What’s recently happened?
The Best Buddies at Munster High School (MHS) had its Best Buddies Bowl on February 12. This event had a flag football game with the football team against the Best Buddies.
“My favorite part of the Best Buddies Bowl is seeing our buddies’ faces when they score touchdowns and their celebrations,” Senior and Co-President Brooke Bravo said. “There is nothing like seeing the pure joy on their faces as the school cheers for them.”
The bowl had a bake sale with donations from Munster Donuts, Calumet Bakery, OMG Pastries, Designer Desserts and Nothing Bundt Cakes.
“The main purpose of the Best Buddies Bowl is to spread the message of friendship and inclusivity throughout our school community and to have a fun night,” Bravo said.
The robotics team at MHS had its first competition on the weekend of February 27. The team is now working toward its next competition on March 22 and 23.
“This year we haven’t made as much money as we did in previous years,” Junior Kristie Tong said. “Money is always a little bit of a struggle but we’re constantly thinking of ways to raise more money and get more donations. We partnered with the local coffee place, Bean Me Up, and have been selling coffee at community events and also sold them at football games.”
Their goal for the season is to make it to State, and then move on to the Worlds competition, which is held in Houston, Texas.
“It’s a big goal but I think it’s possible,” Tong said. “We also want to raise more money for next year.”
What’s coming up?
The 47th Project Bio class to go to Florida at MHS is leaving for their trip on Wednesday, March 19. The class will go to the Keys and explore the area in comparison to Indiana’s very own Dunes, which is what the students have been studying throughout the year.
“I’m looking forward to the turtle hospital the most,” Senior Natalie Minyard said.
The students will also participate in activities like scuba diving, experiments and turtle hospital informational sessions while they are in Florida.
“This year I’ve learned how to identify fish, as well as all about mangroves and the geological history of northwest Indiana and Florida,” Minyard said.
Additionally, the Boys Volleyball season is underway with tryouts going on this week.
“I think it’s important because it’s one of the fastest growing sports in the country,” Senior Richie Andrzejewski said. “There aren’t many opportunities outside of playing for our high school in our area.”
This is the team’s second season and the first as an official Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) sport.
“I would want the newcomers to know that if they really enjoy the sport that they need to continue to be active in it since it’s still growing in our area,” Andrzejewski said.
Staff spotlight:
Ben Boruff’s “Kaleidoscope Magazine” is a new form of publication at MHS, allowing students to showcase their creative writing skills on an accessible platform.
“The idea for ‘Kaleidoscope Magazine’ was born when I attended a summer poetry workshop at the Poetry Foundation in Chicago,” Boruff said. “Literary magazines were not necessarily a focus of the workshop, but at one point as I sat in the room listening to local poets, I thought, ‘What if Munster students had a place where they could regularly submit and publish their work? What if there was a magazine to celebrate the talents of Munster students?’ I shared the concept with my creative writing class, and they helped me develop the idea.”
Boruff creates an environment in his classroom where students can express themselves comfortably and have a space to do so with supportive people around them.
“I live by one mantra: ‘Focus on the students— not much else matters,’” Boruff said. “I begin every day by asking students how they are doing, and then we discuss it. I believe that a welcoming classroom is an effective classroom. Not all students have to like me, but they do need to feel welcome, accepted, and comfortable in my classroom.”
One thing Boruff does is send positive emails home to parents and guardians of students because he believes in celebrating high-quality work when it occurs. Boruff began teaching at Munster in 2019 and teaches Creative Writing along with other English classes.
“I have always loved English, but after I had some opportunities to work with younger students as a senior in high school, something clicked,” Boruff said. “In that moment, I discovered a talent and a passion—neither of which I knew I had before. It's a bit cliche, but I feel that teaching is a calling. It's more difficult to do than most believe, and it requires unfathomable amounts of patience. It is remarkably rewarding.”
Boruff also focuses on helping students feel heard at school, whether that's by just giving the opportunity for a student to speak and listen to them, or presenting them with the proper environment.
“All kids need someone to root for them. All kids need someone they can turn to when obstacles arise,” Boruff said. “When they're at school, these needs do not stop, and if these needs are not met, they often cannot focus. Rapport and rigor are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they are mutually beneficial. Consider the alternative: Imagine existing in a place without at least one person who unconditionally supports you and roots for your success. That's a terrible feeling. Whenever I can be that person for someone else, I see it as my responsibility—and my joy—to do so.”
Student spotlight:
Senior Addy Ellis was named Northwest Indiana District Student of the year for Speech and Debate.
“I was honestly shocked,” Ellis said. “Our district is one of the most, if not the most, competitive districts in both Speech and Debate performances. This award isn’t just awarded to speech students or debate students - it's to all students in the district who compete in the activity. I was honored to be chosen as among the best out of all of these talented competitors.”
Ellis is a four-time national qualifier as well as a returning national semi finalist. She will compete at Nationals over the summer and be in the district world school’s gold team. After joining “We The People” in middle school, Ellis joined Speech after getting recruited by Teacher Jordan Mayer during his debate class.
“Competition prep for debate consists of a full week of brainstorming sessions, hours long writing sessions, and practice debate rounds,” Ellis said. “Speech, on the other hand, is a little easier. I do a lot of running my piece over and over again just to make sure it’s memorized.”
Now that the regular Speech and Debate season is over, Ellis is looking forward to Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Speech and Debate has taught me how to lead a team and be confident with my voice,” Ellis said. “I have learned how to speak towards large audiences and not fumble. Earlier this season I debated at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) in front of at least 50 people, lawyers, representatives and professors. I would have looked like a nervous wreck without Speech and Debate.”
Ellis believes that the teams are like family. It’s a very supportive group that she is going to miss greatly as a senior.
“I’m really going to miss the community,” Ellis said. “Winning awards is fun, sure, but it will never beat the experience of winning and succeeding as a team. The people I have met through Speech and Debate and the people I have furthered my connections with make me realize that it’s more about what you say in round. It’s the family you build outside of it.”
