What recently happened?
Lowell High School (LHS) hosted a Veterans Day Program on November 10 to honor the veterans within the community.
This program was a musical celebration the LHS band and choir spent quite a bit of time preparing for.
This event was advertised out to the Lowell community encouraging veterans to come in and appreciate a performance of songs in tribute to the time they served our country.
Not only were there songs, but Associate Principal Shannon Mazurek said a few words of gratitude, as did Sophomore Jack Molina. He detailed his appreciation for everything veterans have done and also read a poem out to the audience.
LHS began this program last year, and it is a very positive and uplifting idea for a day of appreciation. On this day, the classes were all condensed to ensure that the students got to experience the full program.
The program allowed students to take a minute and appreciate the veterans all around them and be thankful for their selflessness.
Additionally, LHS began its third year of the Red Devils Give Back (RDGB) project. This is a service project that takes place specifically around the holiday season.
This year, LHS decided to continue raising money for the Angel Tree project, housed at St. Edward Catholic Church, for the 2023 RDGB project.
The leaders of the Angel Tree project at St. Edward will gather a list of community members who could use additional help during this holiday season. Then, other members of the community can select tags from the tree and buy gifts and necessities to brighten those families' holidays.
LHS is executing this project the same way as last year. Each advisory sponsors one community member in need, specifically a child or teen. The advisory only gets a brief description of its child or teen and their wishlist, and the students are asked to donate whatever money they can.
Additionally, there are designated advisory periods where money will be collected. The classes began accepting donations at the beginning of November, and the last day is November 30.
The goal is to make an impact on these adolescents’ lives and allow them to have the happiest of holidays.
What's coming up?
LHS is gearing up for the long-awaited Thanksgiving break.
This break is three days long, starting for the LHS community on November 22 but including the weekend, so students don’t have to go back until Monday, November 27.
This break comes at a good time for the student body. The beginning of winter and the holidays approaching means that students are having a harder time concentrating, and a break is just the thing they need.
“I’m excited for this upcoming break because it will let me spend some quality time with my family and allow me to recharge,” said Student Bryson Hebble.
Students and teachers get the opportunity to spend their break with their families and give thanks for all they have.
Similarly, families get the opportunity to reunite, express gratitude for one another, and even feel closer than at any other time.
It also allows the LHS student body to take a minute away from school and ensure that they return to school with a new and improved mindset.
Staff spotlight:
Timothy Higgins has been a teacher at LHS since 2007. Currently, the courses he teaches are Sociology, United States History, and Advanced Placement United States History.
Higgins is originally from Crown Point, Indiana but he moved to Lowell at a young age. He graduated from LHS in 1988 and then went on to attend Purdue University Calumet, now Purdue University Northwest, in Hammond, Indiana.
Since before he can remember, his calling has always been teaching.
“I can't imagine doing anything else. I have a cool story about this. Recently my parents moved, and they found a project that I created in second grade. The project was, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Guess what? I chose a teacher!” said Higgins.
The aspect of teaching he most enjoys is building meaningful relationships with his students and getting to know them on a personal level. Higgins finds it very rewarding when a student stays in touch with him after they graduate.
“I have a pile of letters from former students that I keep in my desk drawer. I read them from time to time when I need a pick-me-up or a reminder of why I do what I do,” said Higgins.
A significant accomplishment for Higgins is that he has been selected several times, by different students, as Most Influential Teacher at the PRIDE banquet. This banquet celebrates the LHS graduates who are summa cum laude students. Because of this, he considers being selected so many times as an honor.
Higgins greatly enjoys working at LHS because it's like a big family for him.
“I have formed some great relationships with my colleagues over the years. I also have to mention how much of an impact Red Devil Pride (RDP) has had on LHS, Lowell, and me. It is very special to be part of the RDP culture that we have. Not all schools have a culture like ours. This brings a smile to my face, just thinking about it,” said Higgins.
Outside of school, Higgins enjoys playing guitar, and he even tries to use music in his classes as often as he can. He also enjoys the outdoors, fishing and hiking, and playing golf. Not only this, but he also spends much of his time watching sports.
Student spotlight:
Grace Wright is currently a junior at LHS who has many future aspirations. She is someone who is excelling not only as a student but also as an athlete and person.
Wright is a straight-A student who takes her classes very seriously. She spends much of her time ensuring she turns in her best work to receive the best grades she can. She details that her favorite class she’s taken so far was Honors Chemistry in her sophomore year.
Aside from schoolwork, all the free time Wright has is devoted to the dance team that she is the captain of at LM Premier Dance.
“I've been involved in dance my whole life. Outside of school, I contribute all of my time to dance. I dance seven days a week,” said Wright.
She also teaches a dance class while working closely with the other members of her team.
Wright is a natural-born leader who is very passionate about the things she cares about. She is innately independent and is capable of accomplishing what she sets her mind to, as demonstrated through her dance team and schoolwork.
“I would describe myself as a dedicated and hardworking individual. I consider myself independent and a leader to the people around me,” said Wright.
After high school, Wright wants to pursue a higher education. She plans to apply to Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, or the University of Minnesota. Ultimately, she aspires to make it on either of their collegiate dance teams. Further, she wants to major in either finance or pharmacology in college.
Throughout her high school career, Wright has lived by a certain saying. She thinks this saying has allowed her to make lasting relationships and agrees with everything about it.
“The best advice I've ever received was to be selective of who you hang out with because who you surround yourself with is who you become,” said Wright.