Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Melissa Sickinger
English teacher Mrs. Melissa Sickinger is more than just a teacher at school.
She’s someone who is busy all the time, trying to keep up with the responsibilities at school and at home.
She is the sponsor of National Honor Society, Society of Student Authors, Quiz Bowl, head coach of the dance team, mother of her one-year-old son and owner of Harvest Tyme Pumpkin Patch.
“The hard part is grading all the AP essays, trying to help with all of the creative aspects of the business and trying to help Josh (her husband) at the same time,” Mrs. Sickinger said. “Also choreographing and cutting music.”
Mrs. Sickinger juggles with a variety of activities which she said can be stressful at times. Luckily, she has help and support from her family.
“I have great family support with both my parents and in-laws and my aunt who helps,” Mrs. Sickinger said.
When the pumpkin patch first opened, Mrs. Sickinger and her husband were not expecting the farm to expand as large over the past eight years as it has.
“His grandparents lived on that land and farmed it, so it’s in his blood,” Mrs. Sickinger said, “but I didn’t know how big it was going to get since we both have jobs.”
Beginning of November: Fall sports end, winter sports begin
The Merrillville Football Team beat Portage High School in the sectional championship last Friday 28-21. They are going into the regional tournament with a record of 7-4 and also played against Penn High School on November 6th.
The team is looking forward to a rematch from last year by being focused during practice this week and watching a lot of films, trying to be mistake-free.
As the fall sports are coming to an end, girls’ basketball is the first winter sport to start. The girls had a scrimmage on October 31 against Munster High School and the coaches and team agree they did well.
“We’ve been really focused on defense because I believe this could be one of the best defensive teams we’ve had here,” Coach Amy Govert said. “It’s just a matter of how hard they work.
The scrimmage was just the start of the season and they have a lot of games and tournaments ahead of them.
“I’m looking forward to showing everyone that we can and will succeed without the seniors who graduated last year and see how far we can get,” Senior Miracle Akins said.
Student Spotlight: Aaliyah Stewart
Sophomore Aaliyah Stewart started a foundation called ASW, which stands for her brother, Anthony Samuel White, in December of 2014 after her second brother was killed by senseless gun violence.
“After my second brother was killed in March 2013, I felt God had put me through so much because my testimony was going to be a light for someone else,” Aaliyah Stewart said.
She started a movement called, #IAMTHEM, letting the youth know that no matter what they come from or what they may go through, they will always have potential in their life.
Stewart had the opportunity to spread her message on Windy City Live, the morning talk show on ABC, on October 30.
“It was wonderful. I feel informing people about my movement and motivation helped encourage someone,” Stewart said.
Stewart believes that she is benefitting the community, peers and also herself.
“I do enjoy this because I learn more,” Stewart said. “I learn how to adjust to people and get to be around people and mentor them.”
Career Consortium building up
More and more teachers are becoming certified to be a teacher for the Career Pathways. The teachers of these classes are not only certified, but they have had real world experiences in this area.
Mr. Dan Schoon is a chief firefighter for the Griffith Fire Station and Mr. Josh Harvoth has worked at NBC5 and other local radio and television stations.
“This class is very important to prepare kids for a future because not every kid is going to college,” Mr. Schoon said. “So preparing students for a career right out of high school is a necessity.”
Classes for firefighting includes firefighting 1, firefighting 2 and first responding. Students will learn fire service activities, extraction, CPR and many more life-saving strategies.
In the Radio and Television department, radio and broadcasting 1 and 2 will be taught.
“They will learn how to tell a story, use equipment and they will gain real world experience,” Mr. Harvoth said.
The salaries of these jobs can vary but being certified in this area will give students a head start.