Girls’ Softball Camp and the Upcoming Season
The Hobart High School Softball team is putting on a kids’ camp over the series of four weekends! The camp is being held for grades one through eight, but the kids come at different times. Students from grades one through fifth go on Saturdays from 11:30-1:00, and students from grades sixth through eighth go after them from 1:15-2:45. The high school team is working to teach the young girls basics including throwing, fielding, and catching pop flies.
Batting skills are also worked on. The coaches’ and the high school players’ goal is to focus on having the young children develop the fundamentals of the game. In addition to this event, the girls’ season is coming up very soon! Season tryouts take place during the first week of March. The Lady Bricks have been working hard in the off-season and have been attending conditioning to prepare for the season. This year, the team consists of many talented seniors as well as a handful of talented underclassmen.
These underclassmen have had the opportunity to look up to and earn from the skilled upperclassmen. The coaches of the team, Coach Wright and Coach Sims, and the players have seen much improvement from last year’s season to the conditioning and workouts for this season.
One of the senior players, Alexis Geary, stated, “I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season, especially when there is so much talent. I know this team can go far as long as we band together as a family.”
All of Hobart believes that this group of girls can go a long way, and we are looking forward to watching the Girls’ Softball team succeed this season!
Wolffgang Wins Gold
On January 30th, Hobart’s very own group of talented singers, Wolffgang, performed and competed at the ISSMA district competition. For those who are not aware, ISSMA stands for the Indiana State School Music Association.
There are two competitions: District and State. To advance to State, which will be held on February 20th at Indianapolis, a school must earn gold in the district competition. The competition was held at Munster High School. Wolffgang has put in an endless amount of hours in when it comes to preparing and working hard for this competition.
The group of girls performed Hotaru Koi (a Japanese song about fireflies which consists of a three-part harmony). This performance earned gold and has advanced to State!
One of the group’s members, Miss Andrea Ward disclosed, “I feel pretty confident to go to ISSMA State. We have been practicing for this day, and we have used the judges’ criticism to push us to be even better." Everyone at Hobart congratulates Wolffgang on their achievement and wishes them the best of luck!
Upcoming English ECA Testing
At the high school, sophomores have been heavily preparing to take the English ECA which is coming up at the end of February, beginning of March.
Many already are aware of the fact that in order to graduate and receive a high school diploma, one must pass their English and Math ECA tests. Since passing the test is so essential, it is imperative that an immense amount of work and preparation is implemented into the classes.
Students are more than prepared by their English teachers so they can not only pass, but excel and pass plus.
Sophomore, Danielle Hill explained, “I feel that the teachers at Hobart have fully prepared students to do their personal best and reach their highest potential for the ECA exam."
Even though the students have the resources, teachers, and tools it takes to succeed, they still need to give 110% effort. There are multiple English teachers that work with sophomores- one of them is Mrs. Elizabeth Slough. She prepares her students by reinforcing skills and knowledge needed for the test and has been doing this since the very beginning of the school year.
When asking Mrs. Slough how she thinks her students will perform on the upcoming exam, she stated, “I think they will do great… [but] they need to take responsibility and ownership."
We predict that Hobart students are going to do an excellent job!
Student Spotlight: Aleena Popp
This year, Miss Aleena Popp, a sophomore at Hobart, has had one of her oil paintings chosen to be displayed in the IUN High School Biennial Art Show, which is held by IUN every other year for high school students in the region.
Every school in the region is allowed to submit one piece. The piece is chosen by that schools’ art teachers, and represents the entire school. This painting was her first oil painting of the year as well as her second attempt at using oil paint ever. It is based off of her first piece that she created in the GT (Gifted and Talented) Art class.
From this painting, Aleena has learned so much about her specific art style, and she has also learned that she really enjoys oil painting! She and the other school representatives will be going to IUN on February 24th for a banquet for all of the artists. Aleena has always been involved in all kinds of artsy activities, and she is involved in many other activities such as Key Club, golf, the Theatre, and tennis.
Aleena mentioned, “By far, creating art is one of my favorite pastimes”. Hobart students, faculty, and families all are excited for Miss Popp and cannot wait to see her future works. Her work will be on display at the Gallery of Contemporary Art from February 15 until March 11!