Page 5 | Road to November 5 | Ash Balog, Emma Hayes
Page 10 | Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth | Addison Ginther
Page 20 | Meet Coach Tower | Omar Elsayed
Table of Contents
News
Page 4 | Indiana’s Big Win
Page 5 | Road to November 5
Page 6 | Career Focused Future
Page 7 | A New Heart for Fishers
Features
Page 8 | Passions and Possibilities
Page 9 | New Year, New Deans
Page 10 | Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth + Community Countdown
Page 11 | Pitching Sucess
Cover
Page 12 | Capacity Crisis
Voices
Page 16 | Ask Mrs. Bush + Games
Page 17 | Hype Behind Hoco + Small Business Spotlight
Page 18 | Laptops Out, iPads In
Page 19 | Serving the Community + Photo of the Issue
Sports
Page 20 | Meet Coach Tower + Omar’s Opinion
Page 21 | Indiana Olympians
Page 22 | Restore the Roar
Page 23 | Clash of Colors
Behind the Cover
This cover art serves as a connection to and a preface for the cover story, Capacity Crisis, addressing the overcrowding and population growth in the district. The story reflects on the sheer growth of the district and the lack of available room to accommodate the new growth. Junior Lili Perez styled and created the concept for this photo, having three people sit crammed into each seat, with barely any room to move, as that is how many students seemingly ride the bus each day, crowded together with little to no room to spread out any further due to the overcrowding.
Table of Contents | 2
Staff Editorial
Freshman, especially at the beginning of the year, are somewhat isolated from our school culture. They sit in the back of the bleachers and are often made fun of simply for their grade. Many upperclassmen call it “paying their dues” but in reality, they only call it that because they went through it themselves. It creates a toxic cycle of exclusion that makes a whole class feel judged and left out, and when freshmen become sophomores, they exhibit the same behavior towards the class that follows them. Some freshman are affected greatly by this behavior, feeling that they do not belong, but everyone deserves to feel that they belong at this school, so why do we not try harder to make the freshman feel just as welcome as anyone else? Showing kindness to the newer classes would benefit our school culture. Many individual organizations work to counter the exclusion, like Blue Crew teaches
freshman the chants of the student section during Royal Rumble, and it proves to be effective in terms of increasing freshman inclusion. They don’t feel lost or left out when chants start at football games, and they feel like a part of our school and our culture. So, why can’t the same principle be applied to everything? People complain that the freshman are “clueless”, but the complaints never lead to anything. All of these problems are solvable, yet no one ever solves them. Why not focus on helping? Judging and giving side-eyes to freshman who stray from the social norms does nothing more than make them feel more ostracized. Helping them better understand why the judgmental looks come would ultimately stop it altogether. The next time a confused freshman does something out of line, stop and think for a moment whether staring them down would actually fix anything.
Editorial Cartoon
Staffer of the Issue
Each issue that the Orb staff produces, the staff casts a vote for the “Staffer of the Issue”, essentially an “MVP”. This issue, the staff has voted for Dupree Henry. He is a junior and is the Off-the-Ground editor for the Orb. His position is brand new this year and he has done an incredible job adapting to the new role and has taken it in stride. His hard work and dedication is clear and his efforts do not go unnoticed.
Mandy Abeyta Ash Balog Off-the-Ground Editor Editor of Fun Staffer Staffer
Emma Hayes
Meena Izadine
Max Johnson
Mya Pyle Staffer Staffer Staffer Staffer
INDIANA’S BIG WIN
Mock Trial Wins National Judical Competition
Story by Sydney Pinchouck | pinchsyd000@hsestudents.org
Over the summer, a team of eight Mock Trial members attended the National Judicial Competition in St. Paul, Minnesota. They received a mock case that they had never seen before during the first week of June, practiced all summer and took on the competition in July as the only team from Indiana. After two days of preliminary rounds and making the finals on the last day, they walked away National Champions.
The case for the competition involved a contested will. A woman passed away, but she had written two different wills. Her children disagreed over which will was the valid one based on her mental capacity at the time they were written. One of the wills was written when she was not in the right state of mind, and she left most of her estate to her cat. In the other will, the estate was left to her children.
and had a bye for one round. At the end of the final night of the preliminary rounds, the two teams that received the highest score and were going to be competing in the final round are announced.
In preparation for the competition, the team learned both sides of the case, which meant that some team members had to learn the role of a witness on both sides.
“Last year, the top two teams were both from Texas,” Mock Trial coach Gaye Garrett said. “They announced one of the Texas teams as one of the final [teams] and everyone was clapping, and then they announced us as the other one and everyone cheered for us. I think they were glad it wasn’t another Texas team.”
capitol building. At the final awards ceremony, the best attorney and witness from the competition are recognized as well as the winning team.
In addition to winning the competition, two team members were recognized for their role, junior Cameron Henderson won the Best Attorney award and junior Kennedy Ulmer won the Best Witness award.
The final round took place in a Supreme Court hearing room in the
Aside from the competition, the highlight of the trip for many team members was bonding moments. Many mentioned their favorite memories being shopping, doing an escape room, or performing karaoke as a team in front of the teams they competed against. They recall members of other teams joining in as they performed “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield.
The national title has brought a lot of interest and attention to Mock Trial. During auditions, coaches are seeing many students hopeful to join the teams, and they are also seeing increased interest in law and government classes, We the People and Speech and Debate in the school.
“We will continue doing what we do,” Garrett said. “Hopefully we will have a good number of students to add to our three teams that will be competing the county, regional, and state competitions.”
Team Indiana before their final round of competition at Nationals. Photo contributed by Kennedy Ulmer.
Team Indiana with their awards after winning the National Judicial Competition. Photo contributed by Kennedy Ulmer.
ROAD TO NOVEMBER 5
Mapping Out The Election Cycle
Story and Graphics by Ash Balog | balogaud000@hsestudents.org, Emma Hayes | hayesemm000@hsestudents.org
June 27 President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump sat down for the first Presidential debate of the election cycle.
July 14 Registered Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks is identified as Trump’s shooter.
July 13 Trump is shot at a campaign rally.
July 15-18 Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee, WI.
August 6
Harris announced Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her Vice Presidential candidate.
July 15 Ohio Senator JD Vance is announced as the Republican Vice Presidential candiate and debuts with historically low ratings.
July 21 Biden drops out of the 2024 election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
July 18 Trump speaks at the RNC in his first public speaking event since he was shot.
August 12 Trump joins Elon Musk in an interview on X (formerly Twitter)
September 10 Harris and Trump have their first Presidential Debate.
September 10
Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris on Instagram to her 284 million followers.
August 29 Harris and Walz have their first unscripted interview since Harris became the presumptive nominee on July 21st.
Events are updated as of Sept. 12, 2024
October 1 Walz and Vance are scheduled to have a Vice Presidential Debate.
August 19-22 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago, IL.
August 19-22
Pro-Palestine protests held outside the DNC to protest the current administration’s policy on Israel and Palestine.
August 23 Largest non-party candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. drops out of the race and endorses Trump.
October 7 Last day to register to vote in Indiana.
October 8 Early Voting begins in Indiana.
November 5 Election Day.
CAREER FOCUSED FUTURE
Updated Diploma Makes Way For New Opportunities
Story and Graphics by Hannah VanLandingham | vanlahan000@hsestudents.org
The academic world has seen a major shift in recent years, with schools introducing more internship programs and more options for career specialized programs. With this shift in focus also comes a reconsideration of graduation requirements. With the focus shifting more towards careeroriented courses, are the traditional academic requirements necessary anymore?
Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education, says no. She calls the current requirements outdated, stating “the structure of the American high school experience has not changed for most students in over one-hundred years,” according to the Indiana Department of Education. Jenner’s change to the minimum requirements for high school graduation focuses more on preparing students for life beyond high school, implementing requirements for “employment readiness skills” like cooperation and communication.
Principal Reginald Simmons agrees that these new requirements stand to benefit students by helping them preemptively adapt to the workforce and gain necessary life skills, “[It’s] really about creating an opportunity for a real-world experience.” Simmons said. “[That] experience is going to set you up and prepare you for a career in something that is either in that field or at least related to that. We want to be more intentional about creating opportunities and experiences for students that [are] more aligned with their goals, [things] that they really want to see themselves doing in the future. [Because it’s not just what you’re doing now, but it’s what you’re going to do [years] from now and hopefully that the experience that you have in high school is helping to prepare you [and give you the] skills, knowledge and attributes [that are] going to set you up for your future.”
The new course requirements add
new required courses that would not only open up opportunities for students, but also teachers. “For example, when you bring in Financial Literacy or Preparing for College and Careers, if that’s something of interest to you, then you as a teacher, can decide “You know what? I want to get an endorsement to teach that”,” Simmons said. “It [will] create more opportunity and options for teachers to teach [in] other content areas that they normally don’t teach.”
In addition to adding new required courses, this new diploma makes several courses, that are currently required under Core 40, optional, like Geometry and World Language.
The flexibility of the new course requirements would appeal to many students, as it allows them to focus on interests and potential careers. “A career focused diploma would help me as it would put a stronger emphasis on what I need to know for my future,” senior Elena Thomson said. “While English and the humanities are important, they are not as important for someone like me looking to study engineering. If I had a career focused diploma or even just a STEM field diploma, I would be able to spend my time on classes that would better prepare me for the next level.”
This offered flexibility in courses also appeals to administrators. “In general, [I am looking forward to these changes being made], because I think that the goal, even with the initial diploma proposal, was more flexibility. I just think that [originally, the state] did not think about, in a practical way, how we were going to support that much flexibility for students,” Simmons said. “[The updated plan] is a more balanced approach to allowing some students some flexibility in their schedule and allowing schools some flexibility in how we help them to complete their diploma requirements. [Honestly], you know that our society and traditional school is changing... so, we need
that flexibility for there to be a future focused experience for students.”
This new flexibility in partnership with a career focus overall was changed to benefit students. They can focus on their future and take classes more aligned with their interests, rather than those they feel are unnecessary for their desired future, with the goal being to improve their long-term success.
Core 40
• 8 English Credits
• 6 Math Credits (Algebra I (2), Geometry (2), Algebra II(2))
• 6 STEM Credits (Biology I (2), Chemistry I/Physics I/Integrated Physics (2), Any (2))
• 6 Social Studies Credits (U.S. History (2), U.S. Government (1), Economics (1), World History/ Civilization or Geography/History of the World (2))
Story and Graphics by Mandy Abeyta | abeytman000@hsestudents.org
The much-anticipated Fishers Event Center will open in November. The project, which has been in development for over four years, is a significant accomplishment for Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren. Hultgren has overseen every aspect of it, from finance to design to construction. When asked about his goals for the project, he shared his vision for the event center that started it all.
“How do we bring a bunch of really great, awesome entertainment options to our folks that work hard and love calling Fishers home?” Hultgren said.
As the opening date approaches, the eagerness surrounding it continues to grow, especially for Hultgren. He expressed enthusiasm for what it will have to offer the residents of Fishers.
“I’m excited for all of it, honestly,” Hultgren said. “I’m excited to bring a ton of really exciting quality of life initiatives and entertainment options to [Fishers residents].”
The new facility will be home to the Indy Fuel ECHL hockey team, the Fishers Freight indoor football team and the Indy Ignite women’s professional volleyball team. Music will also be a significant part of
the event center, with the American country band, Turnpike Troubadours, headlining the opening night.
“We [have] got comedy shows and a bunch of other things that should be announced in the next two to three weeks, which will be really exciting,” Hultgren said. “I’m most excited, of all those things, honestly, for the Mudsock girls’ and boys’ basketball games.”
The Mudsock rivalry, a deeply rooted tradition in Fishers, will have a new stage at the Fishers Event Center.
On December 20, the annual Mudsock rivalry basketball will be hosted there for the first time. The move to the event center marks a significant upgrade in capacity, allowing even more fans to experience the intense local rivalry.
“And so, I think Fishers and HSE High Schools both have around 2,500 to 2,800 capacity gyms, which is great,” Hultgren said. “We’ve got about 7,500 seats in the Fishers Event Center.”
Beyond sports, the event center will play a key role to an other HSE celebration: graduation, which will no longer be held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum. Instead, the Fishers Event Center will now host
the ceremony. This June, current seniors will be the first to walk the stage at the new venue. Hultgren, a 2001 graduate, talked about how the valuable moment will matter even more to current and future seniors when they graduate.
“Class of 2025 and beyond [will] be able to graduate in their own hometown,” Hultgren said. “I think it’s a pretty cool and special thing to have that core memory right here in Fishers.”
The Fishers Event Center is expected to serve as a new versatile space for sports, entertainment, and community events, providing a new space for local gatherings and celebrations.
Upcoming Events
11/22 - Turnpike Troubadours
11/29 - Lindsey Stirling’s Snow Waltz Tour
11/30 - Leanne Morgan: Just Getting Started
12/4 - All Elite Wrestling
12/9 - Alabama- Roll On II North America Tour
12/20 - Mudsock Rivalry
Basketball
1/23 through 1/26 - Cirque du Soleil: Crystal
4/24 - Megan Moroney: Am I Okay? Tour
Scan the QR code below purchase tickets!
Opening fewer than 100 days, the Fishers Event Center is nearing completion. It is located at 11000 Stockdale Street near Ikea and the FORUM Events Center. Photo by Mandy Abeyta.
PASSIONS AND POSSIBILITIES
Highlighting Unique Clubs
Story by Emma Hayes | hayesemm000@hsestudents.org, Kennedy Ulmer | ulmerken000@hsestudents.org
HSE is home to over 50 clubs, and of the over 3,000 students who go to HSE, most are involved in some way or another. Whether it is a service-based club like Key Club, an honor society like Quill and Scroll, or a club dedicated to producing a singular product like Olio Road Productions, there is something for everyone at this school. But with so many options at HSE, it is easy for some to get lost in all the noise. That is why events like the club fair are so amazing because students get a chance to explore a variety of oppotunities, and this year the spotlight is on some newer, smaller clubs at HSE.
UNIFIED PERFORMING ARTS
Unified Sports has proven to be one of the most popular clubs at HSE, and as of August 2024, there is a new addition to the Unified activities: Unified Performing Arts. Even though they are just starting out, club president Vierra Lee already has plans for upcoming performances. “We are hosting a choir concert and at least one play this year,” Lee said. Students from all grades can work with peers in the Exceptional Learners department to act, sing, or play music in the productions. Unified Performing Arts also needs stagehands, costume/set designers, and help with operating AV equipment. There are many ways to get involved! Follow their Instagram @hseunifiedperformingarts for more information. Representatives from United Performing Arts at the club fair. Photo by Emma Hayes
CLIMBING CLUB
FOSSIL CLUB
Club president Emma Lugar fosters a community of curiosity and exploration in Fossil Club.
“[Fossil Club] is open to anyone, whether you want to be a paleontologist or if you are just interested in fossils,” Lugar said. Lugar invites all students to the monthly meetings in Mrs. Cole’s room, where the club hosts activities such as meet-and-greets with paleontologists, fossil presentations, and documentary screenings. Follow @hsefossilclub on Instagram for more information. Fossil Club poster at the club fair. Photo by Emma Hayes
Rock climbing has gained a new level of prominence in recent years thanks to TikTok. Despite the popularity, HSE had no club dedicated to the sport until last year when Mrs. Suriano, with the help of some interested students, founded HSE Climbing Club. In this club students can learn more about the intricacies of climbing and ‘harness the challenge to reach new heights!’
“Climbing is a great way to exercise and make new friends,” club president Alex Carmen said. “We practice at Climb Time Indy every other Wednesday afternoon.” Text @hseclimb to 81010 or follow @hseclimbingclub on Instagram for more information. Climbing equipment on display at the club fair. Photo by Emma Hayes
FUTURE TEENS IN SCIENCE
Future Teens in Science is a club that cultivates an interest of careers in STEM for high school students.
“We offer presentations from professionals in the STEM field, such as nurses,” club president Gabrielle Vance said. “We also do team activities to explore career pathways in science.”
Future Teens in Science meets during Pathways A in Mrs. Hinen’s room. Text @fts2425 to 81010 to join the club’s Remind and get more information.
Future Teens in Science President Gabrielle Vance at the club fair. Photo by Emna Hayes
NEW YEAR, NEW DEANS
Administration Adjusts to New Roles
Story by Charlotte Miksha | mikshcha000@hsestudents.org
Story, Graphic by Meena Izadine | izadimar@hsestudents.org
Many have noticed some new faces among the deans for the school year. Those bright new faces are Jordan McCaslin and Amanda Ruble, who are now deans for the junior and freshmen class, respectively.
They have both had their fair share of prior experience in education, with both of their careers spanning over a decade in the field.
Ruble previously worked at New Castle Middle School, where she was the dean of students. She taught for 13 years total between Mt. Vernon High School, George Washington High School and South Decatur High School, before joining the administration team this year.
Ruble is not the only one with field experience, as McCaslin is a face most will already recognize. He has been on staff at the school for the past three years as a health and physical education teacher and football coach.
What many do not know, however, is
that before his time here, he worked for seven years as a weightlifting instructor and head football coach. Their expereince will serve them well in their new positions and both of them are prepared to step into this new role and all of the new responsibilities that come as part of the job.
“I am mainly part of dealing with attendance, discipline issues and some supervision stuff,” McCaslin said.
The deans hold an important position in the school administration, being responsible for discipline, as McCaslin said, and other organizational tasks. While it is an important job to hold, it is not a new one for Ruble. Her challenge this year will be adapting into a new school community.
“I want to help the Class of 2028 adjust to high school life and expectations,” Ruble said. “I hope to be able to provide a culture of fun and
positivity to all students at HSE. [It] is one of the top performing schools in the state of Indiana. Who wouldn’t want to be here!”
While Ruble is adjusting to the school environment, McCaslin has other changes to adapt to. His new role as junior class dean requires a lot of dedication, and this year, he is also continuing to coach football for the school. Though it is a hard job to balance, he takes it in stride and finds joy in the work.
“It’s getting here early, making sure that I’ve got some things done prior to practice,” McCaslin said. “[But] it’s been fun and I think the two kind of correlate with each other.”
Both Ruble and McCaslin have a lot of work ahead of them, but are both clearly excited and ready to work to keep the school running smoothly.
When describing her new job Ruble said, “We want kids to stay safe and be successful.”
GET TO KNOW THE NEW DEANS
Jordan McCaslin Dean
Amanda Ruble Dean
COMMUNITY COUNTDOWN
Story by Claire Robertson | robercla001@hsestudents.org
Hamilton County has a lot to offer. If you’re looking for ways to get involved around the community, this column will bea great place for you!
Headless Horseman is an annual event at Connor Prairie. This year the event will go on for 3 weeks, from October 3rd to the 27th. The hours for this event are 5-10 pm. The members’ presale will begin on August 29th and the general admission sale will begin September 6th. Members can enter the festival for free and access the hayride for $10. Non-member ticket prices are $26. Tickets can be purchased on the Connor prairie website.
Fishers’ Movie in the Park is a weekly event that takes place on Saturdays at the outdoor green space at 9713 District North Drive, Fishers, IN 46037 according to the Indy’s child website. The last movie event for the season will be on October 12th, screening “Hocus Pocus”. Make sure to check the yard at the Fishers district website for more information.
The third annual Fall-A-Palooza will be taking place on Saturday, October 5 from 12-3pm. at 11549 Yard Street, Fishers, IN 46037. There will be face painting, fall games, an apple cider bar, pumpkin decorating and a live performance from the local band “Indy Polkamotion”. Check out the yard at Fishers district website for more information.
Glow in the Park is a familyfriendly event in the Fisher’s District on September 21st from 8-10 p.m. Glow in the dark paint, live music, foam canons, graffiti and food trucks will be available at the event! Make sure to wear your old white clothes! Tickets are $6 a person and can be purchased from the fishers’ district website.
New Chocolate Cafe Open In Downtown Fishers
Story and Photos by Addison Ginther | ginthadd000@hsestudents.org
Everyone gets those random moments throughout the day where they just get a craving for something with chocolate in it. The new Melt n Dip chocolate café is going to be sure to satisfy those cravings. Located in downtown Fishers across from The Yard, the new café is already swarmed with customers coming to try their desserts.
Melt n Dip has a wide range of typical desserts on their menu that they then smother in chocolate. From waffles, crepes and cheesecake to milkshakes, fruit and gelato, they have it all. They have 19 different types of stuffed crepes, nine different flavors of cheesecake, along with six different types of waffles, milkshakes and fruit platters. They even have unique desserts such as fettuccine crepes which are chocolate in noodle form, cotton candy pooches which are crepes filled with cotton candy and banana wraps which are crepes stuffed with whole bananas.
Pricing varies depending on which item you select but their most popular items are the crepes and waffles, priced around $15 with the cheesecakes at $10 and milkshakes at $7.
Melt n Dip employee and HSE senior Raisa Tamanna talks about why she likes working at Melt n Dip.
“My favorite part of working at Melt n Dip would be the people and the environment itself,” Tamanna said. “The food is super delicious, but what makes the job enjoyable is meeting the people and trainers and working together toward the same goal.”
When one walks into the restaurant, they see a variety of seating from
booths to couches to normal chairs. The café is decorated with lots of different brown decor to resemble their chocolate theme. There is also three different chocolate fountains on display to showcase the milk, dark and white chocolate that they use.
Along with the location in Fishers, there are many other locations around the world. In the USA, there are four locations in Illinois, two in Michigan, one in Wisconsin and one in Florida. Outside of the USA, there are two
locations in Canada, one in Lebanon and one in Iraq.
“I would certainly recommend that other people try it,” Tamanna said. “We have a ton of rare ice cream flavors and unique desserts that you won’t find anywhere else in the area.”
Overall, Melt n Dip is a fun place to go with friends and family to satisfy your chocolate craving. With a large variety of options on the menu, there is always something for everyone to find.
Chocolate fountains in the center of the shop.
Students are always working to try and balance their education and personal lives. Each student goes through this process in their own unique way. For a lot of students, this process becomes a lot more difficult when they have to throw one more weight onto the scale: work. Whether that be fast food, retail or anything in between, taking on a job can be a lot for some students to add to their plate. This choice comes with a lot of questions: ‘Will this limit my personal time? Will I be good enough? Is it even worth it?’
Junior Jack Brubaker is one of those students. However, he has a much different job than most high school students. He builds pitching mounds for the small business Pitcher Perfect, providing for a uniquely enjoyable job.
“I love it,” Brubaker said. “It has the most flexible hours, you make your own schedule, and my boss is amazing.”
Brubaker’s coworker, Benjamin Goldsberry, expressed similar feelings to his colleague.
“I definitely enjoy my job,” Goldsberry said. “It’s really nice that I get to set my own hours so I can work around my school work and sports. My boss, Adam, is the best and my coworkers are great as well.”
While their job does allow for more flexibility than most, both also expressed the difficulty of balancing a job.
“I try and balance my work and school by using a set schedule to do things such as homework so I can then have time to go to work when I need to,” Brubaker said.
PITCHING SUCCESS
Students Take Part In After School Employment
Dupree Henry | henrydup000@hsestudents.org
Max Johnson | johnsmax002@hsestudents.org
Goldsberry also faced challenges when it came to balancing work into his schedule.
“I usually work around 6-7 hours a week,” Goldsberry said. “I work in the evenings after cross country and on weekends. It’s a lot to balance sometimes, but it’s worth it.”
Both Brubaker and Goldsberry have to put in extra effort into juggling work, school, and personal life. Even with this difficulty they both still believe that having a job as a high school student is important
“I think it is important to start making money and saving as a highschooler because it will set you up for a better future,” Goldsberry said.
Brubaker had different reasons to believe that having a job in high school is important.
“I personally feel it’s important that students in high school get a job if they have the time,” Brubaker said.
“This is because jobs give students real world experiences that they will have to do after schooling. Like paying taxes, working with coworkers, and customer service.”
Their jobs have not just given them skills for life outside of high school, but also have prepared them for the real world.
“I feel the skills that I have learned from having a job can be seen in school,” Brubaker said. “As well with me learning how to talk and collaborate with others, how to problem-solve issues that I come across, and finally I learned what it takes to make the best product I can make.”
Pitching mounds sold by Brubaker and Goldsberry. Photo contributed by Jack Brubaker.
Photo by Lili Perez.
Reality of Overcrowded Schools, Effect on Learning
Story by Mandy Abeyta | abeytman000@hsestudents.org, Maddy Page |
pagemad000@hsestudents.org
Hamilton County is rapidly developing, and the effects of it are becoming increasingly evident across the school district. By 2045, according to IndyStar, the city is projected to reach a population of 130,000, almost a 27% increase While Fishers is only one of four big cities that make up Hamilton County, these four cities are growing at a similar pace. Unfortunately, the rapid growth has slowly begun to present significant challenges for Hamilton Southeastern Schools as it adjusts to the sudden influx of students.
In response to the large population of students, two schools specifically in Hamilton County have had to make a decision to close their doors to new enrollments for the 2024-2025 school year. Hamilton Intermediate Junior High (HIJH) and Southeastern Elementary (SES) are no longer accepting any new students since there is no room left in the schools.
As a result, incoming students are being deferred to other schools in the district, even if they live in the boundary lines of the school. While this may seem like the right solution to the problem, students who are being transferred regardless of where
they live.
For some students, this means bus rides home have drastically changed from a simple 10 minute ride to 40 minutes on average. These longer routes are a result of students being placed on buses that do not serve their neighborhood directly. Instead, students are being dropped off in different neighborhoods or forced to stay on longer routes before arriving at their own neighborhoods. This has become an increasing concern for parents and students alike, as the extended commute impacts students’ schedule and after-school commitments.
Freshman Emilie Lentz experienced this bus situation firsthand when she moved to Fishers before the start of 6th grade.
“I was supposed to go to HIJH, but it was full, so I had to go to [Fall Creek Junior High (FCJH)],” Lentz said. “A different bus took me to Fall Creek, but the issue was [that] my bus ride [home] was 40 minutes long.”
In addition to having to change schools, Lentz also had to be on what is called a “transfer bus.” Transfer buses are used for students who had to be redistricted —in this case, Lentz
switching schools due to the doors being shut. While this seems like a simple solution, her ride was not only longer than most, she did not have time after school for extracurricular activities, such as cheer. To make matters worse, some students are required to leave class as much as 20 minutes early just to catch their transfer buses home, cutting into valuable instructional time. These disruptions not only lengthen their commutes but also impact their education. While Lentz was only “slightly bummed” about not going to school with the few friends she had made, the bigger challenge was adapting to a school where she didn’t know anyone. The situation was more than a simple inconvenience. For a middle school student, moving to a new school can be daunting enough, but being redistricted to a school she hadn’t planned on attending- where she knew no one- worsened the entire situation. Her experience is one of many faced by displaced students. Transportation issues like Lentz’s are just part of the broader problem. Overcrowded buses are also affecting students who remain within their
assigned school boundaries. In many cases, three to a seat has become the norm, making the ride to and from school suffocating.
While not on a transfer bus, junior Caroline Baer dealt with a jam-packed bus on a daily basis.
three seats usually containing three students. Due to population growth, bus 121 had an influx of new riders for the 24-25 school year.
“My old bus, 121, was very sat three to a seat, and it was just uncomfortable having almost fullgrown adults sitting on such small seats.”
The discomfort is inevitable for students like Baer that rely on the bus. She ended up seeking an alternative to bus transportation because of these conditions.
“My parents ended up just driving me to school as it was just so crowded and intolerable for me,” Baer said. “I know many others did the same thing until we got another bus.”
The school had to rearrange bus routes, forcing a majority of kids on bus 121 to move to a different bus, but not before they had to endure the inconvenience of cramped conditions. The bus had reached a breaking point, as it was overcapacity last year as well. Every seat was full, with two or
Overcrowding in schools doesn’t just only affect transportation, it also has a direct impact on students’ educational experiences. Larger class sizes make it difficult for teachers to give individualized attention to students, potentially impacting the
“I talked to other kids who rode the same bus, and they were also experiencing the same annoyance and frustration with the situation.”
-Caroline Baer, junior
quality of instruction. Not only does this impact teachers, but many students may find it challenging to learn due to the limited 1:1 attention. Students may feel apprehensive or uncomfortable asking for additional assistance because so many of their peers also need assistance. For example, if several students raise their hands for help, teachers can only accommodate the allotted time
to assist many students with their questions, making it apparent that many students are not receiving help. Sophomore Harley Suter states that he experiences this on a frequent basis.
“When my teachers are teaching a lesson, sometimes I don’t understand [it],” Suter said. “I wait my turn and raise my hand, but they are always so busy that I don’t [get help]. I usually give up and try it at home, but I get so confused and just want to give up.”
Suter is one of many students who face this issue. When students fall behind and struggle with learning material, the domino effect of missing assignments and poor grades occurs.
Suter believes that if he had more one-on-one instruction, he would have an easier time understanding the content in his classes, helping him catch up to his peers and avoid falling behind.
“When this happens, I fall behind on assignments and then my grade starts to slip,” Suter said. “This keeps piling up and then I just become unmotivated to do any of my work.”
Fortunately, the time set aside for Pathways every gray day usually offsets the initial impact of larger class sizes, allowing for more individualized time for students if needed.
“I like Pathways, but sometimes the [Pathways] teacher doesn’t know
Freshman Emilie Lentz stands forward smiling with blue pom-poms for Cheerleading Media Day. Photo by Jasa Triplett.
A classroom at school. The amount of students can contribute to a lack of indivualized attention for students. Photo by Maddy Page.
how to do the math assignments or science assignments I need help [with],” Suter said.
There is a clear need for smaller classrooms so that each student can learn the material easily and receive an adequate amount of help in order to be successful throughout high school. Some students can thrive in a classroom setting without individualized attention, but others sometimes need that one-on-one time to grasp a topic being taught in class. A single teacher simply cannot meet that demand for a multitude of students during the 80-minute class period. Students like Suter can feel like they’re being left behind.
“It gets [harder] each year with school, and I am afraid it will be even harder next year,” Suter said.
In the past, to address overcrowding, the district turned to portable classrooms to allow for a better teacher to staff ratio. Portable classrooms are classrooms designed to be temporary for schools to provide additional space in the event that the classes are overpopulated. Often built outside and in close vicinity to the original school, these classrooms are usually made from plastic and wood paneling. With their low cost in comparison to adding more classrooms to the original school, these classrooms can be appealing to
school boards as a quick, short-term solution. However, over the years, these classrooms have become permanent in some schools due to the large population of students in classrooms. HIJH, an at-capacity school, has two of their own portable classrooms behind the school which have been in use for several years. The continued reliance on these classrooms highlights the ongoing struggle the district faces in finding long-term solutions to the growing student population.
As the district struggles to manage the growing population of elementary and intermediate students, the overcrowding will inevitably trickle up to the high schools. With only two high schools, the district will be forced to adapt. The construction of more elementary schools, meant to address lower-level overcrowding, has only brought in more students to the district. According to the 2022 data from the United States Census Bureau, Hamilton County’s total population is 350,527, with 78,101 residents between the ages of 5 and 19, and another 21,085 under the age of 5. This is a substantial number of students who are most likely already in the school system, or will be entering it in the coming years. As a result, high school class sizes will continue to grow.
Looking ahead, it is expected that Hamilton County’s continued growth will lead to more challenges faced by overcrowding. The temporary solutions of portable classrooms and redistricting may alleviate some of the pressure in the short term but are not sustainable in the long run. With an expected increase in population, students are apprehensive about what the buses will look like next year, how crowded the hallways and classrooms will be and if it will impact their ability to learn effectively. Without significant investment in new schools and infrastructure, students will continue to face these challenges. There’s no denying that Hamilton County must balance the rapid growth of Fishers with the need to provide a quality education for every student, and that balance is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.
Enrollment Breakdown by Grade
Freshmen: 926 students
Sophomores: 857 students
Juniors: 817 students
Seniors: 877 students
Enrollment from July 19, 2023.
Data from the United States Census Bureau. Graphic by Mandy Abeyta.
Hamilton County
Q:What is the most important thing to understand about college applications?
A: Deadlines. I think deadlines are the most important thing because if you miss them, you set yourself up for failure. [Deadlines are] not flexible at all. So, when it says November 1, it means November 1. I always tell kids to not wait until the last minute... Let’s say 40,000 kids waited until the last minute at 11:50 to shove their applications through the portal. Some are going to come out at 12:01. No one cares that you did it at 11:50, according to [the college], it’s late... So, I always try to tell kids to be two weeks ahead of time on any deadline, because if you’re on time, you’re late.
Q: Where can seniors find extra resources to help with applications?
A: I put out a newsletter to seniors... if they didn’t read it, they don’t know. It’s 900 seniors, one person. [You] have to lock into what I’m saying because I can’t keep repeating it like every single day, five times a day. I use canvas a lot, [but the information is] everywhere. They just have to look for it.
Q: What can underclassmen do now to prepare themselves to apply for college and future years?
A: We have so many classes here. Go do something but make sure you are taking advantage of all the wonderful classes that we have. And study. Learn how to study. Focus on your grades. That’s the first thing. And then the second thing is to get involved in school... Get involved in stuff after school, before school. If you don’t like the 50-60 clubs we have, make a club. If you don’t like clubs, try a sport. Just try to connect yourself... When it comes to your resume, they’re going to ask you what activities have you done? What community service have you done? So that’s the second part of [the second thing] is community service. What are you doing for free to help other people? So those are the two things to me. Especially freshmen and sophomores, because you’re laying the foundation.
For more information from Mrs. Bush, subscribe or listen to her podcast, Find Your Future with Mrs. Bush, on Spotify or check your College and Careers page on Canvas.
ASK MRS. BUSH Director of College and Careers on College Applications GAMES
HYPE BEHIND HOCO
Is Homecoming Over- or Underrated?
Story by Claire Robertson | robercla001@hsestudents.org
The homecoming craze is coming around once again. Dress shopping, proposals, and so many more details are being planned out as we prepare for the homecoming dance.
Homecoming is an annual dance held by many high schools around the country. Unlike prom, homecoming is an all-inclusive dance that all four grades are invited to attend. This year’s homecoming dance theme is “A Sky Full of Stars” and will be taking place on September 28th at HSE in the Main Café and Café D starting at 7:00 p.m. However, it seems that underclassmen get more excited about homecoming than upperclassmen. But why?
“Underclassmen have not experienced as many events like homecoming before,” sophomore and Student Council underclassmen Liaison Casey Aslam said. “I think so much excitement comes from how long they have been waiting to go to homecoming and other new events offered as underclassmen.”
While underclassmen are seemingly “isolated” from the other grades, this offers an opportunity to participate in school wide events. Underclassmen often go unrecognized or are considered last for roles and events in the school. The problem with this is that it’s the underclassmen who are more excited to be involved in these events when in reality, the whole school should be getting excited.
“Myself being an upperclassman, it’s hard to maintain school spirit sometimes,” senior and Student Council Co-President Claire Davidson said. “[But] when you’re a freshman and you’re new, your excited to experience high school.”
The solution to bridge the gap of school spirit between underclassmen and upperclassmen can be solved by
creating more school wide events, or even creating events that is just for underclassmen. It is common to see events like prom and senior signing day be for just upperclassmen, but maybe creating events that are just for underclassmen will boost our school spirit and even help it carry on throughout students’ high school years.
Are you going to the homecoming dance?
59 students responded to an Instagram poll on the Southeastern Media Network page saying whether or not they are going to this year’s homecoming dance
Smitten Kitten Cat Café is the first of its kind in Hamilton County. Located on E. 96th Street, guests get to enjoy food and spend time with cats and kittens.
All beverages and treats at the café are from local businesses and prepared off site, but reservations are intended to be a chance for guests to decompress. Cats roam freely around the lounge for guests to connect with. They currently have around 20 cats available for adoption.
There are two sides to the café: a coffee side for eating and drinking and a cat lounge side where guests can play with the many cats roaming around. While they are not able to be picked up, they are extremely friendly and love to crawl into the guests laps.
The café partners with many local animal rescue and adoption shelters to find gentle cats that can be adopted by guests who visit the café. Currently, Biscuit Factory Animal Rescue is handling all adoptions through the cat café. While at Smitten Kitten, guests can apply to adopt one of the cats they visit, or they can apply online and then make a reservation to meet the cat they are interested in.
Smitten Kitten Cat Café provides a relaxing opportunity for guests and adoptions support local rescues and shelters. Visits to the café can be sceduled online through reservation or you can walk in and stay in the waiting space until there is room. The cat lounge costs $10 for half an hour or $18 for a full hour, but it is free to pay a visit to the café and sit in the coffee section.
Story by Sydney Pinchouck | pinchsyd000@hsestudents.org
LAPTOPS OUT, IPADS IN Technology Changes Affect Freshmen
Story by Meena Izadine | izadimar000@hsestudents.org, Kennedy Ulmer | ulmerken000@hsestudents.org
As the new school year ushers in grand changes, there have been many critiques. The uncomfortable shift from laptops to iPads has left students and teachers alike disappointed and confused.
The switch could possibly be attributed to the Hamilton Southeastern school board’s commitment to providing students with “the best possible quality at the lowest cost for the user,” per the HSE Board of Trustee’s recordkeeping service, BoardDocs. The district’s Director of Educational Technologies Jeff Harrison suggests that having students stay with iPads from K-12 will “give them a sense of familiarity and therefore they can spend more time in the classroom learning and less time in the technology office troubleshooting.” However, after years of laptops being the norm for high school students, the abrupt switch to iPads has left freshmen raising eyebrows.
The recent switch to iPads in the district has proven to be problematic for students. Freshman Sarah Cooper is enrolled in classes
with upperclassmen, and she has struggled with classwork that is meant to be completed on a laptop.
“No one in my class can help me with online assignments because they all have laptops,” Cooper said. “Not even the teachers know how to work the iPads.”
It is frustrating for freshmen, like Cooper, to not receive assistance in class because teachers and students are not familiar with the mechanics of the iPads. Additionally, since students with school iPads do not have access to the App Store, they are forced to find other ways to access necessary apps for school.
Freshmen have resorted to using the Canvas website through Safari, the only approved web browser on HSE iPads, which has demonstrated a lack of user-friendliness.
“I think the biggest change for students is that the HSE iPads do not allow access to some applications and websites like the personal devices do,” science teacher Eric Sturges said.
The district is no stranger to digital work, with many assignments such as essays being typed instead of
handwritten. However, the design of the iPad keyboards are very finicky and make it difficult for students to type without keys getting stuck or having other issues.
“Lots of my assignments are on OneNote,” freshman Scarlett Fanger said. “It is very hard for me to type on OneNote with the iPad keyboard.”
Some teachers have also recognized issues with the keyboards.
“I am concerned about my freshman students having to use the iPad keyboards on timed tests, like the AP exam,” AP World teacher Jamie Follis said. “The keyboards are not beneficial to students in a setting with time constraints.”
Not only are the iPads inconvenient for schoolwork, the sheer size of them are not suitable for the smaller swivel desks that are common in many classrooms.
TO LEARN MORE
“When students set up their iPads with the keyboards out, it takes up nearly the entirety of [the swivel desks],” geometry teacher Kirk Webber said. “I frequently see students that cannot fit everything on their desks, and the iPads often fall off and could possibly get damaged.”
S C A N
About the HSE School Board’s Decision to Switch to iPads
H E R E
While the district’s decision to transition from laptops to iPads may have been driven by a desire to balance quality and cost, the shift has introduced a series of challenges that cannot be overlooked. The struggles faced by both students and teachers in adapting to the new devices highlight the unintended consequences of this change, such as difficulties with functionality, limited access to necessary applications and physical inconveniences in the classroom.
Even though the transition has been far from seamless, hopefully as the school year progresses students and teachers will be able to adjust to using iPads for classwork.
SERVING THE COMMUNITY
How Students Can Leave Their Impact
Story by Max Johnson | johnsmax002@hsestudents.org
There are thousands and thousands of students in Hamilton County, each of them possessing their own unique set of skills, experiences and opinions. The majority of students, however, are not able to use their voice and skills to help their community.
A Chance to Serve (ACTS), looks to fix this issue. ACTS is a Purdue Extension Program that puts students on community boards from a variety of organizations, allowing them to use what makes them special to improve their community. Students are required to apply before they are selected to join and attend meetings throughout winter and spring to be trained in leadership ethics and how to serve on their board before they become an official board member. Applications open in January.
Maggie Herrington is the current Program Coordinator for ACTS in Hamilton County. She was offered
the position after returning to the 4-H Fairgrounds after college.
“You can sign up to go a million different youth leadership conferences,” Herrington said. “This is the only one that you come together five different times and then we say, ‘okay, thanks for that, now you’re going to serve on a board.’”
One of the boards students have the opportunity to serve on is the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation (HSEF). Senior Matthew Krohn, who’s been in the program since his sophomore year, is one of the four student representatives from HSE serving on the board.
“I chose HSEF because that one offered something that the other boards that the other boards didn’t and that was a tie directly to our district,” Krohn said. “That for me is what sold it.”
Krohn’s role as a student board member goes beyond just meetings.
He spends a lot of time outside the boardroom volunteering to help set up fundraisers and giving teachers grants they’ve been awarded.
Krohn’s unique position has allowed him to help give back to his community with him being able to see the results of his work every day. Going into his senior year, he is excited to be able to continue serving his community through HSEF.
Students interested in joining ACTS can reach out to the Purdue Extension Hamilton County Office at (317)-77607854.
PHOTO OF THE ISSUE
Here at the Orb, we take pride in our Royals, and specifically our Royal photographers. We wanted a chance to showcase the skill and dedication of some of these photographers, so we created the “Photo of the Issue”. This gives a student photographer a chance to show off their best work, and display their skills in a public product. This issue’s photo comes to us from Maddy Page, an exceptionally talented and experienced photographer who always puts her best foot forward when sharing her work.
Portrait of Maggie Herrington. Photo by Max Johnson.
Senior and football player Braeden Totton holds the Royals football flag up proudly as he strides with confidence into the endzone of the Avon Orioles at a Friday Night Football Game on Sept. 6.
Photo by Maddy Page.
OMAR’S OPINION Medal Metrics
Story by Omar Elsayed | elsayoma000@hsestudents.org
A longer version of this column can be found on southeasternsportsnetwork.com or by scanning the QR code below.
In this summer’s Paris Olympics, USA topped the medal tally with 40 golds and 126 total medals, narrowly edging out China, who also had 40 golds but only 91 total medals. This tie sparked controversy over how to define Olympic victory—some prioritize gold medals, while others argue for total medals or even medals per capita.
In my view, total medals offer a better metric, reflecting a nation’s overall athletic talent. Earlier, when China led in golds, many pushed for a gold-only tally. But once the USA caught up, discussions about per capita rankings emerged. The per capita argument attempts to balance out nations of different sizes, but this method unfairly favors tiny countries like Dominica, whose single gold medal skewed its ranking. By this logic, Dominica, with one medal from a population of 72,000, would rank above every other country. It seems that no matter what, the USA can never be agreed upon as the victor.
The official Olympic standard prioritizes gold medals, then total medals in the event of a tie, but this doesn’t capture a nation’s true depth. For instance, Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson had an extraordinary season but missed gold by just .005 seconds. Should this nearvictory be dismissed?
Ultimately, you can’t win a competition when everyone plays by different rules. The per capita argument is my equivalent to a toddler constantly changing the rules to a game, so it looks like they’re winning.
MEET COACH TOWER Elevating Sports, School Spirit
Story by Omar Elsayed | elsayoma000@hsestudents.org,
Photo by Marley Hayes | hayesmar001@hsestudents.org
As students and staff settle into the new school year, a fresh face has emerged in the athletic department. Drew Tower, the new Athletic Director, brings a wealth of experience and a vision to elevate the already impressive sports culture at the school. For many freshmen and even upperclassmen unfamiliar with his predecessor Greg Habegger, Tower’s arrival signifies a new chapter in the athletic program’s ongoing story.
Tower, a New Castle native with a deep love for basketball, found his passion for athletics early in life.
“Basketball was my background,” Tower said. “I grew up in New Castle, won a State Championship in high school, and then went on to compete at Taylor University.”
After college, Tower moved into coaching and eventually transitioned into athletic administration, serving as the Athletic Director at Brownsburg High School for the last six years. His journey prepared him well for his new role, where he plans to build on the school’s strong foundation.
“There’s certainly a culture here of excellence in everything, not just athletics, but in the school and the community,” Tower said. “It’s one of the best schools and Athletic Departments in the Midwest.”
His respect for Habegger is evident, and Tower is eager to continue building on the strong foundation left behind. He has also known long-time staff members like fellow Athletic Director Jim Self for over 18 years, a connection that made his transition smoother.
“I could not be more excited to work alongside Drew Tower,” Self said. “He is passionate about high school athletics… and he continues to bring new ideas that empower kids to be at their best. While I will miss working with Coach Habegger, I think we hit the Athletic Director lottery when we were able to hire Mr. Tower.”
Since taking the role, Tower has been focusing on learning the ropes and implementing new ideas. His immediate goal is to observe how things operate and evaluate where improvements can be made. One initiative he is particularly excited about is the “Restore the Roar” campaign, which aims to reignite school spirit and increase attendance at sporting events.
“We want to drive enthusiasm and attendance at everybody’s sporting events, not just football,” Tower said. “We want athletes supporting other athletes and more students getting involved. It’s more fun for everyone.”
Tower has also begun working on leadership development opportunities for student-athletes. He plans to expand the school’s already successful Student Athletic Council by organizing leadership sessions for middle and high school athletes.
“We want to create purposeful opportunities for our kids to come in and lead,” Tower said.
This initiative, along with the continuation of the Student Athletic Council leadership curriculum he developed at Brownsburg, reflects Tower’s commitment to fostering both athletic and personal growth.
As Tower engages with the school community, he is eager to connect with students, especially freshmen who may not yet know him. His message to them is simple: get involved.
“High school should be the most fun you have,” Tower said. “Don’t sit on the sidelines—get involved with something, whether it’s athletics or something else.”
His goal is to create an inclusive, spirited atmosphere where students feel connected to their school and peers.
And if there’s one thing Tower wants everyone at HSE to remember, it’s this: “Wear blue on Friday.”
How Indiana
Story
TMade Its Mark on the Paris Olympics
and Graphic by Charlotte
Miksha
his year, the Olympics took 4000 miles from Fishers in the faraway land of Paris, France. It can be difficult to find locality in something as global as the Olympics; however, Indiana residents discovered an easy target for this support this year.
Cole Hocker, gold medalist and world record holder in track and field, hails from Cathedral High School, only 17 miles from Hamilton Southeastern. At 23 years old, Hocker surprised the world when he took the gold medal in the men’s 1500 meter against Jakob
| mikshcha000@hsestudents.org
Ingebrigtsen from Norway and Josh Kerr from Great Britain, who were expected to compete for first place. Not only did he come on top despite all odds, Hocker broke the world record for the 1500 meter with a time of three minutes and 27.65 seconds, a title previously held by Ingebrigtsen (three minutes and 28.32 seconds). Hocker’s victory represents not only a triumph in American athletics, but that of the familiar Indiana area that students call home.
The world of track and field does not end with the Olympics; the
Paralympics took place in Paris from August 28 to September 8.
Hamilton Southeastern took worldwide notice when Noah Malone, a class of 2020 HSE graduate, took the gold medal in the men’s 100 meter at the Paralympics. Malone has visual impairment and went from breaking records in school wto winning medals on a global scale, bringing pride to HSE, Indiana and America. This is HSE’s first mark on athletics on the Olympic level, but perhaps not the last.
RESTORE THE ROAR RESTORE THE ROAR
“[Restore the Roar] means ... restoring enthusiasm and school spirit to where we’re taking pride in everything that we do.”
“[Restore the Roar] means ... restoring enthusiasm and school spirit to where we’re taking pride in everything that we do.”
-Drew Tower, Athletic Director
Photos by Carson Trotter, Will Ellenwood, Lili Perez, Marley Hayes, Emilie Dale and Laksh Bhakti.
Mudsock Excites Electric Atmosphere of School Spirit
Story by Durpee Henry | henrydup000@hsestudents.org, Mya Pyle | pylemya000@hsestudents.org
Photo by Omar Elsayed | elsayoma000@hsestudents.org
Every year students await the week leading up to the anticipated Mudsock Football game. Some look forward to the pregame preparation of picking the full blue outfit and painting themselves in royal blue. Others can’t wait to take in the energy from the sea of blue during the game. One thing is for certain, and that is Mudsock always heightens our school spirit. Mudsock is the rivalry between Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern, and we often express this rivalry through our sports teams. However, for most athletes it is much more than a fun competition.
“Mudsock to me is more than a game or a rivalry,” senior Blue Crew Executive and soccer player Addison Ash said. “Mudsock is a tradition, and to be able to be an athlete and represent your school while participating in Mudsock is always an honor. It is an opportunity to fight for your school and represent your school at the highest level.”
Similar to the players and fans, coaches feed off the energy exerted from Mudsock. To many of them,
Mudsock is their greatest opportunity in coaching.
“[Mudsock] gives a chance to watch a great, close-knit community come out one night to watch friends battle on the field,” football coach Michael Kelly said. “I love that our players know [Fishers] players so well and they have fun competing against each other and finish with conversation about the good ole days. Our players love each other and it’s always a very competitive game.”
Mudsock plays an important role in driving competitive spirit and camaraderie in clubs as well.
“It strikes a stronger pride within our chapter,” FFA President and senior Ellie Taylor said. “Having Mudsock pushes our members to truly take part in our chapter and to showcase the greatness of HSE FFA. I have seen members carry that into other aspects of the school activities as well, which is cool to experience how it can drive pride in our school overall and not just FFA.”
For the common student body, Mudsock still holds true as an
integral part of school life and Royal pride.
“I do think Mudsock events are important to attend because it means showing out for your school and fellow peers in their sport”
junior Mason Mcdonald said. “I also think like other games or events around school it’s important to get involved and Mudsock is one of the biggest chances to show support for the school.”
With the establishment of Mudsock as a contributor to school spirit, the significance of said spirit comes to question.
“School spirit is important because it gives you a chance to show other schools what your school means to you,” Ash said. “School spirit shows that you care for the people at your school and that you represent something bigger than yourself when you have school spirit.”
Mudsock means a lot to coaches, players and students alike. The best way to not only support the school, but students who give their all to compete and show out for their school is to become a supporter yourself, and it is sure to be a time to remember.
When asked about the atmosphere around Mudsock, Athletic Director Jim Self said, “I cannot explain it, you’ve got to go yourself.”
Phot Two Blue Crew leaders celebrate their team, decked out in U.S.A.gear to match the game theme. Photo by Marley Hayes.
