PW
P O W W O W
6450 US Highway 6, Portage Volume 78 - Issue 46- May 2018
Aiming high Despite a number of setbacks due to the weather and player injuries, the girls tennis team has high hopes for the future of the tennis program.
Story | Page 14
Table of Contents - May
In this Issue... News 03 Distinguished Young Woman scholarship program 04 New ice cream shop in Portage 05 Upcoming Founders Square events 06 Primary election how-to
Features
07 New update on cell phone policy
08 Recall the 2017-2018 school year with this year in spread 10 Portage’s own comfort dog is spotlighted 11 Meet the cool dogs of PHS
Sports 12 Portage cheerleader plans to cheer at Purdue 13 Junior Trey Sebben soars to the top this track season 13 Girls tennis season is in full swing
Opinions 15-19 The Pow Wow seniors recall their years at PHS with senior good-byes
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P O W W O W
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Editor-in-Chief Tori Henderson
Design Editor Kaylee Darnell
Managing Editor of Print Trenton Haraminac
Social Media Editor Jessica Butz
Managing Editor of Web Evan Gerike
Staff Photographers Bri Fravel Gracie Hansen Hope Anderson
Photography Editor Madison Perez
Staff Writers Emily Extin Darius Owens Becca Rosado Jamie Valadez Chloe Frey Staff Designers McKenzie Price Sarah Russ
News - May
Distinguished Young Women Indeed DYW participents describe what it takes and requires to be apart of the scholarship program The class of 2019 is ecstatic to put on a show in this years Distinguished Young Woman Staff Writer scholarship program. Carrie @jswagggiee Martin-WIlliams is running the program for her 8th year and she is excited about this class. “This year we have 18 girls, so we’re a small bunch, but a determined and motivated bunch. I think it’ll be a great show,” said Martin-Williams. Juniors Jackie Alaniz and Olivia Wood are both really happy they decided to participate in the DYW program. The two joined the program for different reasons, but they can both agree that DYW has been nothing but fun so far. “I decided to do DYW for the ‘high school experience.’ I thought it would be something fun and new to do that was out of my comfort zone and it has been great so far,” said Wood. Alaniz on the other hand joined DYW for more of the scholarship aspect of it. “The thing that made me sign up for DYW was the scholarship opportunities it gives. I plan to go to college and I want as much help as I can get,” said Alaniz. The two have worked really hard in the three categories of the competition: Fitness, self-expression, and talent. Out of all the categories, fitness is Martin-Williams’ favorite. “My favorite part of the program has to be a tie between the first 30 minutes before the show when the girls are getting ready and excited and also the fitness routine. I just love the fast-paced music and watching their choreographed routine. The girls are strong!” said Martin-Williams. Both of the girls agree that the fitness routine has been the most challenging part of DYW, as it calls for strength, stamina all while being poised and keeping a smile on their face. “The fitness routine has been the most challenging part so far. It’s been hard to build the stamina to be able to get through it fluently,” said Wood. Overall, the girls have been having a great time and both are happy they decided to participate in the program. Martin-Williams wants all of the girls to take something away from the program. “I hope the girls feel a sense of pride in their own tenacity, accomplishments, and ability to step out of their comfort zones. Public speaking and performing can be scary and I’m always so proud on how well they present themselves,” said Martin-Williams. The final night of the program will take place on Saturday, May 19. 1. DYW group hibiscus strike a pose at the end of the fitness routine. They waited On Saturday, the top 10 finalists and the 2019 Distinguished Young for people to take photos 2. Olivia Wood doing a superman pose during the first round of premliminaries. 3. DYW girls form a line after finishing the fitness routine. Photos taken by: Hope Anderson
Jamie Valadez
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News - May
Sweet tooth, Sweet Freaks Owner of Sweet Freaks daughter explains how it was to open Sweet Freaks Kaylee Darnell
Portage has recently opened a new ice cream shop at the Design Editor Portage Mall, and business has been booming. @_kayleedarnell Sweet freaks opened on April 17th, and since then, they have yet to not be busy. Sweet Freaks is an ice cream shop located at 2612 Portage Mall, and has items from; cup cakes, cakes, nachos, hot dogs, sundaes, fruit bowls, shakes, floats, cones, scoops, candy, and their big hit, monster shakes. “It took lots and lots of work [to open]. The inspector was giving her a hard time opening, simply because she has power,” Tatiana Valdez, 11, daughter of the owner of Sweet Freaks, said. Valdez said they had been working on Sweet Freaks for months and had to repair almost everything. She also said that they were cleared to open a few times, but then kept getting pushed back down and were told to replace things time and time again. “She made my mom redo the plumbing multiple times even after the
plumbing inspector was good to go. The lady was really rude and didn’t communicate well with the other inspectors. She quit her job and put all her time and money into it, just to be stopped by problems above her power,” Valdez said. “She’s spent everyday working there for months cleaning it out, redoing plumbing, installing sinks, moving in supplies and decorating. My siblings and I all helped paint and clean there too. It was really just frustrating that we put so much money and work into it just to have to fix little things over again because the inspector wanted it a certain way,” Valdez said. Valdez’s mom paid for everything herself, and then some on credit, so having to constantly purchase new items to be able to open, and quit your previous job to focus on this new one, was not an easy task. Sweet Freaks has now been open for a little over two months, and plans to be open throughout the summer. Sweet Freaks is open Sunday, 1pm-9p.m., weekends, 11-10p.m., and weekdays 11-9p.m.
“She quit her job and put all her time and money into it, just to be stopped by problems above her power.””
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Photo Illustration by: Madison Perez
News - May
Events this Summer Movies on the Square ( Founders Square) (All movies begin at dusk) 6/8 Moana 6/15 Goonies 6/22 Beauty and the Beast (new) 6/29 Frozen 7/6 Justice League 7/13 Inside Out 7/20 Lego Batman 7/27 Toy Story 8/3 Coco 8/10 Tangled 8/17 Matilda
Events in Portage 5/28 Trail Run Extreme 12k @ Imagination Glen 6/5 Cruise Night @ Woodland Park 6/8 Relay for Life @ Willowcreek Middle School 6/8 - 8/17 Market on the Square @ Founders Square
Top movies coming out this summer 6/15 Incredibles 2 6/22 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 6/29 Sicario 2: Soldado 7/6 Ant-Man and the Wasp 7/6 Sorry to Bother You 7/8 Hereditary 7/8 Ocean’s 8 7/13 Eighth Grade 7/27 Mission: Impossible - Fallout 8/3 The Spy Who Dumped Me Design by Jessica Butz and McKenzie Price
Information provided by Portage Department of Parks & Recreation Facebook page
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News - May
Primary Results
Here are some of the winners in each party from the May 8th Primary Democrats
Joe Donnelly
Peter Visclosky
Randall Wilkening Nikita Momola Terry Whitten Lori Wilkie
Office United States Senate
United States House
Republicans
Mike Braun
Mark Leyva
Coroner
Cyndi Dykes
Portage Township
Antonio Gutierrez Joyce Webster
Board Members
REGISTER TO VOTE! If you will be 18 by November 6, you can vote in the general election Visit indianavoters.in.gov Enter voting information Vote in the election 6
News - May
Cell phone policy is success Policy will remain in effect for next year Gill noted that the students have done a good job of adapting to the change in policy. “I think that at the beginning it was tough for kids because it was a total change, and I think we were very hard at first.” Throughout the year, the amount of phones or earbuds turned in per day has decreased steadily. At the beginning of the school year, around ten to 15 phones were turned in to the office each day. Now, the number is closer to around five turned in each day. Gill also recognizes that the declining rate of cell phones being turned in can be attributed to not only the fact that students are putting away their phones, but that stopping those with phones out is no longer a priority. “It’s a combination of both. I think the kids have learned, because after the first time they have to have a parent come pick it up, so they don’t want their parents to have to come [to the office] and have to pick it up. So I think kids get conditioned sometimes that ‘I’m not supposed to have it out.’” In terms of keeping track of who has had a phone turned in more than once, the office has it under control. Every time a student gets a cell phone turned in, there’s a sheet of paper that gets filled out,” Gill said. “It has first time, second time, third time, fourth time, fifth time, so we have a big binder with all those. And the teachers have [orange electronic confiscation] that they send down with the phone so we know whose it is. We give the phones back the first time at the end of the school day. But after the first time the parents have to come get it, and the parents get angry at the kid because they have to come in.” Gill added that the teachers have done a great job cooperating with the policy. “The teachers did a great job working on this, but I think that sometimes it just gets to a point where it isn’t worth it,” Gill said. “I tell the teachers, don’t chase a kid down. Get his name, send him down to the office. I don’t want teachers being combative. I don’t want teachers saying ‘give me your cell phone, give me your earbuds.’ That doesn’t work either. I still see earbuds out, and I don’t really take The cell phone policy that was Evan Gerike placed this year has brought positive them all the time, I just say ‘put that away, do you want me to take Managing Editor of Web them?’ and they shove it down immediately. results, and will remain in effect “I think most of the kids that have the headphones in are during the 2018-19 school year. @evangerike listening to music. Rarely do I see kids trying to type something like I The policy, which is that cell used to. phones are only allowed before the Gill reiterated several times that the policy is effective at our first bell, during lunch, and after the school, and that it has accomplished the goal it was intended for. He final bell, was enacted at the beginning of this school year. added that because the middle schools have strict cell phone policies According to Head Principal Max Gill, the policy has yielded that play into the policy at the high school, it is important to keep the positive results. policies going. “Our tardies plummeted,” Gill said. “I see kids talking to each “I usually try to announce the cell phone policy every other in the hallway, which I didn’t used to. I used to see kids walking real slow, trying to message somebody. I don’t see that much anymore. I think morning,” Gill said. And if you have somehow managed to miss it, he really it helps students get to class. People aren’t banging into each other in the does. hallway, so I think it’s a good policy.” Photo Illustration by Madison Perez
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Feature - May
A year in January 2018: Gymnastics went to State September 2017: High School Nation
Designed by: Sarah Russ
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February 2018: Wrestling team went to State
Feature - May
n recap March 2018: First half of West Completed
May 2018: Prom April 2018: Robotics Worlds Competition
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Feature - May
Putting the comfort in comfort dog Portage comfort dog travels the country to comfort those affected by traumatic events Tori Henderson
On top of his Editor-in-Chief duties of comforting @torixhenderson students within Portage High School, Isaiah the Comfort Dog travels all over the country in hopes of bringing joy and comfort to those affected by a variety of tragedies. Isaiah has been working at Portage High School for four years. He took over for the former comfort dog Prince after he retired in 2013. Isaiah was trained through the Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), who started working with the dogs in a female prison. “This gentleman that was a pastor and working at the prison saw the impact the dogs had on the prisoners that were learning how to train them,” Tim Kunstek, Isaiah’s caretaker and handler, said. “That pastor started training dogs and using them in churches so that’s kind of how it got started.” Kunstek started working with the dogs through his church. He first worked with Prince, who is now retired, before working with Isaiah. “My two sons and I were begging my wife and we finally wore her down and she said we could be the caregiver,” Kunstek said. “Three people in the church were trained to be handlers and they brought a van with three dogs. Prince got out of the van, took a step out and walked right over by me.”
Twelve years later, the LCC has 129 dogs placed throughout the country with an additional 22 puppies expected to graduate from training with the current class. “The dogs are trained from birth to about nine months. It’s daily training all the time and they rotate people that they’re trained with. The dogs get more hours of training that a police dog or a seeing eye dog,” Kunstek said. “Isaiah is actually going to be dual vested now where he will not only be a K9 comfort dog but he is going to be a fireman and police comfort dog. My wife is a retired state trooper and he has his own badge and he has a vest so that if there’s a tragedy with a fireman or policeman my wife is the only one who can handle him when he has that vest on.” The LCC has three branches: K9 comfort dogs, military comfort dogs and police and fire comfort dogs. “Really, there’s not too many of these dogs that are placed in schools; they’re placed in churches. The only other school that has a dog in their school is Sandy Hook. We placed Lily out there to that school after their shooting.” Kunstek said. Isaiah traveled to Sandy Hook as a puppy after the school shooting in 2012. Kunstek, his wife, or another member of their church has also taken him to the scene of the Boston bombing, the floods in California, the Pulse Nightclub, Parkland, Las Vegas and Hurricane Harvey. “When they call and say they’re coming to pick him up I just pack his bag and get everything ready and send him out.”
Kunstek said. Isaiah spent five days in Parkland, Florida after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” Kunstek said. “When him and my wife were in Florida the first day was like “Oh I don’t have a dog I can do all of this stuff” and then the second day I miss him. It’s like a part of me is gone. When I take him outside for our little breaks that helps me unwind a little bit.” Isaiah typically spends Monday through Thursday at the high school, and his weekends vary from week to week. “He actually has a lady up in Chicago that does all his scheduling and she’ll send it to me. He’s got a pretty flexible schedule but concrete is usually Monday through Thursday here at the school.” Kunstek said. Isaiah also visits elementary schools in the district, the Portage Library and Valparaiso University during finals week. “Everybody asks why we have a dog in the school and if they could see the faces of kids when a kid’s having a really bad day and lost a grandparent, been in a fight and they’re getting ready to be suspended and I’ll leave and come back and they’re sitting on the floor petting the dog.” Kunstek said. “I mean I can’t do that. I can’t calm a person down or put them in that kind of mood. They’re special animals. Like I said, he loves everybody. No matter how good you are or how bad you are, grades, anything. He accepts you and loves you and he’ll be there for you.”
Left: Isaiah sits in front of a sign at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He visited the school after 17 people were killed by an active shooter. Right: Isaiah, left, and former comfort dog Prince, right, sit together at home. Isaiah took over Prince’s job at Portage High School after he retired in 2013.
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Photos taken from Isaiah’s Facebook page.
Feature - May
The goodest of the good dogs Students and staff at Portage High School tell about their dogs and their stories
Dutch
Beary White and Alice Cooper
Gibs
Scout, Octavia, Chance, and Jasper
“His mom bit off his paw when he was born when she went to bite the umbilical cord. She also bit a toe off of one of his back feet. He’s energetic and super loving.” Rating: 9/10
“We had to delay when we got him because he had an umbilical cord hernia. A week and a half after we got him, he had cherry eye which progressed into something worsehe had to get two surgeries for that. He’s okay now, it’s all good, he’s healed very nicely. Rating: 11/10
Description: “Beary’s grumpy and Cooper’s very lovely. Cooper does everything to get in trouble, he doesn’t care. Beary’s probably my favorite. He listens and he’s good.” Rating: Beary 10/10, Cooper 2/10
“They’re all rescues. Scout came from the animal shelter in North Judson, Octavia was from a Chicago shelter, Chance was from the Miller animal shelter, and Jasper came from Michigan.” Rating: Scout 10/10, Octavia 7/10, Chance 400/10, Jasper 10/10
Emily Extin Staff Writer @emilyextin
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Feature - May
Portage senior signs to cheer at Purdue Senior Kristin Gaffney signs at Purdue University to continue her cheerleading career 1
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1. Kristin Gaffney, 12, signs to Purdue for cheerleading. Her family and coaches were there for support. 2. Gaffney poses for photos after signing. Her and Emma Garzella stand with their moms after signing. Photos by: Bri Fravel.
Trenton Haraminac
Whenever a student Managing Editor of Print at Portage High @haraminac School signs to play sports at a college level it is a big deal. However when a student signs to attend a Big Ten school for sports it is regarded a little higher. Senior Kristin Gaffney recently signed with Purdue University to continue her cheerleading career. Gaffney beat the odds by being one of only two girls selected for the Coed team out of
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thirty-two freshmen that tried out for the team. “I think something that separated me from everyone else was that I had improved tremendously since I had first met the coach.” Gaffney Said. Gaffney also credits her success with driving down to Purdue University once or twice a week to stunt with some of the guys that were already on the team. “I think the coach saw that I was very dedicated.” Gaffney added. Gaffney not only had to perform when cheering but also in the classroom to be able to attend Purdue. “I took my SAT and ACT four times just to keep
improving my score for a better chance at an acceptance to the school.” Said Gaffney Gaffney also adds that she worked very hard in the classroom and maintained a 3.9 GPA through her four years at Portage High School. Gaffney says she is really just excited for the whole experience. “Not very many people get to say they cheered for a BIG 10 , D1 school and it’s really just a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Said Gaffney Gaffney stated that since tryouts she has been conditioning on her own and keeping up with her skills until she starts going down for practice the weekend of May 19-20.
Junior Trey Sebben jumps over hurdles at an outdoor track meet.
Junior takes lead in track season
Sebben has been climbing to the top and making a name for himself this track season Darius Owens As student athletes have started According to Sebben his coaches have pushed him harder than they ever Staff Writer @_antwann_
their outdoor season with most seniors injured, Athletes are continuing to have a great outdoor season with the help of one upcoming runner. According to senior Angel Sanchez he injured his hip flexor, his teammate senior Jaelen Love broke his collarbone and senior Devin Griffin out for tearing his hamstring. Head coach Nick Haas has been working to get the boys in the best shape they can to win state this year. We all want to win state this year and the seniors especially want this since this will be our last year on the team, Sanchez said. Students have been doing just what they wanted to with a 2-1 record to start their outdoor track season. With the help of junior Trey Sebben the team will still stand a chance to make it to state and possibly win. Sebben runs the 100m hurdles, the 300m hurdles, 4X100 relay, as well as the 4X400 relay.
have to be better than their competitors while also enjoying himself. With state approaching the athletes have to make sure that they beat their PR( Personal Record) in order to take the medal home at state, Sebben said. The team will have to reach new levels together if they want to make it to number one this year. There is definitely room for improvement for the team as a whole but I can see us standing on the podium at IU, in June, holding a medal.
Senior Angel Sanchez is being handed the baton by freshman Chris Ortiz.
Trey Sebben finishes his 60 meter dash at his indoor track meet.
We all want to win state this year and the seniors especially want this since this will be our last year on the team, Sanchez said.
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Sports - May
New year, same goals
The girls varsity tennis team are in the midst of their season Becca Rosado
This year the PHS girls tennis team has had their ups Staff Writer and downs. With injuries and weather the team has been @becca_rosado01 persistent through it all. Most recently senior Ana Deanda was taken out for the season due to appendicitis. This left her doubles partner, senior Cassie Quiroz, in need of a new partner. “I played #2 varsity doubles originally with Ana,” said Quiroz, “but lately it’s been Hannah Doell.” Doell is a junior on the tennis team and also has had to adjust to a new partners. Deanda has been a member of the tennis team since her freshman year of high school and before Deanda’s injury her and Quiroz had a winning record. Even with all the new changes Quiroz says she is making the best out of the season. “I’ve been having a lot of fun,” Quiroz said, “my goals were to win as many matches as possible and even though I haven’t won them all I still try my best every time, and give it my all.” This is Quiroz fourth year on the team and is sad to leave the team at the end of the season. “I’m going to miss my team the most and all the memories and being together everyday,” said Quiroz, “ the fact that this is the last time I’ll get to play a high school sport for competition rather just just for fun makes me sad.” Quiroz does not think she will be continuing tennis into college, and if she does it might be for fun or in a intramural team. At the beginning of the season the girls were on a winning streak of 5, with the games ending in a score of 5-0 or 4-1 every time. However, right before the match against Valpo, Deanda said she knew something was wrong. “We were already warming up but the valpo coach talked to my coach and they got to pull me out and switch me with a JV girl without having to forfeit.” said Deanda, “My mom took me to the ER later that night after I had been throwing up for 10 hours and they did blood work tests and ultrasounds and found out I had gallstones which I had been tested for before but at porter they didn’t show up.” This has and will keep Deanda out of school from the first of May all the way until May 14. Despite all of Deanda’s troubles she continues to stay positive and wishes the best for her team. Quiroz said that the team prepared for their season by working out all together. “We all prepared by conditioning and working on strategies more,” Quiroz said, “I will and have been continuing to work on my form, reading open spots, and playing smart.” Deanda as well said how the team conditioned a lot to prepare for the season and ran to help keep them all in shape. The girls senior night was May 10 at PHS. As well as the girls had
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sectionals on May 15 where they placed fourth. For other event like this one on the tennis team and for score updates please visit Goportageindians.com or PHSPress.org.
Senior Cassie Quiroz waiting for a ball during a home match. The girls fought hard against Crown Point but they fell 5-0. Photo by: Gracie Hansen
Opinion - May
“Hola Tanneritos” Bri Fravel
Well my fellow Staff Photographer suffering students, @bri_fravel111 the year has finally come to an end for us seniors. As we countdown the days we have left, I sit here and think about everything that I have done throughout my high school career, and everything that has made me who I am today. When I was younger I had always loved to take pictures, but my freshman year I fell in love with photography. Sophomore year I took Film Photography which introduced me to the yearbook. Junior year I joined the yearbook staff as a photographer and learned the ins and outs of photography as a job. My senior year came along and I’m now the photography editor for the yearbook, and a photographer for the PowWow. I would like to start off by thanking my teachers for teaching me life lessons in and out of school. Also a big thank you to my three most favorite teachers for acting like my moms and
never letting me fail. Thank you for teaching me things that I’ll remember forever. Deavs, thank you for being one of my three moms at school. Thank you for always listening to all my drama, and telling me what not to do when I always wanted to make the wrong choice. Thank you for making your class my safe place and never wanting to leave it. Because of you, I’m furthering my career in photography at San Francisco Art Institute. I wouldn’t be going there without all of your support, and I definitely would not be who I am today without you. Hachi, thank you for being another one of my moms at school, and always listening to my drama and never failing to tell me I’m dumb when I tell you about boys. Thank you for always pushing me to do my best not only in your class but every single one of my classes. Thank you for making your class the best part of my day. Without you I wouldn’t be the artist I am today, and I definitely wouldn’t be going to one of the best art schools without you telling me that I’d make it. Wilkins, thank you for being my last mom at school, and always pushing me to try my best
even when I had given up at everything. Thank you for forcing me to apply to college when I was so dead set on not even going. Thank you for telling me that I’ve had senioritis since freshman year. I’ll miss coming in your office at the most random times just to annoy you. Without you I wouldn’t care as much as I do today and I definitely wouldn’t be going to San Francisco if it wasn’t for you. Thank you to all my past and current friends who helped me along the way, and made me into the person I am today. Thank you to the people who said that I’d never make it because of you I pushed myself to prove all of you wrong and that took me all the way to San Francisco. Thank you to those who actually supported me and gave me the confidence I have in myself for photography, and those who pushed me to always do my best. Thank you to everyone who helped make some of the best memories, the type I’ll never forget. To the underclassmen, goodluck with however many years you have left here. I’m sorry you’re still stuck here, but I promise senior year will be the best year.
Jswaggiee out People are not Staff Writer kidding when they @jswagggiee say high school flies by. These past four years have been bittersweet and I’ve been very fortunate to have crossed paths with some of the people I did in high school. High school really shows you who your true friends are. I have seen everyone’s true colors, and I’m leaving high school with a completely different friend group than who I started with. No matter who you’re with, where you are or what you’re doing, people will always try to tear you down, but it’s going to be you who comes out on top. Also, no matter how much you help and care for people, they will most likely switch up on you, so always put your own happiness first. Most importantly though, I was lucky
Jamie Valadez
enough to find my best friend here in this crazy mess. (You know who you are, I love you.) Although many teachers/staff did not have a huge impact on me, there are a few that I will never ever forget. Munden, thank you for showing me that it’s okay to be sassy and confident and to always be strong in everything I do. Deaves, thank you for always having my back and for being an amazing listener and for always brightening my days with your jokes. Krause, thank you for reminding me to stay true to myself and for always making me feel so beautiful and special and for being such a strong figure in my life. Stafford, thank you for caring about me and for always being my go-to guy even when I didn’t even really know you yet. You picked me up from rock bottom even when I didn’t ask you to and I’ll be thankful for you forever. If I learned one thing in high school (besides the fact that mom is always right) it’s that the
whole experience is what you make of it. Don’t just sit there and let the time pass, take action. Carpe Diem. Live in the moment always and make everything you do count because you’ll look back on all of this one day and realize how fast it all went by and trust me, you won’t want to miss out on anything. If you’re reading this and you know me, of course you know I’m going to end this with a sappy (but true) life quote. “If you want something in life, reach out and grab it.” -Christopher McCandless (Into the Wild) Enjoy high school and the people around you. After this is all over and you move your tassel from the right to the left, you really won’t see a majority of these faces again. Make your lives amazing and love every second of them. And in the end, no matter where I go in life, Portage will always be my home. Jswagggiee out.
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Opinion - May
Saying goodbye with a party, not tears
If anything Staff Photographer has ever let me @hopeleannxo down more, it’s the fact that high school was not like high school musical at all. And so would say I’d like a cash refund on all four years, but then again I think I’d need compensation for my emotional distress as well. Through all of the laughs and all the tears, mostly tears, high school has been quite the ride. Since freshman year we have all grown up a little, (hopefully) and we have all learned valuable lessons that we can take with us to college and use for the rest of our lives. Starting freshman year with my darkish eyeliner and aeropostale zip up sweater, I would have never thought I would be on staff for the school newspaper as a photographer, it just wasn’t my thing. Getting involved in high school was the least of my worries and the last thing on my mind. I didn’t do any sports, I typically was not one to try new things, and I just wanted to graduate and get out of Portage. Now a senior in high school, I still don’t do sports, I’ve tried at least 3 new things, (pow wow included), and I’m actually going to graduate believe it or not. Oh and if you’re wondering the answer is yes;
Hope Anderson
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I’m still trying to get out of Portage. Joking aside, I’d like to shout out some teachers who made the past four years of my life worth living. Good ole’ Patrick Wilkins- The man. The myth. The legend. Although you left teaching to become a team leader in math or whatever fancy title you’ve earned, you helped me understand math in a way as if I’d felt like the smartest person in the room. Math quickly had become my favorite subject. I’d always felt welcomed in your class and there was never a dumb question to ask. Among other reasons, your class always made my rainy days a little brighter. Miss. Dzuira- Thank you for always being my safe haven during my tough times and always being there for me when I truly thought I’d had no one else. You not only taught me English 9 & 10, but you also taught me that (as corny as it sounds) it is okay to love; even if it is the wrong person. I will always appreciate all that you have ever done for me. Marcia Hobart- When I am actually present at school, being in your class is always the most enjoyable part of my day. Thank you for always influencing me and helping me believe I can when I said so many times “I can’t”. I will forever be thankful for your huge heart and your passion for educating, I truly do not know how you haven’t quit your job.
Deaves- Where do I begin? 3 years ago you came to my photography teacher asking for students who might be interested in taking pictures for the school newspaper. So I told you my name and what grade I was in and that’s where it started. Ever since then I’ve gotten better and better at what I was doing and slowly just an extracurricular class to me seemed to be my whole life- literally. Being in publications for so long, I’ve met so many new people and have gotten so many great opportunities. With this being your last year, and another set of seniors leaving, I just wanted to express my gratitude and tell you how much I appreciate everything you have done for me, as well as many others. You are always open to new ideas and concepts and you help all of us out while showing us we don’t have to go through anything alone. Because of pow wow, I share the most wonderful memories with the greatest group I could ever ask for. A shout out to all of my friends (new and old) who’ve helped these dreaded 4 years go by so much faster: Darius, Sam, Kenny, Aleacia, Jamie, Brooke, Kaylee, Bri, Jaiden, Amanda, Angelica, Kristy, Erica and Cheyenne. As plankton once said, “goodbye everyone, I’ll remember you all in therapy.”
Opinion- May
‘Good Night and Good Luck’
Trenton Haraminac
As I look Managing Editor of Print back at the @haraminac scared little freshman I was entering a big new school with so many people I laugh at how dumb it was to be nervous. High School is a great experience filled with great friends and teachers that you won’t forget for the rest of your life. High School is what you make it. So if your friends ask to go to a football game or join powderbuff, do it. Get to know your teachers and have fun with school don’t hate your classes. I would like to give a shoutout to some of the teachers who helped make my High School experience a great one. Deaves, you have taught me so much and made me decide what my career path would be. Without your help making me become a better writer I don’t know if that would have been possible. Not only are you their to help us with our work whenever we need it but you help us even when we are just having a bad day or
fighting with each other in class. It is sad that new students won’t get to experience what an amazing teacher you are. Although it hurts me to say this, thank you Cavan. We didn’t always get along but now that I have had you for the third straight year in a row your beginning to grow on me. Whether we are just talking about how good or bad the cubs are doing or getting in heated debates over politics (especially last year’s presidential race) you always make me laugh and enjoy your class. It wasn’t always like that, I had to work hard through your research project, and all the squovaling we did in your class. My least favorite thing of all though was AR. However I don’t think I would be as good of a student as I am today without your help and constant badgering to do my work. Thank you Mr. TImmerman and Mr. Rhoda for making band a fun and enjoyable class that was a break in my day. I can always count on walking in the band room when I am having a bad day and know that a joke from Mr. T or just the music we are playing will cheer me up. I will miss not playing every single day in
your class and being able to perform at solo and ensemble (even if it wasn’t always good). I could not have asked for a better last concert than our festival. Lastly I would like to thank all my golf coaches Kunstek, Mulroe, and Smock. You have all pushed me to be a better player and continue to help me get better each and every day. Kunstek I wish you would have stayed all four years but I am lucky to have you as a coach for as long as I did. I still loving seeing you in the halls (mainly because you have Isaiah). But for real you always ask how I’m doing or how golf is going and it brightens my day to see you. Mulroe and Smock although I am probably hard to coach you never gave up on me and continue to push me. Thank you both for making my senior season as best as possible and hopefully are season isn’t over quite yet. To the friends who helped make my high school experience great thank you all. I would not be the person I am today without each and every one of you. Shoutout to: Gavin, Tyler, Alaynah, Kenzie, Tori, Emily, Evan, Blue, Ethan, Jonny, Zack, Jimmy, Anthony, and Josh.
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Opinion - May
See all you on the safe side Darius Owens
This is for you, you, Staff Writer you my number @_antwann_ ones. High school is nothing like what you see in the movies. Love is not easy to find, friends do not just appear, people are not always nice to you, and you do not always get what you want, but do not let that stop you from doing everything you choose to do. Looking back to freshman year I am proud to say that I have matured from being that one messy student and when I say messy I mean cleanup in aisle four type messy, and ignorant african american child. I could have said I changed from being loud , but then that would be a lie and why would I lie to you guys. Freshman year was not too bad. I got to experience some interesting stuff, but overall it was a blast. I wish you guys could see my face writing this. I’m sitting here vibing to the one and only Usher Raymond and typing this goodbye. Enough of the back story let’s dive in(in my Trey Songz voice) to this goodbye. I definitely gotta start mine with some thank you’s. It would make no sense to not thank the special people in my life. A special thank you to: Mrs. Thibideau. I do not think anyone in Portage High School or even in life will understand the bond we have. From the first day of freshman year I have always known that you would be my favorite. I love so many things about you. You stayed consistent with our class, you always made sure that no problem was too big for you and if you could not help you made sure we found someone that could help us together. You brought in the best cookies ever baked when we did good things and even still when I go to visit you I might steal a couple from the rest of your students. Every day you drilled into our head your favorite quote of all time. From that day forward whenever I am put into a bad situation in the back of my head I hear you saying to me “It is nice to be nice”. Thank you for everything that you have done for me and I promise the day I graduate college I will hunt you down if I have to and make sure you are able to see me in my cap and gown on graduation day. Do not think I forgot about you Mrs. Donna Shalissa White. You made looping better than anything I can possibly imagine.
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I do not think it was really even you teaching me math (Do not get me wrong your a great teacher) rather than your country accent. As I am writing this I hear you saying that the worksheet we got are being assigned is a “Double whammy”. Instead of you just saying the sheets were worth more than the normal point you always had a funny and creative way of saying things. I personally do not think you even knew you were doing it but I am eternally grateful for you. You still give me snacks when you see me even when I am not hungry and the only way I know to repay you is to walk across the turf of graduation day and say I made it. Can’t forget about you Deaves. You recruited me my eighth grade year to join your journalism class. Being a newspaper writer was a goal that I set for myself and was given the opportunity to fill when entering high school. You taught me not only to become a better writer but how to become a better people’s person as well. I can never repay you for that but I promise one way or another in college I will use everything you have taught me over these incredible four years. Thank you for everything that you have done for me personally and for us as a publication. This is your last year teaching the one thing you love and I am glad that I got to be apart of such a bitter sweet memory of yours. Mr. Grim you are such a great teacher, Ryan Odell thank you for all the lessons you have taught me and all the fun time we have had together. Stafford thank you for all the times you have given me advice and all the times you yelled at me for trying to skip class. I have to give a big thank you to Mr. Brian Zofkie. Lots of people do not like you because your coaching methods are different , but that is what makes you the great coach you are now. When I was in middle school I got the opportunity to be in one of your volleyball camps and ever since then I have loved the sport. Volleyball is a passion of mine and I faithfully watch videos of other schools and coaches playing volleyball to get better and hopefully make a intramural team in college. Thank you to every other teacher that was not mentioned in my goodbye for never giving up on me and seeing that I am a bright student and I have potential. I have always seen pictures and people saying that senior year is when you have the least amount of friends, but I can
say that is false with a capital F. I have met some amazing individuals through the course of my senior year. Shout out to Hope, Broghan, Alexander, Kaylee, Bri, Brianna, Desiree, Takira, Qamren, Krystal, Vinny, John, Cierra, Hannah, Peyton, Jacob, Cass, Shelby, my main man Noah, Moo Moo, Alec, Asia, Amber, Renae, Daija, Lorena, Bexs, Lexie, Madison, Gracie, David, Jaime, Rebecca, Najee, and Tayah. Without you guys my senior year would not have been as much fun as it was and I will never forget any of you guys I promise. Now did you really think I would not leave you with any advice before ending this interestingly long senior goodbye? I am not that ignorant. High school is all fun and games until senior year. Do not let someone else ever dictate your future because you are never going to live to please them you only live to please yourself. I am not going to be all motivational speakerish to you, but I will say that life is not gonna pause because you can not catch up. Be free. Live life responsibly. And never forget Christ is always watching! I am Darius Owens and it is always a great day to hydrate and mind your business.
Opinion - May
“On the road again” Kaylee Darnell
Four years ago, I was a baby freshman, trudging through Design Editor the “scary walls” of PHS. Being terrified of the big bad seniors, @_kayleedarnell and constantly getting lost. I was rushing from West to East and screaming for air to calm my breathing when I had finally reached the third floor. I was learning the quickest routes to my classes while avoiding being trampled by upperclassmen. I was sitting in English trying my hardest to decipher what the heck Shakespeare was saying. I was contemplating quitting school at the thought of having to swim in that horrendously cold water for gym again and again. I was standing behind the seniors, juniors and sophomores at the football games finally learning the Fight Song. I was becoming who I am today. If you knew me my freshman year, you knew I loved to play softball, and I loved to write. If you know me today, you know that I am going on to play softball in college and that I am the Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook and Design Editor for the Pow Wow. You’d also know that I plan on studying journalism and communications in college to further my career in reading and writing. A lot has changed since I was a freshman. I have grown as a person and as a writer, I have opened up more, and I truly think I have become the greatest form of myself. A thank you. Deaves. Because of you, I have found my passion, I have found what I want to do with my life. Because of you, I have learned that it is okay to voice my opinions and to fight for what I believe in. Because of you, I always had somewhere to go, someone to go to, somewhere to be safe. You have shown me what being a journalist, an editor, a friend, a writer and a person really means. I would be lost without you, thank you for everything you have done for me. Mr. Hall. I was lucky enough to have you as a math teacher my freshman year and as my softball coach. Because of you, I somehow passed math that year when I was close to failing miserably. Because of you, I learned what it means to be a good person. You were my favorite coach throughout highschool and I truly wish things turned out differently, but everything happens for a reason. Thank you for being who you are and never giving up on me, or what I believe in. Mr. Balous. You were my math teacher sophomore year and you somehow made math fun (as fun as it can be). Because of you, I was shown that it is okay to be different, that it is okay to be yourself, and even though you ditched me twice, you’re still my favorite. Thank you for being one of the best teachers I have ever had. Mr. Stafford. You were the seniors principal this year and you made a major impact on each students life. You and I became close when you were my PowderPuff coach, and since then I knew I could go to you for anything. From you never failing to make fun of me for my truck, or ask if I was going “square dancin’ in a cornfield” that night, to buying me a “I love Nashville” keychain, you quickly became my all time favorite principal, and person. Because of you, I learned that it is okay to love country music. Because of you, I have another person looking out for me in this world. My family. Mom, thank you for passing on to me your love for writing. Because of you I grew up writing short stories, and refused to put books down. Because of you I grew up on a softball field and I get to play for four more years. Because of you, I have grown into who i am today. Because of you, I have a life-long best fiend.
Dad, thank you for showing me I can, no matter how much I believe I can’t and how much I just want to give up. Because of you I learned my love for sports, and I learned I want to become a journalist for sports. Because of you I can outsmart any guy on almost any sport, because you know.. guys think they know everything. Colton, thank you for being my best friend, even though we fight constantly. Because of you, I know how I deserve to be treated, and I know how to have fun. Because of you, I know how to live my life to the fullest and enjoy my youth. Because of you three I am who I am today. I would be nowhere without you guys. Thank you for making me who I am, I love you all infinity. My friends. You all have shaped me and helped me grow into the person I am today. You all have somehow put up with me, my nonstop jokes, all my opinions, my rants, my cries, my ugly laughs, all my arguments because I have to have the last word, my rants about how boys suck, my trump supporting, my softball games, and everything more. You truly all are my best friends and I do not know what I would do without each and everyone of you. I love you all dearly. Shoutout to: Alexis, Jaiden, Maddie, Kristyn, Sean, Alec, Travis, Kam, Corey, Hope, Darius, Bri, Trent, Evan, Tori, Emily, Nate, Kaleb, John, Lexie D., MooMoo, Kass, Xander, Carly, Ricky, DJ, Ari, and so many more. Some Advice. To the 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 classes, a few words I want to give you. Join clubs, step outside of your comfort zone. Go to the football games, baseball games, tennis games, go to them all. Become close with your teachers, it always helps to have someone to trust and be able to go to. Dress up for spirit weeks, go to prom, go on the senior trip, play PowderPuff and Powderbuff. Make the most out of your high school career, it doesn’t last forever. Trust me.
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10 Things to do
Letter to the editor
during the summer
1. Pick apples at the orchard 2. Visit Dari-Dip for a hurricane 3. See fireworks at the Dunes 4. Visit Deep River Waterpark
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Mission statement
6. Spend the day in Chicago
Our mission is to present the student body of Portage High School timely information by reaching deeper, broader and closer with the content we put out to our readers.
7. Go to a Sox or Cubs game
First amendment
5. Zipline at Edge Adventures
8. Make smores by a bonfire 9. Host/attend a cookout 10. Check out the new
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