What’s recently happened?
Chesterton High School (CHS) Student Government hosted its annual indoor trick-or-treating event, Hall-o-ween, in October. Students who participate in extracurricular groups dress in their respective themes while they pass out candy to members of the local community. Each year, the students who pass out candy also compete for which table has the best costumes.
“The Boys Soccer team was trying to think of a theme that would be different from the other tables. We were thinking of holidays, and Halloween is a holiday, but also Christmas is a holiday, so we wanted to be different and go for Christmas as our theme,” Senior Ben Powell said. “I was dressed as Santa and handed out candy, wishing everyone a ‘Merry Christmas.’”
Not only did the Hall-o-ween event provide children with a safe environment to trick-or-treat, it also helped to promote charities as well.
“Student Government raised a total of $2,456 from Hall-o-ween which has been our largest turnout yet from this event. We were overwhelmed by the support we received from the community and cannot wait to continue this event for further years. In addition to the money we made, we collected 12 boxes worth of canned food items for the Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry. A portion of the funds are also in the process of being donated to Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago,” Senior Hilary Reibly said.
The hallways at CHS were transformed with spooky decorations and fun lighting to create an exciting atmosphere for everyone involved. The support from the community was so great that the event ended earlier than scheduled due to tables running out of candy.
“Hall-o-ween went amazing. I'm so thankful for all the clubs that participated. Lastly, I'm so very proud of all the hard work by my student government students,” Student Government Sponsor Natalie Kaczmarski said.
What’s coming up?
Each year at CHS, the Music Department puts on a Madrigal Dinner. This year, 1,280 tickets have been sold, leaving one singular ticket for purchase. The Madrigal Dinners at CHS are a staple in the community’s Christmastime tradition and have a history of selling out.
“The Madrigal Dinner is in its 51st year, and it’s probably one of my favorite parts of this entire job. It’s such a cool thing we’re able to do here at the school. We turn our cafeteria into a medieval dining hall, and we do it all by candlelight,” Music Department Chair Kristin Morris said. “We do five shows over three days, and it’s a cool recreation of an ancient madrigal holiday feast that sets the tone for the holiday season. It’s a lovely, beautiful tradition.”
Staff spotlight:
Natalie Kaczmarski is an enthusiastic math teacher who is well-known for her high energy and optimism.
“I chose to teach math because it was a subject I always enjoyed. I knew in kindergarten that I wanted to be a teacher. In high school, I decided I wanted to teach math because I really liked the subject,” Kaczmarski said.
Originally from Hebron, Indiana, Kaczmarski desired a teaching position that was near her home and that provided a big school atmosphere. Now, she teaches Algebra I, Geometry, and Geometry GT. This will be her third year teaching at CHS.
“I taught at Washington Township High School for two years before CHS. It was a great place to start because I got to work with my Aunt Laurie. The school was also super small, so I really got to know the kids. I love CHS though! It's an awesome place to be. Kids are great and so are my coworkers. My favorite thing about CHS is the awesome students; they are all so neat,” Kaczmarski said.
In addition to teaching, Kaczmarski has stepped into a new role as the Student Government sponsor in place of Social Studies Teacher Christine Bullock.
“Mrs. Bullock asked me to help with taking over student government because she is super busy. I have big shoes to fill because she is an awesome role model and was a great sponsor first and foremost,” Kaczmarski said.
As a sponsor, Kaczmarski is responsible for helping the Student Government executive team, as well as the senators, make the school the best it can be. To accomplish this goal, she fills out any necessary paperwork and observes the meetings to ensure they run well.
The Student Government is responsible for hosting a variety of events including the Hall-o-ween trick or treat, appreciation days which honor teachers and veterans, respectively, and the winter dance, among many other activities.
“The most important part of student government is that we are the voice behind students. We meet monthly with Mr. Brent Martinson, and that’s our main focus: address any concerns as the student body. We’re the student voice. That’s the most important thing about my job; making sure students are prepared and raising concerns with Mr. Martinson so we can work together to have the best school that we can,” Kaczmarski said.
In her spare time, she loves spending time with family and friends, attending Butler University basketball games, listening to music, and working out at Orangetheory Fitness.
Student spotlight:
Junior Lyla Surane is sweet, just like her desserts. Over the years, Surane has cultivated a passion for culinary arts and has refined her abilities as a baker through years of experience.
“I have been in the kitchen for as long as I can remember. I was and still am obsessed with the movie ‘Ratatouille,’ and I had always dreamed of becoming a pastry chef and taking a trip to Paris at least once in my life. Once I was allowed to use the oven and the stove, I began cooking and baking for my family,” Surane said.
Although she loves to experiment with various recipes, Surane’s favorite item to bake is her chocolate chip cookies.
“I have spent so much time trying to perfect the recipe and they are such a simple dessert, but they impress people every time I make them,” Surane said.
It is obvious to anyone that Surane is a committed and diligent worker. During the summer of 2021, she joined a Facebook group that linked small businesses to sell their items once every month as a way to sell her baked goods. Surane rented and worked out of a commercial kitchen in Valparaiso named Nana Clare’s Kitchen. Through her dedication, she profited $2,000 with her business, Bean’s Bakery. However, as the school began, her schedule grew increasingly busy, causing her to shift the way in which she ran her business.
“I decided to curate my own sprinkle mixes and sell them on my website. Now, I mostly just post videos and recipes on Instagram, and that still makes me happy even though I am not selling any products. I try to bake and film once a week, and I typically post every Sunday,” Surane said.
Bean’s Bakery was officially established May 7, 2021. Surane began sales at the end of the month and was able to have the guidance of her mother, who also runs her own business.
“My business is called Bean’s Bakery because Bean is my nickname - my parents have been calling me Bean ever since I was born. The necklace that I wear every single day has a bean charm on it. My mom got the same necklace after she gave birth to me, so I saved up my money when I was younger to buy another one of those necklaces to have just like my mom,” Surane said.
Surane plans to attend college to study both journalism and culinary arts. This school year, she decided to add Newspaper as an elective for a new experience.
“My favorite class this year is Newspaper. I joined the class because my counselor said that I needed to choose another elective, and I had no idea what to expect. I have had so much fun meeting all the staff and members of the CHS ‘Sandscript,’ and I can’t wait to do it again next year,” Surane said.
When Surane is not baking or writing, she loves to spend time with her family and indulge in reading romance books. Additionally, Surane is an accomplished student, having earned her place on the Principal’s Honor Roll several times, been inducted into the National Honor Society, and also attended the Natural Helpers Retreat.