What's recently happened?
This month, Chesterton High School’s (CHS) Music Department put on an impressive performance set that combined the choirs, bands, and orchestra groups to celebrate the upcoming holiday season.
“We sang mainly acapella songs this year, and we had a few combined numbers with everyone. A small group that I was in sang the jazz version of ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,’” Junior Choir Member Ryan Gray said.
The score consisted of many favorite Christmas songs and also included unique twists such as the medley “We Come A-Darkly Caroling” which showcased popular seasonal songs in minor key.
“My favorite song to play was ‘Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ because I thought it was such a cool experience to be a part of a combination and play good music,” Senior Saxophone Player Rosalie Salentine said.
Having the musical groups work together for the show enticed the audience members and evoked Christmas spirit for attendees.
What's coming up?
The Family Theatre Production at CHS is presenting “Puss ‘n Boots A Tale of Tail: A Comedy’ by Steph DeFerie for its 25th annual season.
“I wanted a play with a lot of action and humor. I wanted to do a play that has never been done on the CHS stage before,” Director Rebecca “Becky” Uehling said.
Each year, the Family Theatre Production hosts three shows, with the first being the Children’s Matinee. Third graders from Duneland School Corporation come to the high school as a field trip and are captivated by the theater performances.
“Like all the Family Theatre Production performances, it’s made for children. It’s encouraged to bring children, have it shape their view of theatre and see if they want to get into it,” Senior Ava Johnson, who plays Princess Philomena, said.
The play is about a trio of cats who narrate a tale of a miller and his two sons and the adventures that ensue once King Ferdinand and Princess Philomena pay a visit to the mill. The cast of characters includes a king and his daughter, a monstrous ogre, and, of course, the swashbuckling Puss.
“It’s very fun. We’ve been making a lot of progress. It can be hectic sometimes, but I think we’re already pretty tight knit. I think that we’re moving quickly, and our directors seem passionate,” Junior Gwendolyn Lester, who plays Whiskers, said.
Staff spotlight:
Kevin Potter has been a teacher for eight years but is experiencing his first year at CHS this school year. Originally from Chesterton, Potter has lived and worked in Greenfield, Indiana for the last seven years where he taught world geography, world history, and economics. However, a desire to live closer to family has inspired him to move back this past summer.
Potter attended Indiana University in Bloomington where he majored in secondary education with a focus on social studies.
“I have always wanted to be a teacher. I had a change of heart my freshman year of college but quickly switched my major to education after one semester,” Potter said.
At CHS, Potter teaches world geography in addition to Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography.
“I have loved history since I was a little kid and was always encouraged to dive deeper and deeper into the topics I loved by family members and teachers. I am particularly interested in the everyday lives of regular people throughout history,” Potter said.
Potter also helps run the Gold Standard Club, a club dedicated to improving the quality of CHS, planning Homecoming, spirit weeks, and student section themes, as well as getting the student body excited about school spirit. He also works as an assistant coach for the CHS Debate team and advises the freshmen class student council.
In his free time, Potter loves spending time with his wife, Megan, and their puppy, Deeds, in addition to playing music with friends, playing video games, and watching documentaries and Chicago sports teams.
Having grown up in Chesterton, Potter urges students to appreciate the wonderful place we call home.
“I know a lot of people who grow up in Northwest Indiana spend their adolescent lives dreaming about leaving the area and never looking back. I definitely felt that way at different points in my life but ultimately realized that Chesterton and Northwest Indiana at large are not bad places. There are so many great people in this area and communities who truly look out for their own. Home is home, and never say never!” Potter said.
Student spotlight:
Senior Kai Marten is a dedicated student and leader at CHS. During his time at CHS, Marten has made incredible strides both academically and with extracurriculars by maintaining a 4.3 GPA throughout high school, progressing in cheerleading, and making Homecoming Court.
Marten is a senior leader and flyer on the CHS Varsity Coed Cheer Team and joined the team his sophomore year. Part of his duties as a participant is to cheer at the football games on Fridays nights during the season in addition to the Boys and Girls Basketball games. The cheer team also competes at Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) competitions, where it recently won its third consecutive regional title, earning a bid to go to nationals in Orlando, Florida.
“Cheering and stunting are my favorite things to do, and I love getting new skills. However, the best part of being on the team is the family I have found. It hasn’t always been easy for me, and there have been many ups and downs, but in the end, my team and coaches have been there for me,” Marten said.
This school year, Marten decided to work as a cadet teacher at Liberty Elementary School.
“I go to Lindsay Trout’s first-grade class every single morning for an hour and a half. I help out wherever I am needed, and overall, it has been a fantastic experience. Mrs. Trout is such a great teacher and I am so grateful for her. She was actually my fourth-grade teacher, so it’s definitely a full circle moment finishing out my high school career with her,” Marten said.
In his free time, Marten enjoys playing with his dog, hanging out with friends, and listening to music. Similarly, he loves browsing social media, going to the movies, attending concerts, and traveling.
Although he has not yet committed, Marten plans on attending DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois to study a field related to communications or marketing.
Marten has a notable work ethic and will succeed in whatever he puts his mind to.