What’s Happening?
During April, New Prairie held a Miracle Minute to raise money for a South Bend Clay softball coach whose son was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. Softball coach Jessica Hull and the rest of the softball team, along with Cougar Outreach, came together in order to fundraise throughout the school. Collectively, NP’s students and faculty raised $433.83. On April 29th, Coach Hull and the Lady Cougar softball players were able to present Coach Knight-Rodriguez of Clay with a check for $450 to help with out of pocket medical costs. Generous acts such as this help to remind the Cougars to lend a helping hand when it is needed.
April also saw the spring production of “That’s the Spirit,” a play by Tim Kelly. The production took place on April 28th-30th and had a nice-sized turnout for the goofy comedy. The play was about the murder of a psychic, Jenny Davenport, and the hilarious spooks that occur when trying to unmask her killer. Senior Madison Michael played Ruby, Jenny Davenport’s housekeeper, and was happy with how the play turned out.
“We had a lot of ups and downs, but at the end of the day, all the cast members performed the best show they possibly could. I am extremely proud of everyone!” “That’s the Spirit” was directed by senior Abi Hooton, who is not new to the theater and was very happy with trying out the director’s chair. Under the guidance of Theater teacher Kortney Brennan, Abi helped direct the actors to the best of their ability.
“I loved that it was a comedy. However, the amount of struggles we faced were nothing to laugh at,” says Hooton. “I think all of those who participated in the play can agree that nothing is ever as easy as it seems, and everything will have bumps, but everything will work out in the end.”
The cast would like to give many thanks to Abi, Mrs. Brennan, all who helped out, and the community members that attended the shows.
New Prairie’s HOSA team traveled to compete in the State Leadership Conference. HOSA stands for Health Occupations Students of America and the students present on health related topics, potential health careers, and healthcare as a whole. The Leadership Conference took place from April 11th to the 13th and thirteen students qualified for Nationals (which will take place in Nashville, Tennessee this summer). Students that placed in the top three of their event qualify for nationals.
Several of the events our students will be presenting in include Forensic Medicine, Physical Therapy, and Transcultural Health. New Prairie’s HOSA team is under the supervision of Mrs. Tonya Aerts and Mrs. Laurel Smith, both of whom are PLTW Biomedical teachers at NPHS.
“Our team is only 3 years old, however, we have had students qualify for nationals every year,” says Aerts. “Our team has tripled in size over the last three years and we continue to have large numbers of students place in the top ten in their events.”
The HOSA team would like to thank the 21st Century Grant, New Prairie Education Foundation, the Northwest Indiana Area Health Education Center, and the Kelly Group for providing financial support.
What’s Coming Up?
As the school year comes to an end, the Cougars will be crushing AP tests in the first portion of May. Upperclassmen have Prom to look forward to and athletes will have strong finishes to their seasons. Lastly, students will be preparing for final exams and the final weeks of the 2015-16 school year.
Teacher Shout-Out
Mrs. Wilkeson is an English teacher at New Prairie High School. Wilkeson herself is an NPHS alumni, being a graduate of the Class of 1982. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a major in English (which she obtained from IU in 1992) as well as a Master’s degree in K-12 Administration. Wilkeson student taught at South Bend Riley in the fall of 1992, before starting her teaching career at New Prairie Junior High School. The following year she began teaching at New Prairie HS.
Mrs. Wilkeson has taught grades 7-12, and currently teaches AP Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, and Newspaper. In the past, she has taught Creative Writing, Speech, Yearbook, and Dramatic Literature. Mrs. Wilkeson was the NPHS Teacher of the Year in both 1999 and 2000 as well as the corporation Teacher of the Year in 2000. She has also been the English Department Chair for the last fifteen years.
Mrs. Wilkeson likes the small size and family atmosphere best about NP.
“Despite the pressure on educators in today’s political climate and the gravity of my duties, this is the best job on Earth,” says Wilkeson.
Student Shout-Out
Abi Hooton is a senior at NPHS. Abi has been involved with the all-girl show choir Sing Sensation since her freshman year and also has been a member of the mixed show choir Innovation since her sophomore year. Abi also has been involved in theater since her freshman year, having such roles as Patty Simcox in Grease and a Factory Girl in Les Miserables.
She is a member of both Theatre Club and New Prairie’s Theatre Company. Abi has also been in National Honor Society for the past two years and serves as the senior class Secretary in Student Senate. Recently, Abi had the pleasure of directing the spring play, “That’s the Spirit,”. Abi plans to attend Ball State University in the fall and get a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English and a minor in Theater.
“I really want to direct plays and musicals and be a large part of the theater program when I begin teaching,” says Hooton.
Abi says the best parts of NP are that everyone knows each other and the closeness of everyone at New Prairie.