What’s recently happened?
This past month, the Drifters and Sandpipers performed for the Chesterton High School (CHS) Winter Showcase. The theme for the Sandpiper’s show was “Sandpiper County Spelling Bee” which followed the process and emotions attached to a spelling bee, while the Drifter’s theme was “Girls!” which drew inspiration from the recent film, “Barbie,” and focused on feminist messages.
“I feel like we had a lot of energy and did very well. All of the hard work we had been doing for the time leading up to the performance was helpful and detrimental,” Senior Sandpiper Grae Stockhausen said.
To help prepare for the showcase, two choreographers, Ellie Jordan and Randy Sage, shared their expertise with the students to aid them in expressing the necessary emotions for the performance.
“The choreography for Drifters was done by Ellie Jordan, and if I had to describe it, I would say it is very girly yet sassy and super fun. The choreography for Sandpipers was done by Ellie Jordan and Randy Sage, and I would describe it as upbeat with a side of difficulty,” Senior Drifter and Sandpiper Shayani Hall said.
Several students had solos such as the Drifters performers Paige Nittner in “Pink” and Kristen Cartergine in “Barbie Girl,” among others. As for the Sandpipers, Melissa Cook, Kassidy Miller, and Ryan Gray performed solos in “Champion of the Spelling Bee” among other soloists as well.
“Our annual Winter Showcase performance where we perform our show choir competition shows for the first time before we take them out on the road was an incredible success, despite the e-learning day on Friday,” Choir Director Kristin Morris said.
What’s coming up?
Coming up at CHS is the 51st year of the Big Band Bash. Big Band Bash is an annual, two-day fundraiser that helps raise money for another band event taking place in the spring called All That Jazz. Big Band Bash financially provides for All That Jazz, allowing professional musicians to teach students about music and perform alongside them.
“Big Band Bash is a tradition here at Chesterton High School, and it’s been going on since the ‘70s. It’s always been a community event and was originally designed to be a fundraiser for All That Jazz. Big Band Bash functions as a fundraiser for that and also as a community outreach program,” CHS Director of Bands Jon Flodder said.
Over the years, Big Band Bash has been working to make the event a social community event. The first night of the event will be more formal with raffles and a focus on fundraising, whereas the second night – “Dance Night” – will welcome professional dance instructors at 6:30 p.m. to explain circle dance instruction prior to the show.
The event will take place on January 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. in the CHS Cafeteria. Tickets are $20 for reserved seats and $15 for general admission, which will be Saturday only. To purchase tickets, go online at www.showtix4u.com/events/chsbands.
“I have only been in the jazz band for two years now, but Big Band Bash is one of the most fun events we do all year. I love being able to play fun music and watch people dance and enjoy themselves in the crowd. It’s an amazing experience. I think that if you enjoy jazz, dancing, or just listening to music, you should absolutely go,” Senior Baritone Saxophone Player Kelsey Mason said.
Staff spotlight:
Amy Osorio has taught math for the past 16 years—11 years at Gavit High School, and five years at CHS. At Gavit High School, she taught Algebra I, Algebra II, Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics, and Math Test Prep. Now at CHS, she teaches Quantitative Reasoning, Geometry, and Precalculus-Algebra.
“I love teaching math even though there are a lot of students who try to tell me they can't do math. Everyone is capable of the material I teach; they just need to think they can do it. Sometimes, they have such a negative attitude that they struggle more than they would otherwise. In particular, in Quantitative Reasoning, we learn a lot of real-world math that the students will need in their lives after high school. When they move past the negative connotation that comes along with math, they do a great job, and it is eye-opening for some of them,” Osorio said.
Besides teaching, Osorio is also the sponsor for the Class of 2024.
“As a senior class sponsor, we are trying to raise money for our senior banquet at the end of the year and anything special they want for graduation. It's a struggle sometimes to get things accomplished because the officers are also involved in many other clubs, sports, and activities. We've sold senior class shirts and plan on sponsoring a faculty lunch in the near future,” Osorio said.
Prior to becoming a teacher, Osorio attended Purdue University Calumet (now Purdue University Northwest) where she earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, Calumet College of St. Joseph for education, and Western Governors University where also earned a Master of Arts in math education.
“I like the classroom environment and want to help students succeed. It is really exciting to watch a student who is struggling with a certain topic begin to understand the material and see their expression change,” Osorio said.
Osorio has two children, Lucas and Lyla, and is married to her husband, Eric, who teaches math at Willowcreek Middle School. She also enjoys playing volleyball and watching her kids participate in a variety of activities.
“They keep me very busy with their activities of taekwondo, soccer, dance, and Cub Scouts. We like to travel and are big fans of Disney,” Osorio said.
In the upcoming months, she looks forward to traveling to the California Disneyland location for the first time with her family.
“We've been to Disney World many times, but I really want to see how Disneyland compares,” Osorio said.
Student spotlight:
Sophomore Olyvia Whalen is a good-natured and determined student at CHS. In class, you can always catch her with a smile on her face, brightening the classroom with her kind attitude.
This school year, Whalen’s favorite classes have been Newspaper and AP World History.
“I enjoy writing a lot, and I have met many people in Newspaper that I love. I also enjoy AP World History as a class because I understand it pretty well, and I love learning about history,” Whalen said.
Although she is not sure of which profession or college she would like to pursue, she plans to study veterinary medicine at Purdue University.
“I have always dreamed of being a veterinarian since I was little, and I have been wanting to make it a reality for a long time now. I want to be in the medical field, and I want to help the world in some way. If I don't become a veterinarian, I am almost completely sure that I will be in the medical field in the future,” Whalen said.
In her free time, Whalen loves spending time with her friends and family, running, watching movies, and creating art, namely paintings.
With much to look forward to, Whalen has set personal goals for herself that she has succeeded in while she continues her high school career.
“This year, I have been able to focus and stay on task, and that is huge to me because it improves my overall performance in class. I have also made sure not to have missing assignments this year, and I have gotten my grades to improve tremendously,” Whalen said.