended their state conference, where they completed projects, attended workshops and heard from influential speakers. Bella Labaume and Emma Brown presented their Intro to Business project first thing. Grant Wells placed eighth in Intro to Parliamentary Procedure. Gabby Nolan was third in Intro to FBLA for the chance to attend nationals in Anaheim, Calif. FBLA adviser Jamie Stokes said she was proud of the students for their performance. The musical program has been working diligently to prepare for their showing of "Once Upon a Mattress." With three-hour practices multiple times a week, the students have just about got it nailed down — and are excited to take the stage. Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the high school (tickets available at the door). The Jelani Day Foundation hosted and sponsored an HBCU fair for all students — including middle-schoolers — to attend. Along with the many college stands, fraternities and sororities also had tables to set up at and talk to the students. D'Andre Day, representative of the Jelani Day Foundation, provided a speech to give insight on the foundation and honor the beloved Jelani Day. "Jelani's purpose was HBCU," he said. Middle school and high school teachers had another secret Spirit Week before spring break. Themes included "March Madness," "Vacation Day" and "Singular Color Day." Pictured, left to right: Kayla Ross, Ashley Hieronymus, Samantha Kirkton, Sierra Brodhacker and Megan Pearson. The band took a field trip up to Chicago on Friday to see the Iowa State wind ensemble and University of Iowa symphony band in a joint concert at Symphony Hall. Before that, students played tourist and stopped by the Bean downtown. The Future Business Leaders of America organization went to its state leadership conference to compete in a test or presentation. It was a fun-filled weekend with workshops and meeting new people. A total of 17 students placed in the top 10 of their events and five Falcons qualified for nationals in Anaheim, Calif.: Sarah Higgins, Chloe Tjarks, Anna Warren and Addy Kerchenfaut (not pictured: Lizzie Giroux). The baseball team secured its first season win with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Fisher. Last Wednesday, the high school hosted a career fair that was open to the public and students. The event garnered 25 local businesses/career opportunities as vendors, including First Farmers Bank, the Hoopeston Police Department, Ameren, Carle and more. They had the opportunity to share job openings, career paths and industry insights. Seniors kicked off their annual trip to Puerto Rico with a visit to a local school, spending the day connecting with the kids. From teaching martial arts to painting faces, they made meaningful memories while giving back to the community. Photos by Jim Moxley. Over spring break, the marching band and choir traveled to Disney World. These groups make the trip every three years. Students fundraise by selling baked goods throughout the three years. The choir performed Elton John's song "I'm Still Standing." The band marched through Disney World playing "The Race." Between the two groups, about 80 students attended. A handful of students — choir and band members — serenaded Captain America with their rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner." Both groups are directed by Bridgette Wells. Alongside her, Tony Mettrick assists the chorus by playing piano. Both groups had tons of fun during the trip. Many track-and-field athletes qualified for last weekend's indoor state meet, resulting in several all-state performances: The girls' 3,200 relay team of Maddie DeOrnellas, Ella Strebeck, Sydney Pickens and Audrey McCoy placed eighth; Robert Boyd-Meents won long jump; Mason Vaughan was second in 60 hurdles; and Isaiah Busby was fifth in the 800. The U.S. Constitution team hosted its third annual "We the Pickle" pickleball tournament to raise money for an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., for nationals. There were two tournaments — recreational and advanced — for people to participate in. Pictured: members of the team Lauren Harris, Luke Ditchfield, William Besson and Charley Wright and coach Marshall Schacht with the winners of the advanced pool, Steve Welch and Brock Ideus. Congratulations to Addie Kerr, JJ Schmidt and Ashley Wells for signing with colleges to continue their athletic and academic careers. Kerr signed with Southern Illinois University for volleyball. Schmidt signed with Aurora University for football. And Wells will play golf at Illinois Wesleyan University. The FFA livestock judging team was back in action at Lake Land College. The team placed 27th among 232 students competing, and Lucy DeAth placed eighth overall. Also: Salt Fork FFA had a state winner in Agri-Science Research Animal Systems — Lilly DeAth. Salt Fork FFA continues to make their program known throughout the state. Superintendent Morgan Wilhoit was honored as part of 20 Under 40 in a special edition of the local newspaper, The Prairie Press. As a graduate of Shiloh, Wilhoit returned to the school as a principal (pre-K through sixth grade). This is her first year as superintendent. The newspaper decided to create the section to honor "an exceptional group of young professionals whose dedication, leadership, and contributions are shaping the future of Edgar County." Also: English teacher Amy McClain took the English III students to the Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis on March 25. The class has recently been reading "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, and the production was going to be performed at the theater. The play and novelization is an autobiography based on Williams' life. The characters represent his family and memories. The class was able to experience the joy of attending and supporting theater while seeing the novel come to life. Pictured, left to right: (front) Hennessey White, Brylee Wallen and Katie Holmes; (back) Javlynn Labaume, Kylie Webb, Aiden Loveall, Eain White, Caleb Pacley, Clay Kibler, Lucas Reynolds, Will Dudley and Hailey Purcell. Funded by a grant, the Scholastic Bowl tam went on a field trip to the Spurlock Museum of World Culture and the Champaign-Urbana Adventures of Time and Space escape rooms. The Asian American Association (AAA) hosted a multicultural potluck for the Uni community. After a long week, this after-school Friday event was the perfect treat for students. Pictured: Gabby Mongwa, Jacque Butts and Luke Stevens with their food. Art classes put on their annual Fine Arts Festival last Thursday, students from across the school displaying their 2D and 3D art they have been working on this year. There were also concessions, games and a cupcake walk. Visitors could also vote on which art display was their favorite. Pictured: Sophia Frye, Emma Swisher and Kade Dubson. Over spring break, the orchestra traveled to New Orleans to play at Washington Artillery Park, Jackson Square and The National WWII Museum. When they weren't playing music, the group took a cooking class at The New Orleans School of Cooking, visited the New Orleans Jazz Museum and even went on a ghost tour through the city. Photos via Mi'a Garvin and Muleiya Prum. Villa Grove hosted its second career fair as students went table to table to discuss with colleges, military and people from the trades. Students were also assigned to different classes to learn about certain careers and paths after high school. Have you ever been freaked out about taking a test? Have you ever thought that the teacher, the students and even the test were plotting against you? This is what happens when Alan Lefenfeld tries to take the biggest test of his life. Drama Club students are planning for their play "This is a Test," which will premiere on Friday and Saturday in the Westville High School old gym. Pictured: freshman Jackson Lewis as Lefenfeld.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
2024-25 High School Confidential: Week 23
Mar. 27—Welcome to Year 9 of High School Confidential, powered by Danville Area Community College. It's an award-winning project made possible by aspiring student journalists from every corner of our circulation area. Each Thursday through April, they'll tell us what's happening in their hallways at . At least once a week, we'll also hand over our Snapchat account (News-Gazette) to our correspondents for behind-the-scenes tours. Feedback? Email N-G/VP Jim Rossow at . On to this week's report, shortened as many high school are on spring break: The Lincoln Prairie Conference Honor Band performed a concert on March 20 at Cumberland High School. ALAH had the honor to send five seniors to participate in the event: (left to right) band director Ethyan DeLaughter and seniors Dylan Price, Matthew Miller, Arik Stutzman, Gabe Jacobs and Alek Stutzman. The Cerro Gordo/Bement Broncos baseball team won two games in the first week of the season: 13-3 against Meridian and 9-6 against St. Teresa. Pictured: seniors Brody Somers and Brayden Strack. On March 14 — also known as Pi Day (3/14) — students between Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 and Precalculus celebrated. Teacher James Vogel brought in different types of miniature pies to enjoy while they worked, including apple, lemon and chocolate. Other students brought in their favorite circle desserts including oatmeal cream pies, apple pies and a chocolate nutella pie. Vogel printed \different color pages and activities they could work on. Students each got five slips of different colored paper, each color representing a different number. Those slips of paper all became a chain that circled his room. Four years ago students started to work on it starting from one corner of the room to the other. It has finally touched each side of the room completing the first 1,675 digits of Pi. To cap off the last day before spring break: the annual Farmers vs Cropdusters basketball game for boys who don't play on the school's team. It makes for quite an entertaining game, but you would be surprised by the athleticness of some of the players. The teams stayed neck in neck the whole time making for a tense game, but Briar Clark finished it with a game-winning three in the last 10 seconds. The ACES team competed in sectionals at Eastern Illinois the week before spring break, ranking 11th out of 26 schools in its division. Individually, Silas Shirley ranked fifth and Jackson Forest sixth in computer science; Weston Baird was fourth and Owen Clark fifth in engineering graphics; and Spencer Ray was sixth and Ruby Fraser-Soule first in physics. Fraser-Soule will be moving on to th state Competition at EIU in April. Band went on a trip to New Orleans over spring break to perform and enjoy different tours, including the chance to hold alligators. To wrap up the basketball season, local radio station WGCY hosted an all-star game for area boys and girls. Also honored: Mike Allen for his commitment to being a two-time state champion coach and being a founding father of the Heart of Illinois Conference. Over spring break, the softball team opened the season with a 12-2 win against St. Anne and a loss to Clifton Central. Players along with head coach Chelsea Ziegler and assistant coaches Erin Henk and Andy Atchie look forward to upcoming games and what the season will bring. Pictured courtesy Ginger Gonzalez, left to right: (back row) Henk, Mollie Anderson, Madison Barnes, Macy Warner, Melina Vogel, Kennedy Wallace, Kinzley Bailey, Ziegler and team manager Shay Layden; (front row) Peyton Irons, Dakota Resendez and Addyson Kelnhofer. Two students received incredible leadership opportunities last week. Sophomore Peyton Ford will be representing LeRoy and Corn Belt Energy in Washington, D.C., this summer. Ford went through a competitive interview process at Youth Day in Springfield to receive the honor. Ford will join other students from across the nation on the weeklong trip where she will explore historical landmarks, meet legislators and learn about the role of electric cooperatives. Sophomore Annie Conn was selected to represent Section 15 on the IHSA Student Advisory Committee (SAC). SAC gives high school students across Illinois the opportunity to represent their communities. They use their voice to communicate between students and administrators. The SAC provides various leadership opportunities. Conn is an excellent leader at LeRoy. She participates in multiple sports as well as music, which gives her the ability to represent the vast majority of students at LeRoy. Conn went through multiple interviews to achieve this honor. Last Thursday, National Honor Society inducted new members for the 2025-26 group. NHS does a number of good things for the school, such as blood drives, a senior citizens banquet, Character Counts Week and more. NHS President Jossalin Lavicka explained how hard it is to get into NHS, as candidates need to display character, education and be a good person. Pictured: Jossalin Lavicka lighting the candle to start the induction ceremony; Kara Harwood lighting her candle to show that she will follow the four pillard: Service, Leadership, Scholarship and Character. Picture 3; NHS members (left to right, back to front) Harwood, Molly Coffey, Brycea Brown, Sesilia Salinas-Sandness, Braydon Kissack, Kaleb Kuester, Aiden Frerichs, Caleb Clutteur, David Bell, Erica Felton, Kamryn Muehling, Madisyn Laffoon, Ollie Beaty, Jason Moore, Sophie Newman, Lillie Harris, London Clark, Lavicka, Cabery Brown, Zachary Moore and Gage Vogel. Social science club students participated in a movie night, using funds raised by the members of the club during junior high concessions. The students watched "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" and ate Dominos pizza Thursday. The social science club hosts movie nights like this every few months, giving students the chance to mingle and relax while watching historically significant movies. Pictured (left to right) via Kevin Fleckenstein: Caden Logan, Amaya Duzan, Hailie Hall, Carleigh Clifton and Alexis Burch. Student council participated in the district convention at the i Hotel and Illinois Conference Center, where they heard motivating leadership speeches. At the event, Katie Ericksen and Nate Farney were acknowledged for their exceptional efforts and earned roles as liaison and secretary. Thirteen students attended two energizing and educational live shows put on by Hispanic Flamenco Ballet in Decatur Civic Center on March 14, the last day before spring break. Featuring dances, music and traditional costumes from various countries in Spain and Latin America, students were entertained and even invited on stage for interactive dance lessons. A delicious Mexican lunch at Fernando's in Champaign was enjoyed by all as two Spanish 1 students celebrated their birthdays. With spring approaching, students in kindergarten classes taught by Lauren Moses and Erica Kohlmeyer have been learning about rainbows and clouds. The formation of rainbows was taught by allowing the children to use Fruit Loops and build their own with the colors in order. Weather is discussed every morning in the classroom, which helps students understand how to dress for the day and what each type of weather will look like. To celebrate the first day of spring, the class took its annual field trip to the Tuscola Dairy Queen for free cone day. Classroom aides Brooke Morris and Kylie Mixson also attended the fun trip (Morris, Kohlmeyer, Moses and, right, Mixson). The tradition serves a memorable day for all students and a great way to kick off the season. PIctured: Ryleigh Spencer, Connor Smith, Kobe Bruce, Gemma-Lou Atchinson (left) and Wesley Hayes, and Fallon Gooden. The spring musical "Mamma Mia" was a hit with multiple sold-out shows, the audience full of laughter and even shedding tears. Seniors Ava Rauguth, Rylie Vanausdoll, Andrew Spillman, Karson Jeffers, Mya Picazo, Jocelyn Ford, Andrew Bennett, Keller Beachy, Kade Wilcox, Sawyer Woodard, Zack Rennels and Aiden Devlin all took their final bows last week. Their hard work and dedication will not go unnoticed as it is an important highlight of the school's drama program. For senior Brock Schlittler, playing the national anthem on bass guitar in front of a crowd once seemed like an impossible challenge. In his food class, students were given a goal-setting assignment, and his goal was to perform at a sporting event. He submitted the paper and forgot about it. But weeks later, the choir teacher extended an opportunity to play at a football game. Initially hesitant, he decided to embrace the challenge and performed on Senior Night against Monticello. Brock's mother, Heather, suggested he submit a video audition to the Illinois High School Association for a chance to perform at a larger event. He recorded his audition in his backyard and sent it in. To gain more experience, he played the anthem at two home wrestling meets and two boys' basketball games, preparing for a potential state-level performance. IHSA officials were impressed with his submission, and soon, Schlittler received an invitation to perform at the state wrestling tournament at State Farm Center. The performance went well, and the IHSA invited him back to play the anthem at the IHSA boys' basketball state tournament. Before his big performance, he arrived early to rehearse, took a moment to pray with his family, and then delivered a flawless performance in front of a packed stadium. Beyond his solo performances, he plays bass guitar in the country music band Owen Knap and the Rusty Strings, which frequently performs in the Champaign-Urbana area. Last Tuesday, Villa Grove's Special Olympics athletes and coaches began practice. Athletes from elementary school through high school showed excitement for the big day. Practice is a great way for the athletes to bond with their coaches — an amazing experience overall. Ahoy there mateys! Watseka's swashbuckling spring play was performed last weekend. Erik Parmenter and his scurvy crew of actors performed "An Act of Piracy" to the delight of classmates, family and friends alike.
CBC
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Kevan Staples, co-founder of alt-rock band Rough Trade, dead at 74
Kevan Staples, co-founder of legendary Toronto rock band Rough Trade, had died at the age of 74. Staples co-wrote the band's risque breakout hit High School Confidential, as well the songs Birds of a Feather and All Touch. His death was announced in a social media post by band co-founder Carole Pope, who said he died on Sunday. "He was a bright light that will burn forever," she wrote on Instagram. The band won four Juno awards in the 1980s and was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2023. "Their music challenged conventions and left a lasting impact on Canada's cultural landscape," says a post on the Canada Walk of Fame's Instagram page. No other details of his death have been released.
