LAKE CENTRAL STUDENTS ENROLL IN ONLINE COURSES
With a schedule limited to only seven periods, students are feeling the pressure to get required courses out of the way. In order to make their school schedules less crowded, Lake Central students are given the opportunity to enroll in online classes through Indiana Online Academy.
“I’m taking [Government] online because I feel like I would learn nothing in school; the class is just a waste of time. I can now use the open spot for a better class,” Romel Spight (12) said.
Though the summer classes can open up a plethora of opportunities for students, many feel that traditional classes are better in the long run.
“I do prefer traditional classes [over online classes] because I don’t feel like I’m learning much. I’m just trying to get the class over with,” Alexa Adams (12) said.
The classes began in early June and will continue on through late July. Once students are completed with the course, they must schedule a final exam with a proctor. Students must pass the final in order to pass the class.
“These classes definitely teach me time management and it is great that I now have so much more room for my school schedule,” Matthew Tao (12) said.
INCOMING FRESHMAN DEDICATE SUMMER TO POOL AND PE
Along with the upperclassmen, incoming freshman are also given the opportunity to take core classes in the summer. Lake Central offers both summer pool and PE for students who wish not to take them during the school year.
“I took summer pool and PE so I won’t have to [be] sweaty during the school day. I can also now focus more on academics,” Brenda Harder (9) said.
Each course condenses a semester worth of work into three weeks. The courses began on June 8 and will continue on until July 16.
“I took these classes so my school year will be easier. It will be nice to have it done and over with,” Paige Breymeyer (9) said.
Taking these classes in the summer will open up freshman students’ schedules. With two more periods open, students were able to choose other classes to benefit their education when they scheduled in January.
SUMMER THEATRE SHOW
Starting June 18 and ending June 20, the Lake Central Theatre Company performed its annual summer show, “The Murderous Mansion of Mr. Uno.”
“I loved doing my character because she’s really different from how I am. I’m not really super flirty, but she is. It was cool because she was close enough to me, but still a challenge because she’s so different. I really loved doing the challenge,” Alexa Spasevski (10) said.
The show was based on each character trying to figure out who murdered the main character, Mr. Uno. The show was played out like the popular board game “Clue.” During intermission, the performers asked the audience members who they thought was the murderer.
“All of the characters have an ending, but we only picked four of them because we wanted to keep it shorter. We thought it would be best this way because we didn’t want to keep the audience there for eleven different endings because that would confuse them. We were trying to take the approach of “Clue,” where they show every different ending, so it was to see a combination of all of the characters,” Brett Balicki (12) said.
Summer shows offer actors a break from traditional fall and spring shows.
“The summer show is definitely more relaxed. We had three weeks of rehearsals scheduled, but only wound up having to do three days instead of the full seven days, and each of those days we cut time off. It’s definitely a lot more relaxed, which is really nice. I love acting, and I love this group of people, so I wanted to spend the summer doing something that I loved,” Spasevski said.
HOOSIER GIRLS STATE
On June 21, 11 female students from Lake Central ventured out to Trine University for Hoosier Girls State. The event commemorates those who are heavily involved in politics and veteran affairs.
“Girls’ state was an extremely empowering experience in which I met incredible young individuals that held the utmost hope in regards to change in our future,” Niji Shah (12) said.
Students were assigned to one of two political parties, the Federalists or Nationalists, before arrival.
The parties really helped create a friendly rivalry which ultimately helped unite the girls,” Maria Moricz (12) said.
These parties were used for the election process and the two-party rally, where either side cheered before speeches.
“The two political parties helped show how the real world is divided in parties. Even though we were separated between [Nationalist] blue and [Federalist] red, I was amazed with how after the [two-party] rally everyone got along with each other regardless [of] their colors,” Moricz said.
JULY
MARCHING BAND PERFORMS FOR THE FOURTH
Every year, the Lake Central Marching band puts on an array of shows at parades throughout the area. This year, students will be marching at both the Whiting and Munster Fourth of July parades.
“I love performing in the summer, except sometimes it gets really hot. It is beneficial because it helps us prepare for the bigger shows later in the year,” Nina Angus (12) said.
These performances are some of the first that the Marching Band have for their season. Incoming Marching Band members are also given the opportunity to march in the parades.
“The incoming members also perform, and it helps them a lot. It helps them get comfortable with the activity and bond with the other band members before we start learning more difficult things later in the year,” Angus said.
Hopes are that these performances will better prepare students for larger-scale performances and competitions in the future. The Marching Band will continue to practice every day until their next performance.
LAKE CENTRAL PUBLICATIONS SET TO TRAVEL TO BALL STATE UNIVERSITY
Students who are a part of Lake Central’s Publications staff are given the opportunity to attend a journalism workshop that prepares them for the year to come.
“I’m going to Ball State because I’m one of the design editors for the magazine and yearbook. I signed up to be in Staff Planning which allows me to work with my staff along with helping me create design layouts,” Camryn Wallace (11) said.
The workshop allows students to work closely with one another, discussing how the year will run and what students will be doing with their various publications.
“I went to the workshop last year and learned more than I ever imagined I would. I was only into photography at the time and it opened up my eyes to designing,” Wallace said.
The workshop is designed with classes to help journalism students learn more about the publications they are producing.
“I’m excited to go this year because I am much closer with my staff and I think I will learn even more,” Wallace said.
STUDENT SHOUTOUT: MADELINE HIRSCHFIELD (12)
Volunteering: many students do it. Some do it for hours, whereas others do it because they have a passion for it. For Madeline Hirschfield (12), volunteering has quickly becomes a passion.
“Most people volunteer because they need hours for clubs or think it will look nice on college applications. While that is true, those are not the reasons I volunteer,” Hirschfield said.
Racking up more than 100 hours since she has started high school, volunteering and helping out has always been a large part of Hirschfield’s life.
“I always knew I liked to help out, even at a young age. Throughout elementary school, I was always helping around the classroom, and I tutored kids in middle school. I never regularly started volunteering until high school, though. I didn’t really realize it could be a hobby until then,” Hirschfield said.
For Hirschfield, volunteering does not end when the summer ends; she makes it a point to volunteer as much as she can during the school year as well.
“During the school year, I like to help out with school events such as Open House and Freshman Parent Night. I also help with events that I hear about through clubs such as N-Teens and Dollars for Scholars,” Hirschfield said.
Seeing how her hard work has payed off in the end makes it all worth it to Hirschfield.
“Usually, after I am done with an event, the staff there always lets me and other volunteers know how appreciative they are of the help. It makes it all worth it to know that a few hours of my time probably made someone’s like a lot easier,” Hirschfield said.