5 - Merrillville Community School

The
Mirror
Merrillville High School
Merrillville, Indiana
December 21, 2010
Vol. 29, Issue 5
www.mhsmirror.com
Then a substitute, now a teacher
BY RAEVYN HARPER AND
FRANCESCA BRICKER
Features Editor & Reporter/
Reporter
Three years ago, Ball State
graduate Mr. Paul Unterfranz
began his substitute teaching
at Merrillville High School.
After graduating with a major
in history, Mr. Unterfranz
decided to give substitute
teaching a try.
“I didn’t complete my
education course at Ball
State, because I wasn’t for
sure if I wanted to be a full
time teacher,” Mr. Unterfranz
said. “I decided to substitute
first to see if I would like doing
it everyday, and I did.”
One year later, Mr.
Unterfranz attended Indiana
University Northwest to
complete his courses in
education.
“I knew becoming a history
teacher was harder without
there being as many jobs,” Mr.
Unterfranz said.
Mr. Unterfranz finished with
a license in Social Studies
and English so when the
opportunity struck, he took it.
“[English teacher] Mrs.
Teresa Procter was the one
who came to me about being
a teacher since Mrs. Seeman
[former English teacher] was
going on maternity leave,” Mr.
Unterfranz said.
When asked about the
transition from substitute
teaching to having his own
class, Mr. Unterfranz said,
“It can be awkward at times.
Students sometimes don’t
think that I affect their grades
and think I don’t know what
I’m doing.”
Teaching at Merrillville
High School was completely
random for Mr. Unterfranz.
“It was close enough to
where I didn’t have to drive
much, but far enough away
that I wouldn’t run into my
brother or his friends.”
Mr. Unterfranz is teaching
Etymology, Young Adult
Novels and English 10.
Becoming a teacher, Mr.
Unterfranz does have some
new opportunities to see
students challenged and
working to the best of their
ability.
“I like to see students
progress,” Mr. Unterfranz
said. “Being a sub, you don’t
get to see that.”
Mr. Paul Unterfranz became a
Merrillville High School teacher
after substituting for three years.
Mrs. Row’s class shines in the food, coat drives
BY CARLEY LAUGHEAD
Reporter
In honor of Thanksgiving,
for the less fortunate and
the approaching winter
weather, Student Government
sponsored the annual
food and coat drive, urging
students to donate used coats
and food for local pantries.
Mrs. Sharon Row gave her
students incentive: donate to
make someone’s holiday a
little more special, and earn
some extra credit.
Many teachers during the
food drive offered extra credit
News
wStudents prepare for
their futures through the
internship program
wStudent Government
sponsors annual
Christmas Wish List
for food and coats, but not
many experienced the turnout
Mrs. Row’s class did.
“We talked about the less
fortunate and put things into
perspective,” Mrs. Row said.
Almost all the students of
the business management
and finance class donated
goods, some even brand new,
and there was a minimum of
four to five cans per person.
Junior Briana Thompson
was one of the top donors of
the class. The motivation for
her was more personal than
academic.
“The main motive was to
Mrs. Sharon Row’s first hour class donated 34 of the 62 coats donated
school wide and 320 of the 1,960 items of food.
donated 34 of the 62 coats
that were donated school
wide and 320 of the 1,960
items of food. The numbers
themselves astonished
Mrs. Row, who saw the
progression of donations
increase dramatically in a
small period.
“I was gone one day, and
when I came back there was
literally 80 cans of food,” Mrs.
Row said. “It doesn’t take
much, and these kids are so
giving.”
give others the Thanksgiving I
had,” Thompson said.
Daily motivational
speeches made by Mrs. Row
about her past experiences
gave most of the students the
enthusiasm to donate.
Mrs. Row’s first hour class
Opinion
Features
A&E
Sports
wCommunity service
should be required for
graduation
wPotential changes in
Indiana education may
not be what we need
wStudents share their
New Years resolutions
wExchange student
spends the holidays
away from home
wArt students
showcase their talents
wBoy band proves to
be “painfully unoriginal”
wBoys’ basketball
team remains
undefeated
wWrestling team holds
record of 7-0
2
Save
the date
vDecember 24 - January 9
Holiday Break
vEnd of 6 week grading
period December 23
vDaughters of American
Revolution Scholarship
deadline December 31
vJanuary 1 Oral Roberts
University Scholarship
deadline
vFAFSA (financial aid) due
January 1
vBoys’ Varsity Basketball
home game vs. Valparaiso
January 4
vGirls’ Varsity Basketball
home game vs. Valparaiso
January 5
vJanuary 10 first day back
to school
vSAT Dates: Jan. 22,
March 12, May 7, June 4
(MHS)
vACT Dates: Feb. 12, April
9, June 11
vSenior Class meeting
held every Tuesday in Arena
vFor extra SAT help,
student websites will be listed
online
FOR MORE RECENT
INFORMATION PERTAINING
DATES, SCHOLARSHIPS
AND EVENTS CHECK OUT
OUR WEB EDITION.
www.mhsmirror.com
Teams
showcase
poetry and
speech
BY MEREDITH DOBES
Web Editor/Copy Editor/
Reporter
The Merrillville High School
Poetry Slam Team and
Speech and Debate Team will
have a Friends and Family
Show December 21 at 7 p.m.
in the Small Theatre. Tickets
are $5 and all proceeds will
fund the teams’ activities for
the current school year.
The Poetry Slam Team is
led by Coach Dave Hossler,
and the Speech and Debate
Team is led by Coach Alan
Mizmo.
Class of
2014 to
“Pulverize
the Piñata”
News
Student Government sponsors
annual Christmas Wish List
BY SAM GUBITZ
Advertising Manager/
Reporter
During the month of
December, Merrillville High
School’s Student Government
sponsors an annual
Christmas Wish List for
underprivileged children.
This year, 112 children
were “adopted” by various
classes, or students, who
then purchase the items the
children put on their “wish
lists.”
These children are
students at the various
elementary schools within
the Merrillville School System
as well as at Merrillville
Intermediate School.
Student Government
Sponsor Mr. Michael Knocke
has planned for even the
worst case scenario.
“In case a snow day occurs
on the last day before break
[December 23], we scheduled
the last day of the wish list to
The newspaper staff wraps gifts for the Christmas Wish List.
be the day before. That way
we make sure everyone gets
there in time for Christmas.”
In case a class or student
should neglect to get any
gifts for their child for any
reason, Mr. Knocke has a
special committee of students
ready to go and buy gifts at a
moment’s notice.
Student Government’s goal
for this Christmas Wish List is
the same as previous years:
to have every child who was
adopted receive what he/she
wanted on his/her wish list in
time for Christmas.
Mr. Knocke believes that
out of all of the things Student
Government does during the
school year, the Wish List is
always the most successful.
“Whenever you have a
chance to give things to
children who have very
little,” Mr. Knocke said, “it will
always be a very successful
endeavor.”
By MEG ViNSON
Arts and Entertainment
Editor/Reporter
On December 22, the
class of 2014 will be holding
a piñata hitting contest called
“Pulverize the Piñata” as a
fundraiser for the class.
The contest will take place
during all lunches in the
freshman cafeteria. Students
can buy tickets to enter the
contest for 50 cents.
Besides the piñata hitting
contest, students can also
enter drawings for a chance to
win other prizes.
It’s no accident that driving safely
can save you money
Join Farm Bureau Insurance’s Teenage Driver Safety and
Education Program to receive a free $1000 U.S. Savings
Bond
For more information, call or visit the local Crown Point office
Phone: 219-663-1028
Address: 2008 North Main Street
News
3
Students gain life experience to prepare for future careers
BY PATTI ZIMMERMAN
News Editor/ Reporter
“Walk the PLANK” is the
MHS Internship Program’s
slogan, which stands for
“Professional Learning
Abilities and Knowledge”.
MHS has two different
internship programs:
Professional Carrier
Internship (PCI) and
Internship Capstone
Experience (ICE).
The PCI program is for
juniors and seniors with a
minimum grade point average
of 2.8 with an 80% attendance
rate and no major infractions
on their disciplinary record.
Students that are interested
must provide their own
transportation and have six
business credits.
The ICE program is for
seniors that have shown
interest in a specific carrier
choice and have taken
classes to learn more about
their choice. Students must
have the same requirements
as the PCI program. The
ICE program helps students
learn specific information
and business skills about a
specific career.
“All students must be
on track for graduation
with their required classes
finished,” Internship Program
Coordinator Mrs. Sharon Row
said.
Students involved in the
PCI program this trimester are
Seniors Chris Strojanovski,
Kailan Richards and Junior
Leonard Matthews.
Richards, who interns
at Methodist Hospital, has
observed an open heart
surgery up close.
“It was cool. I was on the
floor during the surgery,”
Richards said. “It was quick. It
took less than an hour, about
40 to 45 minutes.”
Richards plans on
becoming a pharmacist.
“Everything I’ve seen
goes back to people needing
medication,” Richards said.
Strojanovski interns with
a physician and learns
about physical therapy, and
Matthews interns at Bosak
Motors and learns business
skills. Each student attends
two classes a day and spends
the rest of the school day
interning. Meetings are held
once a week with the student
interns to discuss their
experiences and learn basic
business skills.
Students do not have to
participate in the program
every trimester. If interested,
students can see Mrs. Row
in room D112, visit their
counselor or visit the new
MHS website to print out an
application. Each student
must have three references
from MHS.
“It’s a lifetime experience
for good or bad,” Richards
said. “It could make someone
change their mind [about their
carrier choice].”
New and improved website offers seniors a chance to show their stuff
BY RAVEN SMITH
Photo Editor/Reporter
Merrillville’s new website
offers a senior link that
will allow seniors to tell
their stories, goals and
accomplishments.
This feature is part of the
new website for MHS.
Webmaster Sharon Row
said seniors can contact her if
they wish to have their profiles
displayed on the website.
“Students who are
interested can contact me by
e-mail,” Row said.
Months of work by the
school’s webmaster has
resulted in a new, updated
website for
students and
parents.
Mrs. Row
said the
transformation
started in
April and was
running by
November
1. Merrillville
High School is
the first of the
corporation’s
schools to
have this new
software, and
John Wood Elementary is
second.
“Soon, all of the Merrillville
Mr. Jason Hostetler
Freshman Academy teacher, Mr. Hostetler has
taught English here for seven years. He encourages
students to take
initiative in their
education by
focusing on skills
they need for the
workplace. Whether
it is after school
in the Freshman
Academy tutoring
program or in the
classroom, he offers
many opportunities
for his students to be
successful.
Schools will be on board,”
Mrs. Row said. “All of this is
hosted by School Wires.”
Mrs. Row and Kelly
Murphy, the
Director of
Information
Technology
Services for
Merrillville
schools, trained
and worked
together to
build the new
corporation
website.
“We have
put hundreds of
hours into the
transformation,”
Mrs. Row said.
The whole website
is entirely different from
traditional software. Old
Teachers and Student of the Month
codes have been taken out
and rebuilt. Now, there are
flash pictures of activities from
MHS. Templates are provided
and are used as a guide
for designing each school’s
website. Internal templates
are also provided for staff to
create their own business
cards.
Some of the improvements
are a real-time calendar, up to
date postings of events and
announcements and teacher
resources, such as class
calendars, assignment pages,
web links and photo galleries.
“The website will allow
parents and outside sources
to reach teachers,” Mrs. Row
said.
Ms. Sarah Boyle
Horizon Bank’s student for the month of November is Senior Azari
Hopson. She was nominated by Jermece Williamson, who said, “By
making good decisions, helping in church and becoming a role model
for others, she has become an honor student. I am proud of her
for making the choice to stay positive and keep her grades in good
standing.”
Along with teaching World History, Ms. Boyle is an
assistant sponsor for the Class of 2011. She also
works with students
in the Merrillville
Alternative Program.
She encourages her
student to be creative
in their approach to
learn about the past
and how if affects
them now.
4
Opinion
Special Needs boundaries being broken
BY DAYNA YOUNG
Opinion Editor/Reporter
Some people might have
the outlook that disabled
people are not capable of
maintaing everyday jobs or
completing simple tasks. This
has been a stereotype that is
still a challenge for some to
overcome today.
Individuals may often focus
on so many negatives in their
lives, sometimes forgetting
that some people face
situations which require help
for what we might think of as
a “no brainier.”
Here at MHS not much
is known about the Special
Needs students except for
their basketball games that
they participate in during the
school year. People are often
unaware about the numerous
positive influences they have
on the community.
After having the chance to
be a peer helper for the junior
and senior Special Needs
students, and watching them
help out with service projects
like Meals on Wheels, job
training and preparing food
boxes at the Second Harvest
Food Bank this stereotype of
not being able to hold a job
never came to my mind.
Each of the jobs listed
above not only offers them a
chance to get out of school,
but allows them to learn work
skills that can be essential to
a job they might hold in the
future.
Starting in January the
students will volunteer for the
Meals on Wheels program.
This gives the students a
chance to help feed those in
need and senior citizens.
During Key Club’s annual Kids’ Carnival Ashley Reynolds
and Ben Banks represent Aktion Club, the special needs
student arm of Kiwanis Club. Photo by Mrs. Barb Dlouhy.
They also help every
Friday at the Second Harvest
Food Bank in Gary by sorting,
packaging and weighting
food.
The thing that makes the
biggest difference is the time
they take out to make school
readiness packets for new
mothers at hospitals such
as Saint Anthony, Broadway
Methodist Southlake Campus
and Saint Mary.
With all the work that
they’ve been doing there is
sure to be a reward offered.
Each year an end of the year
field trip is planned. This year
the students will go to Deep
River County Park to enjoy a
nice picnic.
“Everyone has the
chance to contribute to
the community despite the
ability level even though they
are handicapped,” Special
Education teacher Barb
Dlouhy said.
During the time I’ve worked
with some of the students,
I have learned that this
stereotype is not true. The
Special Needs students have
proven that even though they
learn at a different speed,
their capabilities are unlimited.
Daniels’ quick fix get an A for effort
But plans are too shallow
to fix low achievement
by schools and students
BY MEREDITH DOBES
Web Editor/Copy Editor/
Reporter
The metaphorical light bulb
over Indiana Governor Mitch
Daniels’ head flickers with
ideas of how to improve and
brighten Indiana’s education
system.
In 2011, he wants to
make major changes to the
way teachers and schools
are evaluated and create
new educational options for
parents and students alike.
Daniels wants to base
teachers’ salaries off of
student performance instead
of seniority. He also wants
to hold school systems
accountable for sub par
student performance and low
graduation rates.
On the surface, these
plans seem to be a possible
change suffering Indiana
schools need. However, the
plans are far too shallow to be
the correct anecdote for the
disease of poor grades.
There are many factors
that contribute to a child’s
cognitive development
and educational success.
Teachers and school systems
do not have any dictatorial
mind control program
established to feed students
knowledge; and if they did,
wouldn’t they use it for good
instead of evil?
Teachers and school
systems are not solely
responsible for students’
grades. It is completely unjust
to cut a teacher’s salary (and
morale along with it) because
the students he/she spent 12
weeks elaborating biology to
never bother to do homework,
study for tests, participate in
labs or pay attention in class.
It is also not his/her fault
that the parents of those
students never bothered to
care about their children’s
grades.
However, if the teachers
Daniels is questioning are
handing out worksheets
and playing solitaire on the
computer each class hour
instead of teaching, that’s a
different story.
Even with that in mind, the
number of such “teachers”
could never be significant
enough to justify punishing
the innocent, thorough,
inspirational teachers who get
stuck with students who could
not care less about grades,
graduating or success.
Daniels wants to allow
parents to have a choice
of where they send their
children, in terms of public
education. If he establishes
such a charter school system
and holds onto his shallow
morale, would it then solely
be the parents at fault for
students’ poor grades?
After all, the parents would
be the ones choosing to send
their children to “good” or
“bad” schools.
In Daniels’s scramble for
a quick fix, he also proposes
that any high school junior
who has fulfilled all graduation
requirements be allowed to
graduate at the end of their
junior year and use the money
that would have been used
to fund their senior year for
college.
That’s an interesting theory,
and it might work for the most
mature and self-motivated
juniors. But even if juniors are
qualified to graduate a year
early, what happens to the
missing year?
AP classes in high school
are not taught at the same
level as college classes, no
matter how much teachers
and students alike would like
to think so.
The senior year is
necessary for full college
preparation, unless junior
year curriculum is changed to
accommodate a term paper
and fourth year levels of math,
science and social studies,
depending on what each
individual student is interested
in studying.
Daniels needs to seriously
reevaluate his plans before
the impending 2011 year of
reform.
His enthusiasm for Indiana
education is great, but he
needs to take a lesson on
deeper level thinking before
he changes the system
through which thought is
inspired.
5
Opinion
Community service should be required
BY ALYSON AUSTIN
Editor-in-Chief
I get home from working
on one of the service projects
I participate in and I log onto
Facebook. What is the first
thing I read? There are many
status updates in a row from
people saying, “So bored,
someone text me!”
It’s sad to see how many
teenagers are wasting their
time sitting in front of a
computer when they could
be out doing something
productive, particularly
something to help the
community. Quite frankly, it’s
very aggravating being a part
of the stereotype of “those
lazy teenagers” when I’ve
completed more than 400
hours of service myself in the
past three years.
Merrillville should make
community service a
requirement for graduation.
The most important effect
of this requirement is that it
will help students become
more well-rounded. It’s safe
to say that most high school
students spend the majority
of their time on their grades,
their extra curriculars and
their friends. Most don’t get
the chance to, or choose
not to, use their time to help
others. By being thrown into
a service project, students
will gain skills they will need
for the rest of their lives,
including citizenship, by
engaging themselves in their
communities. Most kids won’t
use calculus or physics after
high school, but they will all
use human-relations skills
everyday.
This summer was the
second year I volunteered
at Camp Horizon, which is
a non-profit organization
which offers a week-long
camp experience for adults
with physical disabilities. The
experience of volunteering
has changed my life, and I
know it would not have been
possible if the opportunity
wasn’t thrown at me.
By making community
service mandatory for
graduation, this also gives
students an opportunity to
explore different career paths,
whether it be working with
children, animals, physically
disabled people or others.
We just don’t get this kind
of experience by sitting in a
classroom, and especially not
by watching it on T.V.
The whole reason for being
involved in high school is
to build a good resume for
college. While getting good
grades looks good, doing 40
or more hours of community
service, in a field you may
even want to study, looks
even better.
True, there are some
opportunities for highschoolers to participate in
community service, such
as in groups like STAND
(Socially Together and
Naturally Diverse) and
Student Government, but
these involve only a small
percentage of students. What
about the rest of the students
who are too lazy, or too busy,
to participate? Making these
hours mandatory will help
reach out to the others, and
though all may not enjoy the
experience, a vast majority
will.
I’m sure there are many
reasons why service hours
aren’t a requirement for
all high schools, one,
for some people, being
the conflict with the
13th amendment, which
abolished slavery and
involuntary servitude.
Another is the conflict of
students and their extra
curriculars and jobs.
Through different
court cases, such as
Immediato v. Rye Neck
School District, the
U.S. Courts of Appeals
ruled that the use of
community service
hours for graduation
did not violate the 13th
amendment. Also, by
allowing students to
spread out their hours
over their four years,
this gives them plenty
of time for service
when they don’t have
other obligations. So
my question is, then,
why don’t we have this
requirement when there
are more pros than
cons?
To the students who
are reading this: get
involved! I can say from
experience that doing
community service is
the greatest feeling of
accomplishment in the
world. There are plenty
of opportunities out there
for all interests - plus,
colleges will love to see
these activities on your
transcript more than any
others.
I only wish MHS
would see the benefits
of this requirement. It’s
a great way for a class
to leave their school
and community with a
good memory of them.
In years to come, when
students look back at
what they learned in
high school, they won’t
remember their grades;
they will remember
the way they made a
difference.
A tanning booth at L.A. Tan in Merrillville.
Beating the winter blues
BY JIM WRIGHT
Sports Editor/Reporter
It is finally here, whether
we like it or not. Winter, the
most dreaded and dead
season of the year, has come
for its yearly visit. With winter
comes the usual cold weather,
snow and icy roads, but it
also brings some sadness
and fatigue. During the other
seasons, the warmer weather
and environment can create
a sense of life in people, but
during the winter, the trees
are bare, grass is dead and
frozen and animals have
migrated. The environment changes
and cold weather can have
a big effect on the psyche of
a person. To avoid the winter
blues, some either start new
activities or do others more
often.
Some people use tanning
beds in the winter to hold off
the blues. “During the winter, the
number of people tanning
definitely goes up a lot,” L.A.
Tan tanning manager Daniella
Monparelli said.
Many use the tanning
beds for the summer warmth
and light they provide. Being
under the ultraviolet rays
provides people with the
warm feeling of the summer.
Even though it only lasts for
15 minutes, going a couple
times a week ensures that
this feeling is with someone
all week long.
Along with tanning for the
summer feeling, some people
might begin going to a gym.
“Going to the gym, as well
as tanning, creates a certain
state of mind for people.
There is the adrenaline rush
people get while working out,
but looking outside knowing
that it’s cold and snowy
depresses some, so they
need to go do something to
be active or get that summer
feeling back,” Athletic trainer
Sean Hudson said.
Whether we like it or not,
winter is here. However, that
does not give us an excuse
to mope around all day and
be lazy. Tanning and going
to the gym are just a couple
activities that people can do.
Find something that will bring
happiness during the winter
months, and stay away from
the “winter blues.”
6
Cold, Grey,W
Winter A
B
right, white
snowflakes flurry
down from the
sky. Snow dances on
air, flashes of white
mesmerizing the eye.
It’s wintertime again,
so it’s time to prepare
for the cold weather,
and to count down the
days before break. Even
though the days get
darker, and the ground
gets harder, winter is a
time of joy. Hot chocolate
melts on the tongue,
warming the body with
an instant flush of
sweetness. Christmas
specials dominate the
TV and candy canes
pop up everywhere. It’s
the Season of Giving,
the Festival of Lights,
and the all-inclusive
“holidays” all over again.
Enjoy the cool weather,
sweet treats and holiday
break.
-Bre Pulphus
By PATTI ZIMMERMAN
News Editor/ Reporter
Once winter starts many feel
that staying indoors or going
Christmas shopping are the
only things to do, but after the
holidays pass winter still goes
on. The dilemma is finding fun
activities to do during winter
break and beyond.
Deep River Water Park
has opened the outdoor ice
skating rink. The ice rink is
open Thursdays 2 p.m. to 9
p.m., Fridays 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.,
Saturday noon to 10 p.m. and
Sunday noon to 9p.m.
During winter break the
Deep River Ice Rink will be
open everyday during the two
weeks. There is a $4 charge at
the gates for adults 14 and up
Freshmen Isabella Stevens and Megan Dziewicki enjoy their snow day
by having some fun in the snow.
Away
“The best part about wintertime,
From home on
Holidays are times where
we really spend time with our
families, bond and cherish
them, though Michelle Benus
will be not be with her family.
However, she will be in
the presence of people who
care about her. Benus won’t
necessarily be “home.” Benus
is one of Merrillville’s exchange
students and she is from
Germany.
Usually on Christmas, Benus
says that she would normally
go to her grandmother’s house
for dinner and following that is
the opening of presents.
Foreign exchange students Michelle Benus and
Florence Matenaar are staying with their hosr family
for the holidays.
“My host fami
exchange studen
Matenaar, and I
Washington D. C
host family’s rela
replied.
Her favorite fo
holidays to eat a
huge staple in G
butter and roast,
However, this
and gloom beca
having a great ti
host parents Bon
and Karen Wyss
she isn’t with he
resides with two
she says are ver
7
Winter Days
Activities
and skate rentals are available
for $5 a pair.
Navy Pier’s Annual Winter
Wonder Fest started December
3 and will end January 2.
Indoor attractions like ice
skating, ferris wheels, a train
ride (for little kids), different fair
rides, cookie decorating stand,
juice bars and food stands
will be throughout the hall.
At Winter Wonderland, there
will be people dressed up in
holiday spirit and Christmas
music playing to put all visitors
in the holiday spirit. There is
also a talent stage that will
have different performances
throughout the day.
Instead of sitting around
the house during winter break,
jump in a car and go have fun.
Holiday Traditions
BY ALYSON AUSTIN
Editor-In- Chief
Along with Merrillville High
School’s diversity comes an
array of holiday traditions.
One example is Senior
Bre Pulphus who has
celebrated Kwanzaa for two
years. She first got inspired
to celebrate Kwanzaa by her
grandmother, who has been
doing it for many years.
“[My grandma] goes to
Africa every couple years and
brings back materials needed
for Kwanzaa celebrations,”
Pulphus said.
There are seven days
of Kwanzaa and each day
is a different principle of
traditional African culture.
Families celebrate by
spending time together, gift
giving and lighting a kinara.
“My whole family
celebrates it because of me,”
Pulphus said. “It is also a
celebration of literature. We
read everyday.”
“[Kwanzaa] is something
new,” she added. “There’s
always something to learn
about it that I didn’t already
know.”
, are the snow days.” - Senior Lauren Lambert
n the Holidays
ily, another
nt, Florence
will drive to
C. to visit my
atives,” Benus
oods during the
are potatoes [a
Germany] with
,” Benus added.
s is not doom
ause Benus is
ime with her
nnie Meyer
s. Even though
er parents, she
o people that
ry kind to her.
“My parents are sad that I
am not with them in Germany
but they also know that this is
good for me and my future and
that I will come back,” Benus
said.
Benus says that she doesn’t
expect anything from her host
family for Christmas because
they let her live and eat without
paying any money.
When she returns to
Germany next year, a couple of
her New Year’s resolutions are
finishing the grade successfully
because she has missed 4-5
months of her schooling and
staying in touch with her host
family.
While visiting in Washington
D.C., Benus plans to do much
window shopping. A few weeks
after Christmas break, Benus will
be departing back to Germany.
“I am excited and glad that
I have had this experience,”
Benus said.
BY RAVEN SMITH
Photo Editor/ Opinion Editor/
Reporter
ONE STEP CLOSER
TO THE NEW YEAR
For most, a new year
means a new beginning.
As 2010 is winding down
students take the time to think
about new year’s resolutions
and what exactly they’re
looking forward to in the
upcoming year.
Technology throughout time
has changed tremendously.
From all the different types
of smart phones, to the
improved computer and
wireless internet connection
we’ve seen big changes.
“I’m kind of excited about
all the technology that’s going
to be coming out in 2011,”
Sophomore Zahra Arifee said.
Some students’ New Year’s
resolutions are a bit simpler
and more personal.
“My new year’s resolution
is to straighten my hair less,”
Arifee said.
Sophomore Julie Ross has
the hopes of becoming more
active with her teammates on
and off the field.
“I’m looking forward to
being more of an influence to
my teammates this upcoming
season,” Ross said.
Ross is also beginning to
prepare herself to take on
softball tryouts, where she
hopes to make varsity.
Like Ross, Arifee also has
great expectations for her team
as well. She’s excited to see
where the tennis team is going
to go in their 2011 season.
“I have a feeling our tennis
team is going to improve a lot.
Hopefully this new season can
be great for us,” Arifee said.
As the years come and
go we are all one step closer
to reaching our goals and
accomplishing our dreams.
“All I want is to live life
without regrets,” Ross said.
BY FRANCESCA BRICKER
Reporter
Hit and Misses of
2010
Some of the top events of 2010 voted on by students that were a
hit, or not even worth the time.
Spirit Week
Twillight Saga Eclispe
Paranormal Activity 2
HIT
MISS
HIT
Pirate Crew
MISS
Harry Potter
HIT
Nicki Minaj blowup
MISS
Miami heats new team
MISS
Homecoming Dance
HIT
Pirate football
MISS
Green Rebellion
MISS
8
Arts and Entertainment
Creation through imagination — showcasing young artists at MHS
This scratchboard of a mill was created by Senior Shakiah Lee.
“I was at the Museuem of Science and Industry when I took
a picture of this mill. I brought it back and showed it to her
[Art teacher Janet Anderson] and she wanted me to do a
scratchboard of it,” Lee said. “Art is the one thing I can do well,
and I fell in love with it as soon as I started. It’s a way for me to
express myself.”
The pastel drawing above
was created by Senior Nicole
Blas. The drawing is titled
“Rusted Car”.
“I was thinking of problems in
society like the environment,
and I wanted to make it
representative of that,” Blas
said. “I love taking nothing
and using my imagination to
create something.”
This pencil sketch above was created by Sophomore Alex Castro. The drawing is titled “Echo”. It
is one of the original characters that Castro creates and draws.
These two photos were taken by Senior Bryce Williams. “I do photography
because it’s a way to show my creative thought and save memories,” Williams
said. Williams wants to either minor in photography or do it as a side project in
the future. His inspirations are people and landscapes.
9
Arts and Entertainment
Allstar Weekend: second
verse, same as the first
BY MEG VINSON
Arts and Entertainment
Editor/Reporter
Allstar Weekend is one of
the newest bands to hit the
music scene. After performing
in Radio Disney’s Next Big
Thing contest in 2008, they
released their debut album,
“Suddenly” in June of this
year. A few short months later,
they released their second
album, “Suddenly Yours”.
Like the name, “Suddenly
Yours” is basically identical
to “Suddenly”. The only
difference is that “Suddenly
Yours” has four more tracks.
Most of the songs on
“Suddenly Yours” are painfully
unoriginal. Lyrics like “We
can dance forever” and “My
friends will see a different
side of me” with the same
pop beat, the music gets
monotonous and doesn’t have
many qualities that set it apart
from dozens of other pop
artists.
Two bright spots are “Amy”
and “Catching Up”, which are
by far the better songs on the
EVENTS
More details and events can be
found at www.mhsmirror.com
Hidden
Lake Park’s
“Holiday Lights
at the Lake”
Dec. 31
Allstar Weekend’s music is perfect for fans of similar bands like Justin
Beiber, Miley Cyrus, and the Jonas Brothers.
album.
While Allstar Weekend’s
music isn’t for everyone, fans
of artists like Justin Beiber,
the Jonas Brothers, Miley
Cyrus and Big Time Rush
would probably enjoy them.
Allstar Weekend still
needs improvement as far
as creativity goes, but the
songs are still cheerful and
up-beat and are good if you
are looking for something fun
to listen to.
Winter
Wonder
Fest at Navy
Pier
Jan. 23
Dec. 21-26
Deep
River
Waterpark
New Year’s Eve
Skate Party
Jan. 2
“Wicked”
performed at
Cadillac Palace
Theatre
Duh’s
Stop
by!
5374 Broadway
Call
us!
884-0114
GET A FREE ORDER OF BREADSTICKS
with a Big Deal Purchase & your
Merrillville High School ID
BY MEREDITH DOBES
During passing periods, before school, after school and really
at any time, in any hallway or on any sidewalk, it’s never decent
to stand in the way or walk as if marching to death. It’s wonderful
that you’re trying to emit all of your swagger, but it’d be even
more wonderful if you could do it somewhere other than right
there, in the way.
Also, in the spirit of the holidays and all, or maybe just for a
New Year’s resolution, there’s always the option to stop shrieking
out curse words in the hallways as if the common decency of
civilized society doesn’t fit into your lifestyle.
10
Sports
Inconsistency and lack
of teamwork lead
to multiple losses
BY JAKE LARSON AND JIM
WRIGHT
Back page editor/reporter
After starting off strong, the
Pirates have lost three out of
their last four games.
“There is a lack
of teamwork and
communication. We are not
on the same page and there
is selfish play,” Coach Amy
Govert said.
The results of this play
can be seen by looking at
the scores of the girls losses.
The Pirates lost to Elkhart
74-45 and to Michigan City
59-37.
“We are better than that.
We just have to work as a
team,” Senior guard/ forward
Melanee Stubbs said.
In between these two
losses the Pirates showed
that this is true when they
toughed out a win against the
Laporte Slicers 48-45.
“It shows if we fight and
want it bad enough we can do
it,” Stubbs said.
Turning things around is
ever so important because
four out of the next five
games are all against
Duneland Athletic Conference
opponents.
“These games are very
important. The DAC is evenly
matched and open to anyone
and if we regroup we still
have a chance to win the
conference. But we have dug
ourselves into a hole and we
must win the next few. Not
only are they conference
games, but they are going to
dictate our performance for
the rest of the year,” Coach
Govert said.
“To bounce back we need
to play better defense,”
Sophomore Dariyan Morris
said. “There has to be better
communication, determination
and we need to just trust each
other.”
“
There has to be
better communication,
determination and we
need to just trust each
other.
”
Cheerleaders
add strength
and versatility
to the team
BY MEG VINSON
Reporter/Arts and
Entertainment Editor
It is rarity to have male
cheerleaders, but this year,
girls aren’t the only ones who
are participating in the sport.
Seniors Payton Parker,
Jamaal Jackson, Ashton
Edwards and Junior William
Isabell are now part of the
Merrillville cheerleading team.
Sophomore guard
Dariyan Morris
Wrestlers pinning down
the competition
Biggest meet
of season will
happen over
break
Last year, Junior Kourtney
Berry wrestles someone from
Valparaiso. Photo by Giolas
BY JAKE LARSON
Back page editor/reporter
The Pirates have gotten off
to a 13-0 start to the season
and are 4-0 in the Duneland
Athletic Conference beating
Portage, Laporte, Valparaiso
and Chesterton.
“It’s a pretty good start to
the season,” Coach David
Maldonado said.
The wrestler who has
stepped up this season
is Junior Kourtney Berry.
During his freshman year, he
lost in overtime which cost
him to state, and during his
sophomore year, his season
was shortened by a fractured
hip. Berry has started this
season with 13 victories.
The strength of the team is
experience in wrestling.
“We have a lot of
experience of wrestling,
but we have inexperience
wrestling at the high school
level with only two seniors,”
Coach Maldonado said.
“Our real test will come
against Portage and Crown
Point,” Coach Maldonado
said.
The Pirates passed one of
those tests and beat Portage.
The next big test will come
over break when the wrestlers
face Crown Point January 5.
Junior Will Isabell holds up
Senior Bianca Portis as they
perform a stunt. Photo by Mariah
Portis
”A couple of girls asked me
to do it, and when I checked it
out, I really enjoyed it. It’s a lot
different from football, but we
put a lot of hard work into it,”
Parker said.
Even though having
male cheerleaders is not
common, Head Coach Lori
Govert said that having boys
allows the team to do more
challenging stunts and adds
more strength, energy and
versatility.
“They set the mood and
just lighten everything, so
there’s not a lot of drama.
They push us to do better,”
Senior Raevyn Harper said.
The male cheerleaders
come from sports like football
and wrestling and all agree
that cheerleading takes a
lot more effort than people
assume.
“I hadn’t done any other
sport except wrestling, and I
wanted to be part of a team
for my senior year,” Edwards
said. “You have to have a
lot of upper body strength,
balance and you have to
know how to use your lower
body assets.”
“Cheerleading takes a lot
of strength and coordination,”
Coach Govert said.
Being a male cheerleader
is different, but a lot of good
things can come from having
boys on the team.
“It takes belief in them to
put themselves out there,”
Coach Govert said. “It can be
challenging sometimes, but
they’re not afraid to do it, and
it’s very admirable.”
Sports
Boys/girls
swimming
and diving
BY MEREDITH DOBES
Web Editor/Copy Editor/
Reporter
The boys and girls
swimming and diving teams
have competed in a total
of seven meets so far this
season.
“They’re right on target for
where they should be. They’re
developing well,” swimming
and diving Coach Ladd
Downham said.
The teams have new,
younger members who are
new to the sports. Some
of the new members have
had club swim experience
previously, but according to
Coach Downham, some need
extra work.
However, many
upperclassmen are returning
to the teams this year.
“We have some key
leadership. Some key returns
are [Seniors] Kelsey Sajdera,
Kaitlyn Phillips, Jacob
Caddick, Darren Blaylock
and Alex Matthews,” Coach
Downham said.
“The team is doing great.
Our seniors have been
motivating everyone,” Phillips
said.
About 65 swimmers and
divers make up the teams this
year. Both the boys and girls
have approximately 13 meets
left. However, the boys end
mid February while the girls
season ends at the beginning
of February.
The teams’ goals are to
be as competitive as they
can be in the Duneland
Athletic Conference and for
individuals to receive personal
bests.
“The kids are working hard.
They have to be here for tons
of hours,” Coach Downham
said. “Expectations are high,
and if the kids live up to them,
we will have more success.”
11
6-0 start and 4 double digit victories
proves preseason rankings
Last year, Senior Brandon
Clark pulls up to shoot against
a defender from Michigan City.
Photo by Giolas
BY JIM WRIGHT
Sports Editor/ Reporter
The boys’ basketball team
has opened their season with
several double digit victories.
The first came against
Homestead November 27
when they won 75-55. Their
other big victories against
Highland, 82-53, Chesterton,
80-54, Laporte, 50-43,
Andrean, 89-60 and Michigan
City, 53-46.
“We’ve done pretty well.
We are playing together,
which when we do, wonders
can happen,” Senior forward
Josh Hogan said.
Hogan had his biggest
game so far against the
Chesterton Trojans when
he contributed 16 points.
Along with his 16, there were
several others scoring double
digits in that game, including
Senior guard Jeremiah
Jones with 24, Senior center
Tokunbo Fashawe with 10
and Junior center Edward
Seay with 16 points.
“I’ve been playing well
and doing what I can. I still
have some things to work on,
though, in practice to help the
team,” Fashawe said.
The Pirates are pleased
with the way the season has
started, but they realize there
are still things that needs to
be worked on as the season
goes on.
“We need to make sure
we hit all the easy shots,
especially the lay-ups, and
when we get to the foul
line, we need to hit our
free throws,” Senior guard
Brandon Smith said.
Coming up on the boys’
schedule are multiple
conferences. The end of
December up to the beginning
of February, they will play
seven conference games.
“These games are going to
be tough. Anytime you play a
conference opponent there is
the added pressure of winning
so you can essentially win the
conference,” Senior forward
Andre Ross said.
At the end of this string of
conference games, the boys
play the Munster Mustangs.
“This will be our biggest
match up of the year,” Ross
said. “They are very talented
and will provide us with the
most competition.”
“
We’ve done
pretty well. We are
playing together,
which when we do,
wonders
can happen.
”
Senior forward
Josh Hogan
Dance team prepares for competitions
BY ALYSON AUSTIN
Editor-in-Chief
The dance team has been
busy preparing for upcoming
competitions.
Their first competition
was December 11 and they
received first place.
“[The team is] really
dedicated,” Senior Captain
Alexandria Norton said. “We
all get along well.”
“They have great passion
and drive,” Dance Coach
Mrs. Melissa Sickinger said.
“They pick up quickly on
choreography.”
Though the team lost
seven seniors, they say it has
not brought them down but
has motivated them to work
harder.
“[The losses] have pushed
them more,” Coach Sickinger
said. “They know they have to
step up.”
“The team is new and
different,” Norton said, “but
different in a good way.”
“We have a great jazz
routine,” Norton added. “We
connect and have a good
vibe. It’s a beautiful routine.”
Their competitions are held
every Saturday in January.
“I have high expectations
for them for state,” Coach
Sickinger said. “They have
such a love for dancing, and it
shows.”
Last year, Senior Lindsay Sanchez and Junior Lo’Real Robinson
perform their routine at the Munster competition. Photo by Giolas
The Back Page
12
Family traditions important at holidays
BY FRANCESCA BRICKER
Reporter
Around this time of year,
different traditions take hold
of homes all around. As for
my home, Christmas spirit
quickly fills the air as soon as
we wind down the month of
November.
For as long as I can
remember, my family has
taken the time each year to
sit down together and build a
gingerbread house. Sounds
easy, right? In a house
of seven people it can be
chaotic, but it always seems
to turn out just right.
Each of my family
members is assigned
something specific that they’ll
be doing to the gingerbread
house. My sister Paige
usually can’t be much help,
so the difficulty of keeping
the walls in place is usually
assigned to my brothers and
me.
Keeping your gingerbread
house stable is probably the
hardest part of assembling
it. One person should hold
the first two walls in place
while the second adds the
remaining walls.
Other and more common
family traditions may include
baking cookies and putting
them out for jolly old Saint
Nick.
There’s no doubt that when
the holidays come around
family traditions begin to
spark.
Gingerbread House
Cookie Dough
1-1/2 cups whipping cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
extract
2-1/2 cups firmly packed
brown sugar
2 tablespoons baking soda
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground
cinnamon
1-1/3 cups light or dark
molasses
9 cups all-purpose flour
Mix ingredients for cookie
and bake at 350 for 12-15
minutes in gingerbread house
forms. Cool completely.
Icing Cement
2 large egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 teaspoons water
3 cups sifted powdered sugar
Whip egg whites until stiff and
add remaining ingredients.
Assembly
First things first. Find
something you can build your
gingerbread house on. Cookie
sheets usually work nicely.
Place four pieces of cookie
down on the cookie sheet that
you can use for your walls.
Start by icing one side of
two cookies where they’ll
meet. Look at that, you’ve
already got two walls up. Hold
it there for at least a minute to
secure the walls.
Do the same thing until all
of the sides are up.
The roof can be tricky.
Place icing along the sides of
the roof, and where the two
sides of the cookie will meet.
Hold them in place again for
at least a minute. You don’t
want your roof caving in.
Let your gingerbread
house sit for three to four
hours before decorating. If
you do it before it’s set, it
has the chance of caving in
completely.
Pierce teacher becomes high school teacher
Christopher Dade
BY RAVEN SMITH
Reporter
Algebra teacher Mr.
Christopher Dade is new to
Merrillville High School and
has a positive outlook for his
students.
Dade received his teaching
credentials from Calumet
College of St. Joseph in
2005 and two additional
degrees in Computer Science
and a Master’s in Business
Administration from Keller
College and the Computer
Science at DeVry University.
“I wanted to be a teacher
because I want to pass on
knowledge to students,” Dade
said.
Dade believes that
Merrillville High School is
great because there are
so many opportunities and
technology that the students
have access to.
“Merrillville High School
is very diverse because
there are many varieties of
students”, Dade said.
Dade used to teach at
Clifford Pierce Middle School
and taught math for four
years. He was a substitute
for about a year. He said
he wasn’t even nervous the
first time he had his own
classroom.
“I can relate to my
students,” Dade said, “and I
try to help them succeed to
reach their goals.”
Pleased to be a part of the Pirates
BY RAVEN SMITH
Reporter
A fresh addition to
Merrillville High School may
not be known to many of
the students here. Christina
Mueller was quick to speak
about her happiness of being
at MHS. Muller is a first year
English teacher.
“I have always had a
passion to help children and I
love writing,” Mueller said.
Mueller graduated from
Purdue Calumet in 2010
completing a major in English
education. She subbed for a
month here before becoming
a full-time teacher.
“I was nervous and
excited the first time I had
my own classroom,” Mueller
said. “Making lesson plans
are important and time
consuming.”
Mueller believes students
here are pushed to succeed
and there are differences
from the high school that she
graduated from.
“I graduated from Munster
High school and there is a lot
of diversity at Merrillville that I
didn’t see at Munster,” Mueller
said.
Mueller loves the color
pink and enjoys watching
“Roseanne” re-runs on TV
Land. She enjoys that the
students at Merrillville are
free-spirited.
“There is never a dull
moment when you are
teacher,” Mueller said.
The Mirror
The Mirror is the student
newspaper of Merrillville High School,
276 E. 68th Pl., Merrillville, IN
46410. The web edition is located at
mhsmirror.com.
Publications at MHS are members
of the Indiana High School Press
Association, National Scholastic
Press Association and Quill and
Scroll.
Editor
Alyson Austin
News Patti Zimmerman
Opinion
Dayna Young
Features
Raevyn Harper
Arts & Entertainment Megan Vinson
Sports
Jim Wright
Photo
Raven Smith
Advertising
Sam Gubitz
Web Editor
Meredith Dobes
Back Page
Jake Larson
Reporters
Alyson Austin,
Francesca Bricker,
Mereidth Dobes, Sam Gubitz
Raevyn Harper, Jake Larson
Carley Laughead, Raven Smith
Megan Vinson, Jim Wright
Dayna Young, Patti Zimmerman
Chirstina Mueller
Adviser
Teresa Procter
We encourage
students to write letters
to the editor. Letters
must be 200 words,
signed by the student,