#1StudentNWI: Griffith High School gets Spooky with Paranormal Society

Griffith-1Student-October-2016_01Paranormal Society Starting the Year Off Right
Paranormal Society is a club that has been at Griffith for only a few years now. Paranormal Society is a club where students signed up to go on trips that are presumed to be haunted. Even though the club is one of the newer ones out of the group of clubs that Griffith offers, that does not stop kids from joining.

Paranormal Society is only available to upperclassmen, but the club still has a grand total of 90 students in the club. Officer Peter Ghrist is in charge of the club and organizes all of the trips. From last year to this year, Ghrist has invested in more equipment for ghost hunting, such as a motion censored “yes” and “no” box to give the students the full experience of ghost hunting. About 10 students are allowed on each trip, and two or three chaperones attend.

The first trip of the year was at the Old Lake County Jail in Crown Point on October 10th and 17th. The Old Lake County Jail is where John Dillinger was a prisoner. Part of Public Enemies, the movie based off of John Dillinger starring Johnny Depp, was filmed there, also.

Griffith-1Student-October-2016_02 Paranormal Society went to the jail last year as well, but Ghrist decided to go to the jail again this year because it was very successful and most of the students are new to the club this year. At the jail, they split up into two groups, each with a chaperone, and did their investigations. The students were able to walk into and see all of the old cells, John Dillinger’s included.

“Paranormal Society is truly one of the best clubs I’ve ever joined. Going on investigations gives me a thrill that you’d get on a roller coaster; it is something you’d have to experience for yourself. Paranormal Society is honestly amazing,” said junior Angel Meyer.

The club also has many future investigations planned. Since the weather is not freezing cold just yet, their next investigation will be held on October 19th and November 2nd at the Gypsy Graveyard in Crown Point. In previous years, the graveyard has been one of their most active investigations.

Griffith-1Student-October-2016_03 On November 6th and 20th, Paranormal Society plans to investigate the Wolcott House in Wolcott, Indiana. The mansion was built in 1859 and was occupied by generations of the Wolcott family. It is now a historical landmark. At this house, the workers will lock the group inside of the house for two hours to give them the full scare factor. The house is about an hour drive away from Griffith, making this the farthest Paranormal Society has gone for an investigation.

Officer Ghrist tries his best to make sure that as many people as possible get the opportunity to go on the investigations. Not many schools have a club like this and Griffith is making the best out of this opportunity.

Griffith-1Student-October-2016_04Student Spotlight
Sometimes, people do not realize how much work goes into choreographing routines, teaching them to a team, and making sure that everyone is together. Senior Renee Mierzwa helps to make sure that the Pantherettes, Griffith High School’s dance team, do not go unnoticed. Mierzwa has been dancing for six years and has been a Pantherette since freshman year. She is now a co-captain for the dance team.

“I decided to join the Pantherette team because I love dancing and I love the rush I get when I perform in front of a crowd. Also I always looked up to the Pantherettes,” said Mierzwa.

Mierzwa has gone to state and performed with the team since freshman year. As a senior, Mierzwa choreographs routines for football season and basketball season alongside fellow captain senior Abbey Dobosz. Mierzwa is now preparing herself and the rest of the team for the upcoming competition and basketball season.

“Sometimes, juggling both school and dance can get very difficult because dances are hard to remember. It is a lot to handle with homework and trying to practice dances,” Mierzwa said.

Even though Mierzwa may find herself in a tough position at times, she does not let that stop her from giving it her all on and off the dance floor. While going over all of the routines in her head so she does not forget them, Mierzwa also tries to think ahead and plan for her future after high school. Mierzwa is thinking about attending college for criminal justice, and she would also like to audition for the Universal Dance Association team.

“Pantherettes is what is going to make graduating so much harder, because I love the team, and I am going to miss them so much. I am going to miss dancing on the state floor. It will never get old,” Mierzwa said.