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Crier/Dec. 11, 2015
Quick Notes Science Olympiad Three Science Olympiad teams compete at Boyceville, each places in top 15 Science Olympiad competed at Boyceville High School Science Olympiad Invitational Saturday, Dec. 5. Seventy-seven teams from 50 schools competed, and each individual Munster team, identified by different colors, placed in the top 15. Munster Black placed sixth, Munster Red placed seventh, and Munster White placed fifteenth, according to Harsh Jhaveri, senior. “We felt accomplished because there were 77 teams, which is more than Nationals,” Harsh said. “I feel like we are pretty well set (for future competitions) because there weren’t too many low placings, and we know we’re on the right track.” In individual events, Munster Black placed first in Experimental Design, Munster Red placed first in Dynamic Planet, and Munster White placed first in Electric Vehicle. Science Olympiad’s next competition is January 16.
Mr. Sokol’s Resignation Mr. Sokol takes management position, leaves STM after end of semester After 14 years of teaching at MHS, Mr. Joseph Sokol, math teacher, will start his new management position, his first job outside of education, in January next year. “I feel very good about (my time spent at Munster). I have no regrets,” Mr. Sokol said. “It’s been a great teaching career, and as everybody says, it’s a great place to work.” Mr. Mark Knight, math teacher, will absorb the majority of Mr. Sokol’s current schedule. Mrs. Jessica Baird, math teacher, will now teach AP Statistics, which was formerly Mr. Knight’s class. Administration has hired retired MHS teacher Mr. Don Bugaski to replace classes between Mrs. Baird, Mr. Knight and Mr. Sokol. “(I’ll never forget) the fun moments with students,” Mr. Sokol said. “Every day there’s always something funny, when a student says or does something funny in those ‘you had to be there’ moments, in the sense that it is hard to replicate that moment. Sometimes there’s nothing more fun than a room full of teenagers.”
Corrections
In issue 4 of Crier, Hockey coach Rick Rubino’s name was misspelled. Crier regrets this error.
photo by Easan Venkat
LISTEN UP Preparing for their annual Meat Grinder practice, juniors (from left to right) Skyler Gronkiewicz, Jake Ingoglia, Dylan Harish, Maddie Foley, Mary Kate Pruzin, Caia Trykall, David Green, Gaby Ramirez listen to We the People sponsor, Mr. Michael Gordon, who invites former program alumni and area lawyers to introduce civic education. “Typically at a regular practice we meet with multiple people who are experts in their field,” Gaby said. “The Meat Grinder differs from a regular practice because we met with lawyers we had never presented in front of before.”
Showdown at State We the People increases practice in order to prepare for State competition Sunday, Monday in Indianapolis Chloe Wineinger Design Editor For each member of We the People, “studying 2,000 years worth of intellectual history” and “wrestling with the nuances of a 200-year-old constitution” is a daily routine practiced at least three hours a day before or after school, according to Mr. Michael Gordon, We the People sponsor. “There’s a quote by an Indiana University basketball coached named Bobby Knight who said, ‘Practice should be harder than the game itself,’ and I don’t see why we should be using a lesser philosophy,” Mr. Gordon said. Those practices will ultimately aid the team this Sunday and Monday at the State competition located at the Crowne Plaza in Indianapolis. At this convention, the team will showcase their knowledge of various United States founding documents. Judges will evaluate the team and ask them questions based on their presentations. We the People practices daily before and after school, while Wednesday and Thursday’s practices are modeled after Congressional hearings with attorneys and alumni. Not only do team members take away more knowledge and presentation skills from these meetings, but they can also interact with professional adults who serve as role models for those interested in civics, according to Mr. Gordon.
“In a lot of ways, our full practices are a coming together of a community,” Mr. Gordon said. “It’s hard to leave those practices not feeling a little more than in- Practice makes perfect spired.” We the People invites local lawyers, On top of practice, some alumni for variety of practices team members double their workload by competing in n Monday Night Practices: Practice held Wednesday but traditionally held two events instead of one. on Monday nights; groups of volunThis year there are 15 stuteers, lawyers and program alumni dents in We The People, comhost events pared to the usual 18 student minimum. The team n Unit practice with Mr. Gordon: Regular practices in which units, is required to fill six events groups of three or four students, edit with three people per event, speeches and discuss content so doubling up is necessary for the team, as well as being n Meat Grinder: Once-a-year practice that introduces rigorous civic twice as educated for those education with lawyers and some who do double up, accordformer alumni ing to Jake Ingoglia, junior. “It’s certainly much more n Civic Nights: Increased practices work, essentially doubling with alumni of the program the workload, but We The People really draws you in source: Mr. Michael Gordon, We the People sponsor and makes you want to learn more and more,” Jake said. “So really, I enjoy the pressure of two units. Sure it’s a lot of work, but it’s certainly worth it, and it’s enjoyable work at that.”
Hitting all of the right notes Twelve students chosen for ACDA Conference in February Danie Oberman Associate Editor Twelve members of MHS Chorale and Intermediate choirs were admitted to the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Central Division Conference. The conference, which occurs every other year, takes place over three days in Chicago and includes between 150-200 high school choir students from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
“(Auditioning) is just showing off pure voice right here and taking the best pitches and the best voices that they heard probably out of the three or four hundred that auditioned,” Mr. William Woods, music teacher, said. The students admitted to the conference are seniors Lauren Florek, Yiorgo Karnezis, Jonathan Neeley and Antoine Van Dyke; juniors Elliott Fus, Frank Storino and Matt Travis; and sophomores Richard Caraher, Alainna Carey, Olivia Hesterman, Chloe Janco-
sek and Abigail Negri. “I feel great (about making ACDA),” Elliott said. “It’s a great confidence booster. I get to use my musical skills at a high level. It’s great to be part of a really elite group, and it’s great to represent MHS.” Working with top singers from all four states provides Alainna with a valuable learning opportunity. “I know there is going to be a variety of freshman through seniors, so I hope to maybe have some of the older kids
shed some words of enlightenment on me,” Alainna said. Attendees will also work with choir directors from colleges, high schools, middle schools, churches and professional choirs in preparation for a final performance. Attendees are required to memorize and master six songs before February. “It’s a really talented group of people who read an extremely high level of music,” Elliott said. “I think it’s a great experience for musicians like myself in the future, because eventually I’m going to be going into music. I think this is a good learning experience, and I think it’s great for the people who made the choir.”