What’s recently happened:
Whiting High School (WHS) Science Olympiad Team began competition season by participating in the Whiting Invitational in December where they competed against 21 different teams, from 13 different schools.
The Whiting Invitational was the 16th year that they were able to compete, and the first competition in person since before the pandemic. The team was eager to be able to participate and had been working hard in preparation for their competition. The team finished in sixth place.
The science olympiad team then competed in the Northridge Invitational on Jan. 16 where they placed fifth. The next competition for the team is Jan. 22 where they will compete at the University of Notre Dame.
Their team leaders are WHS science teachers, Jeremy Long and Dan Nichols, who have both been coaching the team for over 10 years.
What’s coming up:
The WHS National Honor Society (NHS) will host its annual blood drive on Jan. 25. Students from WHS can sign up if they are 16 or older to give blood and help The Red Cross with the current national blood drive.
The blood drive is hosted by the NHS and is open to the public as long as they sign up online to give blood. The NHS does this as a part of their giving back to the community as well as helping those in need.
Members of the NHS help set up for the event and senior members of the program help with signing people in and out and organizing the event throughout the school day.
The program also had a blood drive previously in August where they were able to have members of WHS and the Whiting community donate blood.
Teacher spotlight:
This being her eighth year working in education and second year at WHS, Nohemi Saavedra teaches students three levels of Spanish.
“I come from a very poor town in Mexico, and education is very low there. I’ve always liked helping people. Being the oldest of my siblings, I have always been teaching them, so education became something very important to me and to help out those who do not have that privilege for an education,” said Saavedra.
Saavedra worked in lower-income communities before teaching at WHS and helping those who may not have the role models and privilege that others have prompted her to want to help more people for many years.
Saavedra likes to give advice to her students and help them stay motivated even through the pandemic.
“Keep working hard and towards a goal. Learn a language even if it is not Spanish; it will help you in the future when applying for a job. Being bilingual can make it easier for you as a person when going out into the real world," said Saavedra
“The pandemic has really changed me in a way where I just want to do more for our students. They are the ones leading the future," said Saavedra
Saavedra likes to be open with her students and build relationships. She said that getting to talk to them on a closer level helps them by having a connection they may not see outside of school.
“I try to let my students get to know me as a person. I’m not their boss or someone they should be intimidated by. I want them to communicate with me because it helps. They can act a certain way in my class without worrying that they will be punished for being themselves.”
Student spotlight:
WHS student Mason Payton (sophomore) was interviewed about his experience and role at Whiting.
This school year was Payton’s first semester back in person after being remote due to the pandemic.
Payton is currently involved in Whiting’s Booster Club, which organizes the themes of various sports events for the students, as well as the dances for WHS. He also adds that he does community service for the Whiting/Robertsdale Food Pantry and volunteers for other communal events.
“I know high school students are struggling with the current situation of the pandemic, and I can say that I am struggling as well, but high school is just temporary. We have to try to finish no matter what is going on so that we can have a successful life ahead of us. I’m really trying for 100%,” said Payton.