What recently happened?
Lowell High School (LHS) recently held a safe-driving assembly for juniors and seniors, made possible by a grant from the Tri-Creek Education Foundation.
This occurred on Wednesday, May 15, and it consisted of a few hands-on lessons. There were different activities the students could volunteer to participate in; most of which included using simulation goggles to distort vision.
The purpose of this session was to make the students with their licenses aware of the dangers of driving while under the influence. Using simulation goggles and peddle cars, students got a general idea of how unsafe driving while intoxicated can be.
The hands-on course was arranged by the criminal justice instructor at LHS and the Criminal Justice II class.
Not only this, but the students who attended also had to complete an advisory assignment detailing the great risk that driving while intoxicated creates.
Holding a session like this is of great importance because many high schoolers are unaware of the true dangers that driving under the influence can pose. Students must learn about these dangers so that they can stay safe with the newfound freedom that driving provides them.
What's coming up?
With the last day of classes being Thursday, May 30, the LHS students and staff are excitedly awaiting the end of the school year and the commencement of summer.
Although classes are wrapping up, many students still have final exams approaching, so they keep studying until the end.
“I am very excited about summer, especially since I will be traveling out of the country with my family,” said Josephine Love, a junior at LHS.
Everyone is overjoyed about their summer plans as the warmer weather has become very apparent.
Along with this, the end of the school year brings about all the end-of-the-year senior activities.
On May 22, the Senior Parade and Lunch will be held. The graduating class will walk through all three elementary schools, the middle school, and the high school as a way of saying goodbye and moving on to the next chapter of their lives.
Staff spotlight:
Bridget Swinford has taught at LHS for 20 years and is currently the educator for the courses AP Calculus, AP Statistics, Trigonometry, and Statistics.
Swinford was born and raised in Crown Point, Indiana, and graduated from Crown Point High School in 1996. After high school, she received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at Indiana State University in 2000.
Out of college, Swinford spent two years teaching at Crown Point High School and two years at Mishawaka High School. Shortly after, she decided to move back to Crown Point, which is when she began her career at LHS.
She always knew her calling was to be an educator, but was unsure about the grade level aspect. Once Swinford entered high school, she instantly knew she wanted to teach mathematics at the high school level.
“I am fortunate to have worked with many wonderful students over the years. I feel it is a great accomplishment and feel very lucky that many of my students have continued to stay in touch after they left LHS,” said Swinford.
The most enjoyable aspect of teaching for her is the students. She finds pride in her students continuing to keep in contact after graduation because it means she has made an impact in their lives. Not only this, but Swinford has also been nominated for Teacher of the Month multiple times by the other teachers at LHS. Additionally, multiple students have chosen her as their Most Influential Teacher.
“My favorite part of being a teacher is when a student, who has been struggling with a concept, has that moment when everything "clicks" and they figure out how to solve the problem,” said Swinford.
Being a teacher can be very rewarding, especially when teaching mathematics. Further, Swinford finds that her favorite part of being an educator is watching students connect the dots and grasp the concepts she teaches.
She enjoys teaching at LHS because the class and school size allow her to teach students over multiple years. This then allows her to watch those students grow and mature as they proceed through their high school years.
Outside of the classroom, Swinford enjoys reading and spending quality time with her family. She finds that many of her weekends are spent watching her daughter play travel volleyball.
Student spotlight:
Olivia Ottomanelli is a current junior at LHS who is always optimistic and willing to help others.
Although she has faced many challenges in her life, she has never let anything hold her back from succeeding. It is because of this that her greatest accomplishment is overcoming her health condition. Instead of allowing it to hinder her life, she took the necessary steps to get better and is thriving today.
Ottomanelli is currently in higher-level classes and excelling academically. She is always working hard to succeed and continues to push through any setbacks.
“I love the art of reading and writing. I feel English classes can also be very beneficial in broadening one's imagination,” said Ottomanelli.
She enjoys the subject of English both in and out of school. She believes it can be useful throughout life, and it is because of this that she spends much of her time reading and writing.
Ottomanelli enjoys helping others and aims to do so as often as she can. She spends time helping out at different churches and watching dogs for friends and family. Additionally, she likes hanging out with her cousins and close friends
That being said, she does enjoy taking time for herself. When she is not with others, Ottomanelli partakes in doing crafts and reading.
“After I graduate, I will attend a college located in the Indiana area and study Radiology,” said Ottomanelli.
With senior year quickly approaching, she has narrowed down what she hopes to accomplish in her future endeavors. After college, she hopes that she will become a Radiology Tech, working with X-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and ultrasounds.
“The best advice I have ever received was from my mother. She once told me ‘Never settle for less than you deserve,’” said Ottomanelli.
That piece of advice is something that she has learned to live by. The thought of not settling motivates her whenever she is torn between decisions. Ottomanelli believes that people would benefit from listening to that advice from her mother, as it has helped her many times.
