What’s Happened: Photosynthesis
The growth mindset way of teaching and learning is still in full swing at LaCrosse and the Life Skills classes have really started to get interesting. Students have begun learning real-world tactics that will put them in better places when they graduate. Things like changing tires, writing thank you cards, and tying ties are what the students have learned so far. Teachers hope that what they are teaching their students will help them in the future.
The school also hosted a door decorating contest. Students decorated their Growth Mindset group teacher’s doors with positive messages about learning that incorporated the growth mindset theme. The group that won this contest received a pizza party. The winning door, adorned with the slogan “We Are Fortunate to Have A Growth Mindset,” featured paper-made fortune cookies with inspirational quotes on them, and a take-out box taped to it.
The Scarecrow Festival also happened over the weekend! Scarecrow Festival, or Scarecrow Fest, as the locals call it, is a celebration of Wanatah’s large agricultural pull. It features many vendors from across town, a tractor trolley ride, and a parade. It is a big event for the little town of Wanatah, and often garners the entire capacity of the town. It is traditionally held near the end of September. This year saw fewer than normal numbers of people, but temperatures were also extremely high this year. Despite the weather, events carried on as usual. The parade went without a problem and there were still winners of the kiddie tractor pull and kid’s race. The Scarecrow Queen pageant on Sunday went off without a hitch.
This year, the seniors of LaCrosse played a big role as well. In order to raise money for their end-of-the-year senior trip, they sold Nelson’s chicken. The chicken sold for $7.50 each. Along with that, customers also had the option of buying a LaCrosse cookbook. The cookbooks sold for eight dollars each, but prices could be shifted depending on the level of interest. Students are still selling these cookbooks, and information about them can be garnered by contacting the school.
What’s Coming Up: Fight Song! Go! Go!
College Go Week is just getting started at Lacrosse. Colleges from all over Indiana will be stationed in the gym to talk with curious students and to keep contact. This is a good way for students to broaden their college search horizons and maybe learn about schools they had not previously considered. To get students hyped about these opportunities, the staff have been playing college fight songs over the intercom in between classes.
College Go Week is designed so that students can have fun throughout the week and also learn important information that will follow them through their experiences in schooling beyond high school. The dress-up days are pajama day for Monday, Flip flops Tuesday, athletic gear for Wednesday, Mismatch day Thursday, and Super Fan Friday. The class that participates the most in this spirit week will receive points towards an ice cream party at the end of the year.
There is also a small scavenger hunt going on during the week. There are three college symbols hidden in various rooms. The person who finds each symbol will win a prize. Additional prizes can be won for answering which teacher has attended all three schools. This is a good exercise to help the students bond with the teachers as well as learn about the week’s theme.
Teacher Spotlight Mr. McMahan
Mr. McMahan’s room is located on the top floor of the school and all the way at the end of the hall. Although it is a long trek through the entire school to get to his classroom, students find what he teaches very enjoyable and worth the trip.
Mr. McMahan has been teaching at LaCrosse school for twelve years, along with being an alumni. He is a government and economics teacher, but has also taken on teaching geography, accounting, business, and law education recently. His favorite of these to teach is Government and Economics, because he believes that “learning about these things and knowing how to use them can help [students] be more productive in society.”
He wants the best for his students, and hopes to provide them with the best educations possible using the tools he’s been provided with.
When he isn’t in the classroom, he’s on the court. He coaches several sports, including cross country for both boys and girls, as well as girls’ basketball. The girl’s basketball team at LaCrosse is known for being very good, which means something that he’s doing is working.
Because he’s been in the school for so long, he knows a lot of the new student’s parents. He loves the small school atmosphere and getting to teach the sons and daughters of the people he knew in high school.
He hopes that when students leave his class they will have absolute knowledge of not just the content written in the books, but important life lessons that they can take with them all throughout their lives.
Student Spotlight: Logan Corban
Logan Corban is a sophomore at LaCrosse High School. Before coming to LaCrosse, he did his middle school years at Barker in Michigan City. He says he likes Lacrosse for its “nice environment and friendly atmosphere.”
His favorite subject is band, in which he plays the bass and piano.
“I like that you get to learn lots of new music,” he sCaid.
His favorite teacher is Mr. Roslansky, who teaches math. While he doesn’t have a clear path for after high school, he is leaning towards college.
When school’s out, he likes to eat a nice sandwich, do his homework, study, and sleep. His favorite sandwich consists of salami, cheese, and mayo.
His life motto is “If something hasn’t been done, be the first to do it.”
He’s a dedicated student and a bit mischievous when it comes to hanging out with friends.