What’s recently happened?
Lowell High School’s (LHS) Culture and Diversity Club recently held its first bake sale.
The Diversity Club came up with the idea of a Valentine’s Day-themed bake sale to begin fundraising for the Culture Fair that the group is planning on hosting next school year.
Thus, the club partnered with a small business located in East Chicago, named Goddess Sweet Treats. One of the Diversity Club officers has a connection with this small business and was able to arrange for all of the profit to go towards the Culture Fair.
The club held a pre-order during all lunches beginning January 29 and ending January 31. During this, students could order any of the selected treats; which included tres leches cake cups, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-covered pretzels, decorated rice krispies, and cake pops.
This bake sale was meant to run somewhat like candygrams in the way that students could buy the desserts for their Valentines.
“I feel that the bake sale was a great opportunity to get publicity for our club. It was a very positive experience that allowed us to connect with the students and teachers,” said Culture and Diversity Club Co-President Delilah Marban.
The club delivered the treats to everyone who pre-ordered during advisory on February 13.
What’s coming up?
The Red Devil Bistro is the new student-run coffee shop that the third-year entrepreneurship class Small Business Operations is in the process of creating.
While the Small Business Operations class is the primary group in charge, the DECA club at LHS is also involved.
DECA prepares leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. Many schools have a DECA club, but LHS just recently developed its club this year.
Further, the students in the entrepreneurship class came up with the coffee shop idea last school year and officially began the process at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.
To get a better understanding of what a student-run coffee shop would look like, the entrepreneurship class traveled to and observed other schools in the area that have a coffee shop. After these field trips, the students compiled a presentation that illustrated every item needed to get the Bistro up and running. Part of this preparation was the idea to partner with Chartwells, the company that works with the cafeteria, to obtain the supplies needed for the Bistro.
“The Bistro is a great learning opportunity for the class to provide them with real-world business experience and to teach them how to persevere through difficulties,” said DECA Vice President Audrey Roge.
Not only this, but the entrepreneurship class also decided to partner with Graphic Technology, the third-year Digital Design class at LHS, to create the posters, menu boards, and other advertising materials.
The students will offer only drinks this year but hope to have a more diverse menu next year. The drink types that will be offered include coffee, smoothies, hot chocolate, breakfast tea, and lemonade. There will be a variety of flavors offered as well.
The Bistro will accept cash-only payments and all the drinks will be carried in 12 oz. cups with a maximum of 60 calories per drink.
The Red Devils Bistro will be located in the cafeteria and open in the mornings before school begins. While there is not a set opening date yet, the students will begin handing out samples soon and plan to open as soon as all the supplies arrive.
Staff spotlight:
Rachel Dawson has been the Alternative School teacher at LHS for the past three years.
Dawson grew up in Mishawaka, Indiana, and later graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1999. After that, she went on to Ball State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in health and physical education. She then attended Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in physical education.
“Teaching has been my passion since I was very young. I would constantly play school with my cousins and my stuffed animals, and I always wanted to impress my teachers,” said Dawson.
Dawson loves being a teacher and has taught at the Youth Opportunity Center in Muncie, Lawrence Township Schools, Wanatah Schools, La Porte High School, and now at LHS.
As the Alternative School teacher at LHS, Dawson offers the students an opportunity to earn credits in a different atmosphere than the general classroom. Her students get to work at their own pace and can take breaks as needed while also getting one-on-one help.
Dawson’s students work on their coursework using a software program called Edgenuity. That said, there is also a live small-group math instruction available to them.
“We celebrate successes big and small, like in a general classroom, and we love to go on walks when it's nice out,” said Dawson.
Something that fills Dawson with pride is seeing her students walk across the stage at graduation. This is because it is an indicator that all of their hard work has paid off and that the Alternative School helped them achieve their goals.
“I love seeing the kids understand a topic they were struggling with – that makes me so happy. I have several former students who still keep in contact with me, and I love that too!” said Dawson.
Outside of being a teacher, Dawson has two young children and a husband to whom she devotes much of her time. She also heavily enjoys working out and is training to participate in the Indy Mini-Marathon this May, which will be her 12th half marathon. Dawson also loves going to Dave Matthews concerts and reading on the beach.
Student spotlight:
Senior Gabriella Morache is very active in the LHS community through her extracurricular activities and sports. She has run cross country and track since middle school, which she considers to be her biggest passion.
She is also a part of peer mentoring, the Leadership Club, the LHS newspaper, the yearbook, the Student Council, and the National Honor Society at LHS. Not only this, but Morache also works part-time as a busser.
“Through these clubs, I have helped put on many events such as the annual Special Olympics basketball game that will be held March 13 this year at LHS at 6 p.m. Come support!” said Morache.
She takes great pride in being provided with the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. Running in college has been a goal of Morache’s since she was in seventh grade, and being able to finally see that come to fruition brings about many positive emotions for her.
“I am very excited for the future,” said Morache.
Outside of school, Morache spends most of her free time running and going to the gym. In addition, she enjoys spending time outside. Morache frequently goes hiking, to the beach, for bike rides, and plays with her dogs. She also loves to build and collect Legos, cacti, and house plants and has a large collection of rubber ducks and Squishmallows.
“I would describe myself as someone outgoing and pretty easy to talk to. I try to be a friend to everyone. I also put my best effort into everything I do whether it be school, work, or running. My work ethic is something I take a lot of pride in,” said Morache.
She also enjoys science, more specifically biology. Morache enjoys learning and studying animals and the world. She finds it to be very fascinating to see how the earth and humans function.
After graduation, she plans to attend Marian University - Indianapolis to study either nutrition or biology as well as run for Marian's cross country and track programs.
Morache was recently given advice by an older man at her gym, and it deeply resonated with her. She is very grateful for this piece of advice and has since applied it to her everyday life.
"Every time you start to feel sorry for yourself or things aren't going your way, immediately forgive yourself. You are doing the best you can," said Morache.