Red Devil Post, Vol. 1, Issue 7

RED DEVIL POST

LHS Culture and Diversity Club spreads positive messages

by Emma Sampias

The Lowell High school Culture and Diversity club is an evolving group of individuals, representing everyone and their differences. The Culture and Diversity club mission statement states, “Lowell High School Culture and Diversity Club is committed to showing appreciation for and promoting differences in all students, including but not limited to Mental Health, Academic Status, Abilities, Race, Ethnicity, Sexuality, Beliefs, and Income Status. Appreciating, Promoting, and Empowering Differences in all students.” This mission statement assists in encouraging others to at the least be understanding of everyone's differences. As the school year progresses, new goals are set, as prior goals are achieved within the club.

The Diversity club has constantly worked hard throughout this school year to grow the club up from the bottom. The Diversity club has promoted women's history month and black history month through a bulletin board set up in the hallway. This bulletin board has also obtained kind messages for anyone to take all year long. Not only has the Diversity club promoted and encouraged through bulletin boards, but they have also fundraised through kindness grams and popcorn, to build the club up as a whole. As the club grows, more achievements will be continually made. Each and every idea created by an individual is considered and discussed by the club as a whole, the council, and Mrs. Franklin. The cultural and diversity club is always open to new members, new ideas, and a determined mindset!

The Diversity Club’s officers are Damian Delgado, Jillian Koteles, Savannah Amschl, and Anna Doffin. The four of them, along with several other students, have spearheaded LHS’s mission to make all students feel welcome while traversing its halls. They are seen here in these pictures next to the “Take What You Need” board, which was put up to combat mental illness and just everyday, ordinary stress. LHS thanks the Diversity Club for their commitment.

Masthead

Hannah Cano, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Sophia Emery, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Editors

Hailey Baran, Student Spotlight

Bella Funk, School Culture

Bre Kidd, Community

Walter Kotlin, Class News

Morgan Laumeyer, School Culture

Madelyn Logan, Fine Arts

Mia McMillan, Diversity

Allie Mecha, Lower Schools

Hailey Moore, Sports

Gabby Morache, Administration

Makalyn Patrick, School Counseling

Olivia Perlick, Opinion’

Bella Silva, Photography

Lilly Susko, Pop Culture

Jacquelynn Van Der Linde, History

Payton Williams, Sports

Writers & Photographers

Savannah Amschl

Alyssa Andriese

Brooke Bane

Jon Budz

Alyx Doty

Sarah Gygi

Adam Hammer

Ethan Hernandez

Joey Paternostro

Taylor Rothrock

Emma Sampias

Addy Vaught Sponsor

Joe Gianotti

Red Devil Pride Students glow at the turnabout dance

by Sophia Emery

On February the 12th, many students attended this year’s turnabout dance, which took place in the cafeteria. The theme for this dance was Neon, so many students appeared this year with brightly colored attire and glow sticks. With a live DJ and a free picture taking booth, students had an absolute blast. Many students appreciated the decorated corners of the cafeteria because they could have a decorative backdrop to take some memorable photos.

As usual, students had to purchase their tickets during the week prior, so the entrance process could be quick and easy! The dance ran from 6:00pm-9:00pm so students had plenty of time to carry out any plans before or after the event. There was also a snack table available with various drinks and candy for purchase.

The overall consensus amongst the student body was very positive as a whole. The free photo taking booth was a hit amongst students, which allowed for a quick photo with a green screen. Students were able to select their desired background and used a touch screen to write their own messages on the photos. Many students enjoyed the music selection from the DJ, who played a lot of the currently popular songs.

Thank you to everyone who contributed with the dance set up and planning this year and to any teachers or staff who supervised or ran a booth at the dance! The upperclassmen at LHS are excited to see what is in store for prom! Since the 2021-2022 revival of student council, students have really seen a difference in several activities meant to improve the culture at LHS. The decoration for homecoming are part of that, but the real memories come from dances like this one. We all had a terrific time!

Red Devil Pride

Mr. Hebble leads students in the RDT building and in the peer mentoring program

by Adam Hammer

Mr. Hebble is one of our RDP Trades teachers and works with the peer mentoring program at LHS. After graduating from Purdue University in 2002 with an engineering degree, Mr. Hebble found a passion for teaching through working with members of the trades groups while being an engineer, which sparked his interest in being able to teach it. His transition into becoming a teacher here at LHS came in the midst of a career change when he saw the opening for the trades building position. While trades wasn’t what he studied, Mr. Hebble is more than comfortable in his teaching position. He told Post, “ I am very comfortable with trades because I've always been around it. Learned what people know and don’t know about trades and thought I could get into teaching it to high school students.” He has seen trade work put into action in the real world and has learned from watching others' mistakes and seeing what routes they take to Lix them, and because of this, he has a very wide span of tools and tricks to teach the students in the trades building. Mr. Hebble says his favorite part about teaching at LHS is being able to show students all the different ways to approach and tackle obstacles and that even he gets to learn new things throughout the year. Not only that, but it takes him back to his high school days in growing up in a small town and gives him that small town feels as everybody together, as a community. Also saying that the pride at LHS is unlike anything else and that he is thrilled to be a part of it.

Outside of school, Mr. Hebble loves to spend time with his family and is quite the outdoorsman. He enjoys riding fourwheelers and spending a day on the lake, whether it's on jet skis or a boat. One of his favorite things about the lake is driving the boat and taking his kids tubing along with just relaxing in the water. Family means a lot to Mr. Hebble and whatever

Red Devil Pride

What Can I Score with my SAT?

Sophia Emery

With admission decisions coming back from colleges, many LHS seniors are getting their acceptance letters that they have been anxiously awaiting. The acceptance into a university depends on several factors such as GPA, essay questions, transcripts, recommendations, SAT scores, etc. Each college looks for a different SAT score range, so here is a compiled list of a few universities around Indiana and Illinois and their average admission scores on a 1600 scale.

Get a good nights rest and eat a full breakfast on Wednesday so that you can earn a score high enough to get into the school of your dreams! And remember, a high SAT score can also get you grants, which is like free money! Do your best!

Ball State 1010

Butler 1150

Depauw 1160

Indiana University-Bloomington 1160

Indiana University-Northwest 940

IUPUI 1040

Purdue University-West Lafayette 1190

Purdue University-Northwest 990

Rose-Hulman 1270

Notre Dame 1410

University of Southern Indiana 1020

Wabash 1140

Eastern Illinois 900

Governor’s State 830

Illinois State 1000

Loyola 1160

Northwestern 1470

University of Chicago 1510

University of Illinois at Chicago 1080

Olivet 970

Red Devil Pride

Academic teams enjoy study trip to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Indiana Medical Museum

The LHS academic team, one of the most decorated squads in the state of Indiana, recently took a study trip to visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Indiana Medical Museum. Indianapolis’s art museum is excellent for a city of its size, and the Indiana Medical Museum offers a unique experience that cannot be had anywhere else in the United States. On the grounds of what was once Indiana’s largest psychological the former laboratory now serves as a curated history of the ways in which medicine brutally worked only a hundred years ago.

Jack Molina said that his favorite part of the day was a toss up between the IMA’s Monet exhibit and the dissected body parts at the Indiana Medical Museum. The Monet exhibit cost extra money, but Jack said, “I already knew that I liked impressionism, so I knew it would be a once in a lifetime experience.” Hailey Baran enjoys paintings over sculptures, so she was more attracted to the first floor of the IMA, where the modernist works are housed. The IMA boasts an impressive collection that includes the likes of Vincent Van Gogh, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Edward Hopper, Claude Monet, and many other famous artists.

However, overall, the academic team was much more enthralled with the Medical History Museum because of the unique experience that it provides.

Red Devil Pride

“Out of left field” last minute SAT study tips

by Savannah Amschl

As SAT dates draw closer, and the rush towards the end of the year picks up, people are left with the wonder of what they can do to get ready for the SAT. The Post gathered a few “out of left field” tips that directly helped students in LHS score high.

- Chew mint gum when studying. While it’s pretty well known that chewing gum will keep you more alert and awake during the exam, carrying this habit into your studying is a great step into jogging your memory and getting you into the right mindset when you are about to start the test. It can begin to be a sign to your brain to look for the patterns and words the SAT uses to trick you during the test.

- Backwards can be best. Especially when working through the math section, if you get to a part in which you are not quite sure how to solve it, but you are given direct answers in the multiple choice section, it can be easier to input the answers into the problem itself and work backwards. While definitely more time consuming, it can work.

- Laugh. Laughing is scientifically proven to help your brain remember stuff. Such as remembering that one time where your friend did something particularly embarrassing and you can still remember it to this day because it was so funny? Yeah. Same concept. Even if you don’t find quadratic equations funny, you can still laugh at the fact that it’s stupid you have to learn them.

- Finally, take a cold shower the night/morning before. Giving yourself an uncomfortable shock of adrenaline, and waking up your brain before the test, gives you a better shot of staying alert, and motivated to finish the test with your full capability.

Do your best this Wednesday. Follow these last minute tips that might be worth a few dozen points!

In the Classroom

Education Professions students already impacting the future

by Alyssa Andriese

Looking to get a career path in education? Education Professions is a start in the right direction. This year, there are two classes in Education Professions, but next year, a third will be introduced, which will complete the pathway. Students have their beginning class which is Education Professions I with Mr. Gianotti and then Education Professions II with Mrs. O'Neill, which students take after completing and passing Education Professions I. Next year, Child Development will be introduced as a course taken between Gianotti’s class and O’Neill’s class.

In Education Professions I, students learn about how to teach, but the curtain gets pulled back as well, to reveal a behind the scenes look at all of the things that a teacher must do to prepare for their day. In Education Professions II, students spend the first semester learning about the nuts and bolts of teaching: classroom discipline, lesson planning, and other topics, but then in the second semester, they go out into the field and work with teachers in our other buildings. Education Professions II students actually interact with younger pupils.

Education Professions I students learn about differentiation, philosophies of education, scaffolding, professional development, and specialty topics like homework and assessment and poverty in education. Students also get to hear from a range of speakers from LHS and Central Office. The speakers provide information about other aspects of education like special education, technology, curriculum planning, administration, and being a school resource officer.

In Education Professions II, a student’s morning is spent in other teacher’s classrooms, with frequent visits from Mrs.

continued on page 23

Student Spotlight

Freshman Jack Molina brings wit, intelligence, and a unique spirit to Lowell High School

by Hailey Baran

This issue’s freshman student spotlight is on Jack Molina. The Red Devil Post asked Molina how he would describe himself, and he replied, “steadfast and driven in my duties, I am this way because I believe that if I put 100% effort into the smallest things in life, then the greatest rewards will soon follow.” What an excellent vision statement for a freshman! Along with his personality, Molina also shared that he would consider himself to be an introverted person because “people can be rather draining and I highly enjoy my alone time,” he writes. Despite his introverted tendencies, Molina has no trouble speaking up in class and sharing his opinion and answers to questions. He is quite intelligent.

Molina says that he loves reading books and playing video games and music. He claims that doing these things centers his mind to help keep him stable in life. He also loves lifting weights, as it helps with his mind-body balance.

The Red Devil Post also asked Molina what he thinks about his freshman year of high school, and Molina says that he has loved high school so far. “The only part about high school that I don’t like is when stuff gets too easy, then I lose the aspect of being challenged,” he writes. He thinks that learning is the best aspect of school, as he needs a lot of knowledge to be successful in his adult years.

Student Spotlight

Jack Gangwisch: A serious student with serious talent

by Hailey Baran

This issue’s senior student spotlight is on Jack Gangwisch. The Red Devil Post asked Gangwisch how he would describe himself, and Gangwisch replied, “I would describe myself as a witty, hardworking, quiet, and passionate person. My personality is not easily perceived by glancing at me, but after talking to me for a bit reveals a lot about myself that many don’t assume of me. I give great effort in my studies, and always will love to discuss things like engineering, but I have a multitude of different interests and passions in my life that I dedicate much of my time to outside of classes and work.” Along with his personality, Gangwisch also shared that he would consider himself to be an introverted person. He says that he has become a lot more social throughout high school, but he is still quiet and keeps to himself. “I do most things independently, but I value company very much when I have it. I do not mind doing many things alone, but being quiet leads to people admittedly not knowing much about me outside of school. I am still working on my social skills, but I am always very kind and understanding to people who approach me or need help with anything,” Gangwisch says.

Gangwisch says that he enjoys spending his free time doing calisthenics, riding his motorcycle, and learning about engineering. “I work daily to reach my goals to be able to do advanced level movements such as the planche, iron cross, and maltese. I find bodyweight training to be more enjoyable and satisfying than weight training, and nothing feels better than being able to hold a movement you have been training for months,” he reports. Gangwisch says that he also loves everything about motorcycle riding, from “twisting the throttle and hearing the roar of the engine, to the beautiful views of lakes and forests flying by you. It’s a major stress reliever.” Gangwisch also adds that he enjoys the engineering aspect of motorcycles, and considers learning about mathematics, science, and engineering a hobby of his.

The Red Devil Post also asked Gangwisch what he thinks about his senior year, and he said that it’s been more challenging than he thought it would be.

continued on page 23

Devils’ Advocate

Tyre Nichols’ death yet another avoidable homicide

by Lilly Susko

Police brutality must stop. A handful of officers are being allowed to define the American police force, and it’s not fair to anyone, most of all to the victims of this brutality.

On January 7th, 2023, Tyre Nichols was a victim of an admitted abuse of law and power by five members of the Memphis Police Department. That Saturday, Nichols was pulled over by police for alleged reckless driving. Officials reported that Nichols ran away when approached by officers, although it was later proven by body camera footage of the incident that he told police that "he was just trying to get home." Additional body camera footage shows the initial dispute when an officer warns Nichols, “I’m going to beat your a--” and “I’m going to tase your a--,” all while multiple officers pin him to the ground and continue to degrade him. Nichols escaped the grasp of police as they seem to try to deploy a stun gun on him as he runs away. An abundance of recovered body camera footage shows Nichols getting brutally hit and kicked by various officers, even getting struck in the face and torso by a baton. The footage also shows police using pepper spray, punching, and slapping Nichols as he began to scream out to his mother who lived nearby. They eventually dragged him up the street and leaned him against a car where he remained for roughly 20 minutes before police attempted to render him aid. Several minutes later, an ambulance arrived at the scene when Nichols complained of having a shortness of breath and was moved to Memphis' St. Francis Hospital in critical condition, according to police. Nichols died three days after being detained by Memphis police. On January 20th, he Memphis police department announced that it fired the five police officers

responsible for the death of Nichols. The Nichols family will also never be able to gain the proper justice they deserve for what happened to Nichols on January 7th.

The deaths of young black men in the streets of urban centers must come to an end if we want to continue to call America the greatest country in the world.

Devils’ Advocate

Our view: High school students’ cell numbers should be added to the all-call list

by Olivia Perlick

Lowell High School is located in Northwest Indiana, which means Lowellians experience all seasons in a year. During the school year, students will work through sun, rain, snow, and fog. They also experience days of cancellations and delays of school due to dangerous weather.

When it comes to students being informed, it is quite a lengthy process. First, the Superintendent must record and send his message to all parents informing them

of delays or cancellations. Then the parent must now inform the student of the change.

In a survey I conducted, 82% of the students responded by saying they have a parent or guardian inform them. This isn’t always very easy though.

A Student shared a story with the Newspaper Staff, “I got ready and drove to school, as usual, one morning. However, I realized there were almost no cars in the parking lot. I eventually found out that there was a delay from my dad. I had actually checked for one on the school website where it was typically posted, but it wasn't there on that morning. This is especially frustrating because I actually tried to check and my parents don't always

Continued on page 24

Devil’s Advocate

Sophia Emery’s message to underclassmen: the Distinguished Young Women’s program is well worth the time

by Sophia Emery

To any juniors or even underclassmen who will be looking for scholarship opportunities during their senior year of high school, I’d like to share my personal experiences with the Distinguished Young Women program. Last week, I participated in the state level program where I competed with 18 other girls to earn money for college, but it felt like anything other than a high stakes competition. While there, we participated in a service project, met amazing people with genuine talent, and had a memorable bonding experience between the entire group that advanced to state.

A few months ago, I noticed an email in my school inbox in regards to a scholarship available to female students, which immediately caught my attention. I decided to sign up for the informational meeting that took place at the dance studio in town, and I was surprised by the few girls that showed up. There were initially a total of three girls, and the local chairman who runs the Lowell program, Debra Harden, explained a bit about the program to us. The way she described it was similar to a beauty pageant, but the beauty is replaced with academics.

continued on page 22

Artistic Endeavors

LHS’s The Little Mermaid set to premier on March 9th

by Madelyn Logan

The school musical is getting closer and closer! The Red Devil Post took a moment to catch up with a few of the actors starring in the play. Interviewed below are Jalyssa Miller as the lead Ariel, Lily DeValk as Ursula for half the showings, and Mia McMillan as one of the Sister Mermaids Arista.

The Disney classic The Little Mermaid is a fan favorite of all ages and now it’s being performed by the high school’s theater! The play will be full of nostalgic songs, beautiful costumes, and a production to remember.

The team behind the scenes have been working hard to make the “sea landscape come to life” as McMillan described her thoughts on the play so far. She commented on being a part of the production for the Lirst time ever: “It’s my Lirst time being a part of the play, and I’ve really been enjoying the production. Honestly, everyone is so nice”.

Let’s not forget the magic that the props can bring. “The props are going to blow you away, such as the bubbling cauldron Lilled with dry ice. It really has a spooky, villainous feel” DeValk described to the Red Devil Post. When asked about how she felt about the production so far she said, “Everything is amazing. The props, costumes, lighting, and songs are being done so well. The lighting for example has been some of the best I’ve ever seen.”

The actors need their costumes to really bring their characters to life. “The costumes are so beautiful. They are colorful, clean, and decorated so well. They even have Lins and tails on all the dresses to really capture the underwaterness of the play. We really have to try and act like we’re Lish and it’s been so fun” Miller remarked. When she was asked how the production was going she said, “The crew all work super hard to make the play the best it can be. Everyone really goes the extra mile”

Who could forget about the memorable songs? DeValk and McMillan both agree that “She’s in Love” is their favorite song. WhileMiller said “Part of your World” is her favorite song from the play. “It’s hard to pick just one part we like” they all agreed.

They also wanted to share a bit of advice for people thinking about joining the play, “Just do it! It’s very welcoming

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Predestined Devils

Three Creek’s students learn how to display positive attitudes across the board

by Allie Mecha

At Three Creek Elementary, positivity is in full swing. They started a school-wide initiative called PBIS. PBIS is an acronym that stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Mrs. Anderson, the leader of PBIS, Three Creeks, informed me, “We, as a school, are focused on teaching the behaviors we want to see, just as we teach state standards in the academic realm, promoting those behaviors in very real ways, and then reinforcing the behaviors through positive interactions and experiences. This means that Three Creeks staff puts a major focus on positive behaviors in an effort to prevent negative behaviors. This year was a big year for us

as our PBIS Plan was totally revamped and updated in the fall and has truly become an integral part of each day at Three Creeks.”

This year, they’ve incorporated Bear Bucks into their daily lives. The students can earn Bear Bucks and cash them in for experiences or goodies. Mrs. Anderson claims, “They’ve been a huge hit!” They can cash

Bear Bucks in for experiences including lunch with a teacher, a spa day with a counselor, and shooting hoops with a teacher. A cool addition to this school-wide initiative is that Bear Bucks can be earned individually or collectively as a class, called Classroom Bear Bucks. Once a class earns 25 Classroom Bear Bucks, they will get a class reward.

“Classroom Bear Bucks promote and encourage students to work together.” Mrs. Anderson explained to me how it works monthly. “Each month, there is a behavioral focus that we reiterate on the morning announcements and

continued on page 22

Community Pride

An update on the Richneck Elementary School shooting of Abby Zwerner

by Alyssa Andriese

In last months issue of The Red Devil Post, the shooting of Abby Zwerner by a kindergarten student from Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia was reported on. This article follows up on that story.

The shooting took place over month ago, but this week, the police have finally completed their investigation into the shooting and have forwarded their findings to the local prosecutor, who will weigh whether or not to file charges. Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said the investigation was timed consuming because police had to interview students through child psychologists, talk with teachers, process forensic evidence, review camera footage, and collect records.

Legal experts say it’s unlikely that the 6-year-old who shot Zwerner will face any charges. However, his parents are another story. The boy’s mother could face charges for failing to secure the gun used in the shooting. According to the family’s attorney, nobody knows how the boy got possession of the gun, nor do they understand how he fired it because they claim the gun was stored stored with a trigger lock and on the top shelf of the mother’s bedroom closet. Police had no comment on this assumption. Zwerner’s attorney stated that before the shooting, a Richneck administrator had failed to listen to the multiple warnings about the boy having a gun. Zwerner plans

continued on page 25

Community Pride

Tri-Creek prepares to ask the Town to pass its first school corporation operating referendum

by Sarah Gygi

What is a referendum?

Contents found and adapted from https://www.tricreek.k12.in.us/about/referendum

According to the Tri-Creek website, “On May 2, 2023, residents residing within the Tri-Creek School Corporation will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to invest in our schools, students, and the greater community by voting on an operating referendum question that will directly impact the quality of education.” It may be hard to comprehend but first, you can ask, “What is a referendum?” The dictionary definition for the word referendum is “A public vote on a particular issue." On May 2 the schools will reach out to residents of Lowell to vote on what they argue is beneficial to our school corporation. The reasons argued in a referendum, come down to better pay for the staff and better functionality as well as resources for the school corporation. If the referendum is successful, the state typically administers a tax increase on the property and the money from the increase will be added to the school's budget for the year. The increase is kept at a minimum, which is something the Red Devil Post will cover in its next issue coming out in March.

Diversity Matters

Black History Month about all Americans

by Mia McMillan

It's Black History Month! Every February, we join to celebrate and honor the incredible resilience and accomplishments of AfricanAmerican individuals, organizations, and communities. It is an opportunity for us to recognize and celebrate our collective past, present, and future.

As we celebrate Black History Month 2023, it is important to understand where we all started. A single week designated to recognize the work of those who fought against slavery and Jim Crow laws evolved into a month-long celebration. This month, they gave us the opportunity to recognize the magnitude of AfricanAmerican influence on history and culture.

The contributions African Americans have made to history, culture, and society began in 1926. Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History founded ‘Negro History Week’ in order to highlight the achievements of AfricanAmericans and their history. The week later turned into a monthlong celebration in 1976, with President Gerald Ford proclaiming February as Black History Month, urging Americans to remember their African American heritage and to celebrate their lasting influence on the United States. Since then, we have celebrated it throughout the country every February. This month serves as an opportunity for people all over America to learn about and recognize the contributions African Americans have made to our past and our present-day experiences.

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Quirks of History

Celebrating African-American music

by Jacquelynn Van Der Linde

In 2023, it’s not uncommon to see people of color gaining recognition in all forms of art. Actors like Chadwick Bosemen or Anthony Mackie; musical artists such as Lizzo or Rihanna; even fashion designers like Beyoncé and Diana Ross. Black artists are being given an opportunity to share their voices in such an uplifting and creative environment, which should be celebrated. However, credit needs to be given to the black individuals who paved the way for our modern artists to be able to express themselves safely and freely. People who were given nothing but ridicule, hatred, and pain, but still found a way to keep the spirit of hope alive.

Before the invention of the TV or even the radio, people’s main sources of entertainment were books (if they were literate), but more commonly there were theater and music shows. When the African slave trade was in full swing and hundreds of slaves were transported on ships, they’d pass the time by telling folktales from their native country. These folktales would be shared through simple oral retellings, or an elaborate dance and song. However, once they got off the ship, they were only allowed to perform any kind of dance or song on their plantations.

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Courts and Fields

JV girls basketball finish with best record in years: 15-3 on the season

by Bre Kidd

The girls JV basketball team ended their season 15-3. The team included Addison Umfleet, Ashlee Evans, Bre Kidd, Sydney Faverty, Elysia Laub, Reagan Claus, Aubrey Fleming, Hayden Blocker, Preslee Hill, Maya Paschek, and they were coached by Ms. Hirsch. I asked coach Hirsch a series of questions and here is how she responded to them. What was your overall thought of this season? “I think this season went really well. All ten girls played great together and we improved so much over the season both as individuals and as a program”. What do you think happened that lead this season to be so great? “Honestly I attribute our team's success this year to how well everyone got along and how much they all loved playing together. Their chemistry and teamwork led them to play hard for each other, not just themselves. They showed up every day ready to work hard and it paid off”. What was your favorite thing about last season? “My favorite thing this season was the same as theirs - the team chemistry. Being able to do something you love, with the people that you love, is a really wonderful thing, and I'm glad that they were able to experience that this season”. What was your least favorite thing about last season? “We had a couple of players get injured (some more than once). It's never fun having to watch players sit out of the game because of that”. What are you going to do the same or different for next year’s season? “Next year I am going to continue to push the players to be relentless on the floor

continued on page 24

by Ethan Hernandez

Courts and Fields

Scouting the boys basketball sectional

Going into this year's basketball sectional will be tricky. Our Lowell Red Devils are in one of the toughest sectionals in the state of Indiana. Lowell drew Valparaiso for the first round of the sectional tournament. Although Valparaiso is a notoriously good high school basketball team, they have had quite the struggle this year with a current record of 11-14. Our Red Devils have to be sure to try and limit Valparaiso’s top player, Mason Jones, a Ball State basketball commit. Lowell is most definitely the underdog in this matchup, but they have shown throughout the season their grit and determination. They have given good teams such as Lake Central and Hammond Morton a run for their money, proving that they can compete with the big dogs. Chesterton is not only one of the top teams in the state, but also the toughest team in this sectional due to their physical play and amount of experience in the postseason. They made a run to the state championship last year and fell just short, meaning they will be coming back hungry this year to finish what they started. Chesterton will go through the first round with no worries at all due to them getting the bye into the second round. On the bottom of the bracket we have Hobart and Kankakee Valley facing off. Skill wise, this has got to be the most even matchup in this bracket as well as one of the most exciting games next to Crown Point and Portage. Crown Point and Portage are two powerhouse teams and neither of them could have gotten a harder first round game. Indiana is considered the mecca of high school basketball, and this year's postseason is very highly anticipated by many around the state.

continued from page 13, Distinguished Young Women

The program consists of five subject categories including interview (25%), self expression (15%), fitness (15%), talent (20%), and scholastics (25%). Interview includes a 10 minute session in front of a panel of judges. This is done completely off stage, and the questions are simply to gauge articulation and speaking skills as well as goals. Self expression is an on stage subject category in which each participant gets a question to answer 1-24 hours in advance. Everyone can think of their response beforehand, but can’t go onto the stage with notecards or any type of physical assistance to answer the question. Fitness includes a dance routine with different exercises included throughout, such as jumping jacks, squats, sit ups, push ups, Russian twists, lunges, and other exercises. The fitness is done as a large group on stage, and judging is based on facial expressions, form, energy, and overall performance. The talent portion has the most variation between each participant, who has the freedom to showcase whichever specific skill they would like in under 90 seconds. Lastly, scholastics is another off stage score calculation that’s based upon in school performance such as transcripts and participation in extracurriculars.

There is one winner chosen from each local competition that advances to the state competition. From there, one girl is chosen to represent the state and advance to the nationals competition during the summer in Alabama to be awarded the overall title. I advanced from the local Lowell program, which only had four girls total.

Each participant is based solely on their individual performance, which is such a great part of the program. The state chairmen stressed to the group of girls that we were more so competing with ourselves than each other. Rather than getting ranked in each category, we were given points based on our individual performance that were added for our total scoring. This eliminates the greedy, competitive nature and creates a more unifying environment.

In hopes of growing the program for Lowell next year and letting some of the future senior girls know about the opportunity, I’d encourage anyone who is curious about the scholarship to give it a try next year!

continued from page 14, Little Mermaid

and no one will judge you” DeValk said. Miller recommends doing it “as early as you can because you’ll really grow into the family”. And McMillan had one last word of advice, “Just go for it! It’s super chill, and I’ve had a great time as a newcomer!”

As a reminder, the dates of the play are the 9th, 10th, and 11th of March at 7 pm and March 12th at 2 pm. It’s super cheap to stop by as well, only costing $7 for students and seniors and only $9 for adults. “We hope you see you there,” Devalk, McMillan, and Miller exclaimed

continued from page 15, Positivity

teachers and staff reward throughout the day. This month, our focus is on kindness and empathy, piggybacking off of last week's Great Kindness Challenge. Students demonstrating the focus (as well as any other expectations) can earn Bear Bucks. One student per grade level is selected by teachers as a SuperBear if they exemplify that focus for the month. Next year, we are expanding the SuperBears to one student per classroom, which will be even better for our students.”

Mrs. Anderson also explained to me about their monthly incentive. Students can save up for and purchase various things with Bear Bucks, running from 10-15 Bucks per month. “So far, our students have enjoyed Life Size Games, Igloo Building, an Ice Cream Social sponsored by Sylvan Learning, Pumpkin Painting, and a Glow Stick Dance party. Open Gym is scheduled for the end of February and an event is planned each month by our PBIS team through the end of the year.”

There seems to be a lot of new and exciting going on a Three Creeks and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

continued from page 4, Hebble

spare time he gets he tries to spend his time with them doing fun activities. Some students know Mr. Hebble through trades, while others know him through the RDP Mentoring program where he teaches alongside Mr. McLindon and Mrs. Leslie. He works with the mentors to positively make an impact on the students in LHS every day and shows contagious enthusiasm for the program and takes his role very seriously in order to assure the safety of LHS.

continued from page 8, Education Professions

O’Neill. Students spend the first semester deciding which subject and level they would like to intern at. Mrs. O’Neill then finds teachers at our lower levels who are willing to take on an Education Professions student. Students visit and do observations in the first semester so that they can make informed choices.

Right now after doing this process, the students in Education Professions II meet in their student-teaching classrooms three times a week. They are slowly building up to fully teaching a lesson in that class. On the day that students are not teaching, they meet with Mrs. O’Neill at LHS to discuss their week and how things are going.

The new course will be more like an Educational Psychology course, so neither O’Neill nor Gianotti will be teaching it. As of this article, it is still unknown who will be assigned this new class for the ’22-’23 school year.

continued from page 10, Gangwisch

The Red Devil Post also asked Gangwisch what he thinks about his senior year thus far, and Gangwisch writes that it has been challenging. “This year has been the most difficult academic-wise, and along with the other stresses such as college applications, scholarships, and extracurriculars, it has stressed me a fair amount. I try to make every minute of my day enjoyable and productive though, and I take full advantage of the free time I have to enjoy my hobbies. Looking back at what I have accomplished and learned, I am proud though and have grown exponentially from freshman year. I am even more excited for the future and my college career, and I am thankful my hard work is paying off.”

continued from page 19, Black musicians

That is where the term “slave song” comes from. While working, slaves would express their feelings- be it sorrow, hope, pain, or joy- through song. These songs had religious themes, mentioning “God” or “sin” or “heaven” and other Biblical metaphors. Some songs even held hidden signals or messages, when clear communication was not safe. One of the most well-known slave songs, “Wade in the Water,” was allegedly used by Harriet Tubman in her journey through the underground railroad. It is said that she used this song as a signal to her followers to cross through a river. If the runaway slaves “waded” in the water, their scent could not be followed by the slave catchers’ bloodhounds.

Similarly, there were map songs. It was illegal for slaves to know how to read or write, so maps weren’t a feasible means of escape. Instead, they’d hide directions in the lyrics of an unassuming song. Such as “Follow the Drinking Gourd.”

Like any ethnicity, today’s black culture owes much to the pioneers, and in this case, heroes of the past. After all, could we imagine a universe without Beyonce?

continued from page 12, call list

respond in time due to work. Getting on the call list seems somewhat arbitrary, and I have no idea how to get on it.” The point of a delay is to keep students inside their homes for an extra two hours, but when their parents cannot get in touch with their child, it results in the student being put in an unsafe situation.

As high school students, we are responsible for getting ourselves up and onto the bus. Parents work early hours and are busy and they expect their teens to handle getting to school. But when they do not know there is a delay, they have a difficult morning, such as Christopher Bishop, who stated, “On a day where my mom, who is the one to tell me about delays, was working, I waited for the bus for 15 minutes getting very worried I was late and had missed the bus. It wasn't until a lady in their car who drove past me told me that there was a fog delay.”

With the lack of information being told to students, they are being put in rough situations. A delay call is put in place for a reason, that being student protection. Yet, the students not knowing there even is a call, they cannot be protected. Laci Little ended up very chilled outside of it because of the lack of information. She told me, “I got up to leave my sophomore year, and I got ready for school as I normally would. I went to my bus and waited for over 30 mins in the snow when I called my mom, and she had to call the school to find out we had a 2-hour delay.” This shows students need to have their phones informed of school changes so they can stay inside their warm houses and not be stuck outside.

Not only are bus riders being put in rough situations, but drivers are also at risk. Allie Mecha told me that one time, “I got up and dressed, started my car, and drove down the iced over road to get a call from my mom telling me that there was a delay.” Having a delay is to prevent students from going to school, but since she was not informed in time, she had to put herself at risk on icy roads in order to get to school. Autumn Nuccio added, “Think about the people who have to take back roads and 41 to go to school when there is ice on the roads. Not everyone lives in Lowell where it is salted.”

Students at Lowell High School are taught to be responsible and slowly learn to take care of themselves. Yet, when it comes to delays and cancellations, they are out of the loop and rely on other people who are busy to inform them. Hannah Cano mentioned, “I think a call list or an email sent out (I check mine quite frequently) could be a really easy way to improve communication.” Students deserve the option to be on the call list so they are able to know immediately when their plans for the day are being changed. On the survey I conducted 50% of the students had gotten ready or left not knowing there was a delay or cancellation. In the same survey, 75.9% of the students said they would like to be on the call list.

Therefore, Lowell High School should provide the option to students to be on the call list to receive information regarding school cancellations or delays. There is a need for change in school-to-student communication due to many students being put at risk of not knowing about the delay. It would not be infringing on anyone for students to be on the call list. In fact, it will only be beneficial to prevent further incidents of unnecessary icy road driving or waiting for a bus that isn’t coming for two hours, if at all. High school students especially deserve to know how their education plan will be affected that day. By adding them to the call list, they also will further develop their responsibility by being in charge and knowing how to change their morning approach.

continued from page 20, J.V. girls basketball and to always be hungry for improvement. I'm sure there are plenty of things that I will do differently because every team is different. I'll figure out what next season's team needs to succeed and will do everything I can to help them get there. My biggest goal for the team next season is to beat the teams we couldn't this year, so I'm excited to see them take on that challenge.” Overall, congratulations to the JV girls basketball players and coaching staff for a great season!

continued from page 16, Richneck

on suing because she will never fully recover from the hand and chest wounds she’s incurred, let alone the emotional trauma she will forever deal with.

Administration is arguing that they didn’t get told about the gun in time to act. However, four different staff members claim to have reported this boy being seen with a gun. Administration checked the boys’ backpack, which indeed did have the weapon hidden within it, but they failed to spot it.

Weeks after the 6-year-old shot and injured his teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia, a fifth grade student from the same school was removed for threatening to “pop some bullets.” This threat came to light in a text message between a group of fifth grader students. The student making this threat texted to the group of fifth graders that they would “pop some bullets” and tell someone to shoot up the class. Later after one of the students reported this situation to a parent, who contacted a teacher, who went on to inform administrators, the fifth grader was taken out of the school. The student has not ben publicly identified, and it’s not clear yet for how long the student will be removed from school and school grounds.

Police still don’t know for sure if any charges are getting filed for an unsecured gun against the mother. However, Zwerner will be suing for the causes this shooting has brought on her, her students, and family.

The biggest mystery left to solve is how the gun ever made it into the hands of the kindergarten student.

continued from page 18, Black History

As mentioned previously, African Americans' addition to our society has significantly improved the development of the United States. From the Revolutionary War to present-day technological advances, African Americans have left an enduring mark on our country’s history. In the Arts, African American poets and writers such as Phillis Wheatley, Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, and Maya Angelou have helped shape our nation’s literary culture,

telling stories of resilience, courage, and humanity. In science and medicine, African American inventors such as Lewis Latimer played a pivotal role in enabling society’s technological progress. During the month of February, or the other eleven months, we should recognize these individuals for their successes and exceptional contributions to advancement in society.

During Black History Month, it is important to not only reflect on the past but also think about how we can continue to combat racism and inequality in our society. The awareness created by Black History Month has had a tremendous effect on our collective mindset regarding inclusion and diversity. This awareness has led to greater support for initiatives like increasing participation from people of color in business and politics. Increasing access to education, health care, and other resources for people of color, and providing access to opportunities that may have been previously unavailable. There are also ways to take part in Black History Month—you can find and support a local cause, take part in educational programs, or simply show your solidarity with the African American community.

Let's use this time to reflect, celebrate, and honor the long and complex history of African-Americans. It's also an opportunity to educate and inspire a new generation. By recognizing the achievements of African-Americans and making sure their stories are told and heard, collectively, we celebrate the true significance of Black History Month. Through education and celebration, we can create a more inclusive and fair society, one that reflects all of our nation's people.

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