MHS Crier | Issue 1 | 9.1.2023

http://mhsnews.net

CRIER

mhs

Classrooms renovated over the summer and still needing HVAC work

Mr. Coil’s temporary room, N187

• Mr. Sera, N148

• Mr. Boruff, N150

Mr. Dye, N177

• Mr. Stalbaum, N180

• Ms. Daugherty, N184

• Mr. Lopez, N188

Mr. Gordon, N189

Ms. Szafasz, N179

Classrooms currently being worked on:

N144

• Mr. Coil, N170

• Mr. Thompson, N166

• Ms. Amanatidis, N142

Mr. Popa, N143

Mr. Marsh, N178

The biology lab

• Mr. Hackett, N174

behind the construction

a look into the ongoing construction and projects throughout the school

As students walked out of school May 25, construction crews piled in. Now as students return, the ongoing construction projects continue behind plastic film and cardboard doors.

The classrooms that are currently being worked on are planned to be completed by Thanksgiving break. The classroom renovations, according to Mr. Sean Begley, director of operations, is a part of administration’s plan to create a flexible and updated learning environment.

“I always look at my job as how I can get hurdles out of the way for a principal and a teacher so they can go in and provide the best educational experience to the students,” Mr. Begley said. “There are obviously constraints where you can’t have everything, but having an environment where students can collaborate was a main focus.”

Classrooms are being updated by:

• Introducing new, mobile desks for teachers and students

• Installing Promethean boards instead of projectors in all classrooms

• Changing all lights to LED lights

• Installing dimmers for the lights

• Repainting the walls

• Replacing the old carpet with new tile to help with cleaning and air quality

• Installing new HVAC systems to improve air quality and heating and cooling

The HVAC systems, starting with the classrooms that were renovated over the summer, are going to be replaced in each room after Thanksgiving break. Administration is planning to have all the classrooms done by winter break.

Effects of construction on staff:

• Some teachers have to move rooms as construction crew update their classrooms.

• “We still don’t know exactly when I’m going to be booted from this room,” Mr. Ben Boruff, English teacher, said. “We don’t know exactly when construction is going to be done. There’s a lot of confused students, too. There’s just a lot of question marks that we have, and that’s a little bit frustrating.”

• “The room is not terrible, but it’s just not my room,” Mr. Ryan Popa, business teacher, said. “I just don’t feel at home here. My other room felt like home. So I guess I feel like I’m in someone else’s house.”

Effects of construction on students:

• Blocked off hallways in the North cause heavier hallway traffic.

• “The hallways are so annoying this year,” Annabelle Spicer, senior, said. “I literally get stopped in the middle of the hallway, like standing still. I’ve gotten pushed and shoved. I’m fighting for my life in there.”

• “I am glad that they are improving the school, but I wish they would have finished it before the school year started,” Kai Washington, senior, said.

Administration:

• According to Mr. Begley, construction could not be finished over the summer because the HVAC systems are not coming in until this month.

• Looking forward to upcoming years, Mr. Begley hopes to finish the rest of the North classrooms, along with starting some new projects such as renovating the auditorium.

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW Wires hanging from the ceiling, the biology lab has been stripped completely in order to renovate not only the lab, but all the storage rooms as well. Along with these general changes, the biology lab will also serve as a multipurpose room since all of the counters and permanent water and gas fixtures have been removed from the center of the room. According to Mr. Sean Begley, director of operations, the lab counters will line the walls of the room, leaving space in the middle for testing or an alternative teaching space. (photo by karla aguilar)

A CHANGE OF SCENERY Although Mr. Michael Coil’s name tag is still outside of N170’s doorway, a single table and two chairs replaced the lines of desks and fish tank that used to reside in his classroom. (photo by zoe clark) TAKING A NEW LOOK Lockers wrapped with plastic, the closed-off hallway in North is cluttered with boxes and wires as the construction crews continue renovating the classrooms. (photo by karla aguilar)

THE FINISHING TOUCHES Glossy tiles shining in the new LED lights, the bathrooms in the closed-off hallway have also been renovated. With new lighting, floors and stalls, the bathrooms will be similar to the bathrooms in the Commons. (photo by zoe clark)

lauren hoogeveen & dorothy lakshmanamurthy editor-in-chief & deadline manager

a name to a face

11 new faculty and staff join MHS this year

interviews conducted by all crier staffers

4. Ms. Hannah Wiesemann, science

Subjects Taught: Regular Bio, PreAP Bio, PLTW Principles of Bio-Med

Name is pronounced: Wise-men

Years Teaching: 2nd year

College: Purdue Northwest

Fun Fact: “I love Marvel, Pokemon, and anime.”

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you want?: “I really wanted to be a conservation biologist and that’s still hopefully down the road later on, to become a professor and do research in that field.”

1. Mr. Nicklaus Ronsen, science

Subjects taught: Biology & PLTW

Name is pronounced: Rawn-sen

Years Teaching: 5

College: North Central College

Fun Fact: “I am a precinct chairman for the Democratic party of Griffith.”

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you want?: “I used to work at a restaurant and I decided that I wanted to teach, so if I wasn’t teaching I’d probably be working there.”

2. Mr. Taylor Hall, English Subjects Taught: English 11, Comp Years Teaching: 5 College: University of Southern Indiana, Michigan State University, Indiana University: South Bend

Fun Fact: “I think what surprises kids is the kind of music that I like. They are surprised that I listen to artists like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Metro Boomin’ and Kanye.”

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you want?: “If I wasn’t a teacher, I would probably work as a sports reporter. That’s what I did before going to grad school for journalism.”

3. Mrs. Deb Delooff, main office secretary

Name is pronounced: Dee-loof Years as a Secretary: 20 College: Grand Valley State

Fun Fact: “We’re a water sports family. All of my kids know how to water surf.”

If you weren’t working here, what job would you want?: “I went college to be a police officer, so that always was my dream job.”

5. Mr. Riley Edgerton, PE

Subjects Taught: Weight Lifting

Years Teaching: 1st year College: University of Indianapolis

Fun Fact: “I collect sports memorabilia.”

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you want?: “I would want to be a business owner.”

6. Mr. Michael Schultz, athletic director

Years in Education: Andrean for three years (two of those as athletic assistant), college baseball coach for 10 years at Roosevelt University: Chicago, assistant coach at Wabash College College: Wabash College

Fun Fact: “I collect sports memorabilia, such as baseball cards.”

If you weren’t in education, what job would you want?: “I’d be a professional baseball coach.”

7. Ms. Karen Ennis, English and exceptional needs

Subjects Taught: Co-teaching English 9 & 10, resource lab and English 9 lab

Name is pronounced: Like tennis but without the t

Years Teaching: 34

College: Valparaiso University

Fun Fact: Grew up in Buffalo, NY

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you want?: “Working with the blind & training service dogs.”

8. Mr. Eric Kundich, science

Subjects Taught: Chemistry, AP Chemistry

Name is pronounced: Kun-ditch

Years Teaching: 22 College: IUB (Chemistry Degree), IUPUI (Biology Degree), IUN (Teach ing Certification)

Fun Fact: “I enjoy going to concerts. My favorite concerts were Dave Matthews Band and Jimmy Buf fett.”

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you want?: “I would have liked to become a doctor.”

9. Mr. Joshua Belluomini, math

Subjects Taught: Geometry and Algebra I

Name is pronounced: Bel-wha-mini

Years Teaching: 15 College: Benedictine University, Northeastern Illinois University, IUN

Fun Fact: “I read comic books.”

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you want?: “I would proba bly want something like physical fitness, like a trainer or something like that.”

10. Mr. Ryan Kelleher, science

Subjects Taught: Anatomy, Physiol ogy, and Biology 1

Name is pronounced: Kell-eh-her Years Teaching: 5 College: Purdue University

Fun Fact: “I sang in the Purdue sity Glee Club throughout college.”

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you want?: “I’d likely be in lab someplace.”

11. Ms. Kristina Todorovic, school district nurse

Name is pronounced: t-OH d-oh-roh-ih-ch

Years in Education: 1st year College: Purdue Northwest

Fun Fact: “I’ve been swimming sharks.”

If you weren’t a nurse, what job would you want?: “If I couldn’t be nurse, I would have loved to be interior designer.”

Crier, Munster High School’s official student newspaper, may be reached via mail at 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321; via phone at 219-836-3200, ext. 3443. Crier is published through the Honors Newspaper Advanced Writing and Editing classes and extracurricular involvement. Crier’s official website is accessible at www. mhsnews.net.

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Our Staff

Editor-in-Chief Lauren Hoogeveen

Story Editor Emily Dywan

Page Editors Kylee Barnes,

Deadline Manager Dorothy Lakshmanamurthy Adviser Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman

photos

by zoe clark, marianna young, lexi villalobos, aaron alvarez, heidy sanchez, john kullerstrand, karla aguilar & damien salahieh

Head Photographers Marianna Young, Zoe Clark

Gabby Van Horne, Emma Starkey

Cartoonist and Photographer Damien Salahieh

Photographers Lexi Villalobos, Aaron Alvarez, Heidy Sanchez, John Kullerstrand, Karla Aguilar

Degree), (Teachconcerts.

Dave Bufjob have Belluomini, Algebra

Bel-wha-mini University, University, job probaphysical something

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Kell-eh-her Varcollege.” job in a

6 7 8 9 10 11

from left to right Ms. Kyleen Nolan with Jacob Salazar, sophomore; Mrs. Kristen Salan; Mrs. Nichole Walters and Mr. Jeffrey Sinder / photos by zoe clark, lexi villalobos & heidy sanchez

Subjects Taught: Chemistry and Pre-AP Chemistry

Previously: Returning after four years with her kids

Years Teaching: 13

College: Butler University

Fun Fact: “I love to run. I have a half marathon next weekend and my goal is to get back into doing more of them.”

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you want?: “Probably a nurse practitioner, something in the health field.”

Mrs. Kristen Salan, school counselor

Pronunciation: Sall-ann

Previously: Main office secretary

Years as Counselor: second year College: Purdue Northwest, Valparaiso University

Fun Fact: “I have been on two mission trips the past two years.”

If not a counselor, then what?: “I’d travel to help others in need.”

Ms. Nichole Walters, non-instructional assistant

Previously: Substitute teacher

Years in Education: First year College: Western Governors University

Fun Fact: “A long time ago, I used to be a clown for charity for about 10 years. I was a silent clown, and instead of speaking I used a kazoo to communicate.” If not teaching, then what?: “I would probably want to get into zoology or paleontology because I love animals and dinosaurs.”

Mr. Jeffrey Sinder, exceptional needs

Pronunciation: Cinder

Previously: instructional aid

Years Teaching: 4 years College: Purdue Northwest

Fun Fact: “I used to mountain bike.” If not teaching, then what?: “A train engineer.”

changing the game

new changes, read on mhsnews.net

electronics

At MHS, an older rule where head phones and phones are not permitted in the classroom unless it’s for an academic purpose, has been modified to be stricter.

“I think we probably got away with the pandemic without enforcing the policy,” Mr. Nolan, principal, said. “If you need them for academic reasons, teachers still have that autonomy. I would go down to study hall last year and look in the back and there was a lot of Netflix and Spotify, not a lot of homework.”

• GABBY VAN HORNE

digital passes

The new digital passes keep track of how long each student spends out in the hall and what class they are coming or going from. Once it has been 7 minutes, the pass “expires.” Along with monitoring time and location, the new pass system also limits the number of people in the North and South sides of the school individually.

“We think if a student is taking advantage of it, we can set the number of passes they have,” Mr. Brad Docter, dean of students, said. “But it’s also up to the teacher to say ‘no you just went, I don’t think you should go again.”

canvas lighting

Also, MHS introduced a new educational management platform face, Canvas, which replaced Blackboard. According to Mr. Morgan Nolan, principal, the reason for the new program was due to the expiration of Blackboard’s program terms, resulting in what could’ve been security and privacy issues.

New lights and dimmers are also being installed in every classroom, but teachers are being asked to leave their lights on. Previously, teachers would turn them off so it was easier to see the projector on the white boards.

photos by marianna young

“It’s a more conducive academic environment,” Mr. Nolan said. “There’s no research that supports having dark rooms is a good academic environment for students.”

MHS has implemented a universal grading scale for all classes. Now, grades are broken down into four separate categories: 60% assessments of learning (tests, projects, essays), 25% practice for learning (homework, classwork), 15% final exam and a 0% category for bench

-

marks.

• EMILY DYWAN

• KYLEE BARNES • LAUREN HOOGEVEEN Todorovic, d-oh-rwith be a be an

into a new direction

Mrs. Kyleen Nolan, science

but

wait, there’s more! there’s more to the story at mhsnews.net

opinion: loss of life and liberty

student column on the effects of indiana code 1608

A person’s name is a core part of their identity. It is one of the first things you learn about another person. For some students, the name assigned to them at birth is not the identity they see in themselves.

Now, students’ core identities are being written away, discarded...

singing aloud abroad

munster choir on their trip to austria over summer break

From the Salzburg Dom’s organ balcony thirty feet above a sold out crowd and the rest of the 200 choralists, with 100 of them being from Munster, Delaney Craig, senior, was one of the choralists chosen for a solo part in the piece, “Non Nobis Domine,”at the Salzburg Music Festival July 1...

plant your changes

student and staff perspective on climate change

Put yourself back into 2018. An average July summer in Indiana stood at an average temperature of only 76 degrees. Climate change once seemed like such a distant thought back then.

Five years later in 2023, our July summer’s average reached all new highs at 85 degrees. Our lockscreens are littered with near-hazardous air quality alerts and our news channels are plagued with the latest environmental disaster surrounding us from each edge of the country...

fall sports

a look at current sports records and upcoming games & meets

backtalk

what mhs teacher would you want to be and why?

“Mr. McGinnis because he’s the nicest teacher I’ve met.”

“Mr. Stalbaum because he is very into his job, and chill teacher. History is pretty interesting.”

“Mrs. Laflech so I can have her room.”

Daniella Muñoz, sophomore

Cash Sturges, freshman Phineas Spicer, sophomore

“Mrs. Ramos because she is a patient teacher and loves it interact with all types of people.”

Kaitlynn Booker, junior

“Mr. Barnes because he’s fun and has creative things you can do in his class.”

“Mr. Grunewald so I could beat the freshmen in dodgeball.”

“Mr. Dye because history is my favorite subject. He is a very good teacher and nice to all of his students.”

Niki Dimitrijevic, junior Jose Espiritu, senior

“Ms. B because she’s a very sweet teacher, and I feel like I could tell her anything.”

Isa Gonzalez, senior

“Mrs. Copp, because she is very energetic and she can explain things in a way people can understand.”

Ms. Robyn Brown, math teacher

"Me, because I’m perfect.”

STRIKE A CHORD During a choir event at the Minoritenkirche in Vienna, Tara Gaither, senior, sings. It was the choir’s last day in Austria, this concert being the height of their trip. “I loved learning from such talented directors and seeing all the architecture,” Tara said. (photo by sarah-anne lanman)

SLAM DOWN Ready to block the ball, Ella Woltman and Aiden Leverick, seniors, jump to the net. The volleyball team won against Hanover Central on August 24 3-0. (photo by zoe clark)

INSIDE VOICES Singing in the Salzburg Dom, the choir students perform for the Salzburg Choral Festival. (photo by sarah-anne lanman)

Sergio Magallanes, freshman

Mr. Matthew Kalwasinski, psychology teacher