Teacher Spotlight
Marilyn Mixon is an Honors English teacher at Westside Leadership Academy. Seniors that have been taught by Mixon over the past three years only have good things to say about her. Tyriek Johnson, WSLA senior, describes Mrs. Mixon as loving, caring, and compassionate about her work. Another senior, Angie Rosell, described her as very frank, beautiful, and different. Her love for teaching is obvious just by observing her tactics on how to understand the lesson that day. Mrs.Mixon has been in the school system for 30+ years and loves every bit of it.
Mixon spoke on what inspires and motivates her as a teacher.
“I love the kids, that’s what motivates me the most. I can remember when I was in elementary how I wanted to be a teacher. I used to gather materials from my teacher at the end of year that she wasn’t using so I could go home and play school with my siblings. After I graduated, I worked in retail, then ended up in a classroom as a paraprofessional. It was during that time that I was given the opportunity to continue my education to become a teacher. The bond and joy I receive from my students is priceless. Even if I don’t reach every child, I will never give up!”
When asked what keeps her motivated during tougher times, Mixon spoke frankly about her belief.
“My faith in God, or my belief, keeps me motivated. Without him, I wouldn’t have direction and I wouldn’t know what to do.”
Mixon truly works hard for her students and puts out the highest effort for the sake of her student’s educational betterment.
Student in the Spotlight
Senior student, D'Arnaz Gaston is known as a charismatic, energetic, passionate leader at WSLA.
There's little to nothing he's not involved in. With his heart in the Arts, he has a part in the revamp of Westside's Theatre Guild with Mr. Mark Spencer. Gaston has illustrated renowned student leadership skills as the new student ambassador of the S.A.V.E Chapter brought to the school last year by Methodist Chief of Emergency Medicine, Michael McGee and Chief of Trauma, Reuben Rutland.
Gaston once ran track and played football, but due to his recent job with the Theatre Guild, the majority of his time has been consumed. Although he's not physically playing the sports any more, he's still very much involved. Gaston is a part of the student production team led by principal Little, which gives the students opportunity to film the games for later publication. He was also head statistician for the basketball team and did commentating for the games.
This young man has always played an inspirational role in some way, shape, or form. From the church, to the community, and even in school, he brings leadership to the table. He has lead prayer circles, organized youth meetings, and helped bring awareness to the problems we face in school.
He takes his professional life and his image seriously. He hasn't done anything that would damage his image as a student leader or as an intelligent young black male. All of his roles have been empowering and uplifting for the community. He's currently working on a fictional meeting held between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. called “The Meeting”.
Gaston has a lot in store for his senior year. He's currently working on his upcoming play, The Meeting, and his debut as a student director for the eye-opening play Stand Up. He is also a well-qualified candidate for student body and Intra City Student Council president. There's literally nowhere this young man can't go with his talents and ambition.
What’s Happening: Something New at WS
Westside Leadership Academy has many sports, including basketball, football, softball, volleyball, tennis, cross-country, track, cheerleading, wrestling, and baseball. Now, Westside is introducing table tennis.
One of the first students to join the newly formed team was Jordan Colon. He has been spending the summer working on topspin, stroke, and focusing on a lightening fast plastic white ball. This newly offered sport has been catching the eye of many students attending WSLA. Thanks to the work of the WSLA alumni, table tennis is now an activity that any student can take part in.
The table tennis program started in the middle of last school year, and will pick back up in the middle of September, 2017. Mrs. B. Nicks, the sponsor of the activity, has high hopes for the club and wants to form a team to compete in regional competitions. To attract new players, the table tennis club will be hosting a showcase to display the joys of becoming a member of the team.
The showcase will include members of the previous club playing a simple volley of table tennis. After the the rules are discussed, anyone who is still interested will get their turn behind the net with paddle in hand. The previous members will also be able to give fun tips on how the average joe can turn their ping-pong skills up a notch. This will be the second table tennis showcase that West Side has offered. Hopefully this showcase will boost the number of attending students for the club.
What’s Coming Up: Blackout
Septembber 8, 2017 at 7 p.m, West Side Leadership Academy is the place to be, since it is Senior night, war night. One of the very nights all of Gary, Indiana has come to love.
The West Side Cougars take the Bowman Eagles onto the field in the fifth game of the season. This game is bound to be one of the most intense games of the season. The stands will be filled with men, women, and children waving their hands and homemade signs, the crowd cheering so loud it becomes hard to hear the lady cougars cheering. The smell of hot dogs, popcorn, and nachos being sold at the concession stand fill the air as the band will be taking their places in the stands. The competitive rivalry is fierce at this game, so Gary police will be found standing around making sure things don’t go too far. Westside stands will be filled with black and orange and Bowman stands filled with burgundy and black.
Two great teams will be in competition for victory, striving to see the their opponent’s face of defeat. This will be a strenuous battle from the very second the whistle is blown. Every play will be carried out with as much effort and energy and the players can put in, every tackle at maximum speed. No one in the stands will be sitting as the excitment surges through the crowd.
WSLA seniors include: Muhammad, D. Redmond, T. Johnson, J. Hughes, D. long, D. Crews, D. Crews, Randolph, B. McCarter, T. Mertl, j. Cox, T. Johnson, T. Starks
Lead by Coach Jason Johnson