Red Devil Post, Vol. 2, Issue 7

RED DEVIL POST

LHS Academic Team wins conference for 14th consecutive year

For the 14th straight year, Lowell High School’s academic team finds itself the champions of the Northwest Hoosier Conference after dominating their conference Super Bowl invite, handily defeating Kankakee Valley, North Judson, River Forest, and Rensselaer. The Devils answered 65% of their questions correctly, while Kankakee Valley and North Judson, who tied for second, answered 41% of their questions.

Academic Super Bowl is a state-wide contest that about 200 Indiana high schools participate in. The competition is divided into six subject areas: English, fine arts, math, science, social studies, and interdisciplinary. Students compete in teams of three while answering multiple choice questions based on a theme. This year’s Academic Super Bowl theme is the 1980s and 1990s. Lowell has won three state championships in its history, including one last year. In addition, Lowell had the highest average finish in all six subjects out of every school in Northwest Indiana in 2023. “I think we can do even better this year,” said Mr. Gianotti, the director of academic teams. “There’s no pressure because they have to answer multiple choice questions. Either the right questions come up or they don’t. It’s our job to make sure most of the questions are answerable by our kids.”

At River Forest, the Devils’ science team, coached by Mrs. Schoon finished first behind Jonathan Budz, Mikey Vitols, and Carson Brown. The fine arts team coached by Mrs.

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Staff

Hailey Baran

Brooke Bretzinger

Jonathan Budz

Hannah Carlson

Josh Cornell

Lily Cruz

Cadence Fleager

Hailey Fox

Naveah Hurtado

Jayden Jansma

Trinitie Lintner

Allie Lukasik

Allie Mecha

Julia Monix

Gabby Morache

Taylor Rothrock

Emma Sampias

Addi Umfleet

CNA

Sponsor

Joe Gianotti

Kaylee

Red Devil Pride

Devils take trip to Spain during spring break

by Josh Cornell

Over spring break, a group of high school students went on a trip to Spain, before the trip ever left, I sat down with Mrs. Carranza, one of the leaders for the trip, and asked her some questions about the trip.

Q: How long is the trip, what days will the trip be during?

A: The trip departs Thursday March 21st to the 28th in March.

Q: How many students are going on the trip?

A: We have 29 students, 5 teachers, and 3 parents.

continued on page 15

Red Devil Pride

LHS visits the Chicago Art Institute

by Lily Cruz

Recently on March 9th, the Academic Bowl Teams went to the Art Institute of Chicago. At the Chicago Art Institute, there are several different types of art to explore and for different people’s interests. Some of the different types of art that were displayed at the museum include photography, modern art, impressionism, and much more. They offer several different types of art and several artists for everyone to have the ability to get to see art that they are interested in. Some people may not take an interest in photography and find impressionism a ton more interesting. They also have food courts giving people the opportunity to eat at the museum rather than leaving and having to come back.

I had a great experience at the Art Institute of Chicago and my favorite area of the art museum was the impressionism area. There were a ton of fascinating pieces including The Bedroom by Vincent van Gogh and Two Sisters (On the Terrace) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Aside from each artwork, there were descriptions of the materials used, the meaning of the piece, the year it was made, the title, who the artist was, and more information to look at while taking a look at the different works of art. Many people when walking past each piece of art would take a minute to read through some of the descriptions to better understand the meaning behind the artwork. I would highly recommend visiting the Art Institute of Chicago to get the experience of viewing and interpreting beautiful works of art.

Red Devil Pride

Science Olympiad advances to regionals for first time since 2019

by Jonathan Budz

For the first time since 2019, Lowell High School has sent a Science Olympiad team to compete at regionals on IUN’s campus. With only a team of ten students, five under the recommended amount and far less than that of the other schools, Lowell was able to place 6th overall with numerous members receiving multiple medals. Senior Alyssa Kruszą achieved multiple medals for build events along with Freshman Grady Bergstrom. Sophomore Jack Molina and Freshman Angela Angelkoska also received numerous medals in study events such as Fossils. Even senior Jesse Bergstrom made a return from 7th grade to compete in the Auto-Cad trial event and won 2nd place overall in the event by himself. The team was spearheaded by Mr. Lembke, who brought the academic sport back when he moved from the middle school to the high school. While the team didn’t make it to state, they had a great return afer a five year long hiatus and reminded other schools what Lowell is capable of.

Red Devil Pride

Jack-of-all-trades, Mrs. Skinner, keeps an organized main office

by Brooke Bretzinger

This month’s staff spotlight is on Mrs. Skinner. Mrs. Skinner is the Student Services Secretary here at LHS, and everyday she fills out student passes, she keeps track of field trips, and she helps to keep ECAs in order. Mrs. Skinner is always the first person to help administration when needed. She’s a “jack-of-all-trades,” able to complete all tasks in a timely manner. She started here in 2021, and this is the only position she has had while working here. Mrs. Skinner’s favorite part about working at LHS is the supportive coworkers all the way from the custodians to the best admin/bosses ever. She also loves the relationships she is able to build with students as she hopes she can stay in contact after the student’s graduate. Mrs. Skinner was born and raised here, as well as being a 1996 LHS graduate. Her husband also graduated from LHS in 1995, and they have three sons together. One of her sons is a sophomore here and his name is Brody. She has another son who works at a Subaru plant and lives in Lafayette, and her middle son is studying at Purdue University to become an orthopedic surgeon. In her free time, when she isn’t at her son’s activities, she loves to craft, read, travel, watch sports, and spend time with her friends, family, and her kids. Next time you go into student services, or see Mrs. Skinner in the hallway, make sure to say hello!

by Trinitie Lintner

In the Classroom AP Exam Tips

Most students in AP classes know that these are some of the most important tests of the year. These are some tips, and ways to study that have worked for many people, and helped them get qualifying scores on the upcoming AP exams. One of the most important ways to study is by taking mock exams. These are full AP tests that are available from the college board. Most teachers have access to most of the past exams, and might even have availability for students to take a mock exam. If a teacher does not offer them, it is still extremely important to try to at least do one. When taking the mock exam, timing is very important. Throughout the entire year, most teachers in AP classes have their students take tests. Most teachers, however, are not as strict on the amount of time it takes to complete them. Setting a timer and trying to complete the sections in the allotted time is a great way to prepare for the exams. Making a mock exam as close to the real one is especially helpful. If someone has only practiced on computers, writing everything down can be so much more timeconsuming, and even tiresome. It is very important to practice writing essays or free-response questions on paper to get an idea of the pace of the exam. Another good way to study for the exam is to go look at past notes. I know this may sound redundant, but the college board has percentage breakdowns for each unit. These are the percentage amounts of each unit on the AP tests. It would make everything easier if the students were able to truly study and remember everything, but everyone is human and makes mistakes. Focusing on the higher percentage units can help the students out, by focusing on the things that are more likely to appear on the test. The AP exams are some of the hardest tests for high school students. It is really important to make sure that the students are well-prepared for these exams. They can sometimes save thousands of dollars by taking these courses. Making sure the students have an idea of what they will be heading into is important so that they do not feel overwhelmed leading up to the exam. Of course, there will be some anxiety in the days leading up to the tests, but the more relaxed they feel, the better their experience will be.

In the Classroom

CNA gives students a head start

by Hannah Carlson

Lowell High School’s CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Program has helped many students get a head start on their careers in the medical field by earning certifications and licensing while still in high school. When asked what opportunities CNA provides her, Hailey McCord (senior) stated, “It is helping me earn credits for college and give me an experience of the field or nursing before dedicating my life to it.” After high school, Hailey plans to use the credentials she earns from the program this spring to work as a CNA before she goes off to college to reach her dream of becoming a traveling nurse or a labor and delivery nurse.

Hailey shared a little bit about eligibility for the program and aspects of it that can be challenging. She said that high attendance is necessary not only for school but for clinicals during the second semester to earn all the hours needed for the CNA license. Additionally, she shared that as she developed relationships with some of the residents at the local nursing home where clinicals are completed, it can be challenging to watch them combat difficulties with their health. She said, “I wish people knew it is a lot to take on at a younger age.” This stems from Hailey’s favorite part of the program being that she’s able to get to know the people she’s caring for. She comments, “The thing I most enjoy about CNA is the residents. I love being able to give them care and live their day-to-day life while getting to know them on a personal level.” Hailey has proven that her heart and compassion for others serve her well in the medical field and will be the fuel to her success with nursing in the future.

For students interested in CNA, her biggest advice is to “involve

Community Pride

Indiana’s new cell phone law

takes local authority away from schools

by Brooke Chandler

Under the new Senate Bill 185, Indiana schools will be required to place a cell phone and electronic device policy that limits their use in the classroom. Passed recently, the bill will go into effect starting with the 2024-25 school year for all K-12 schools within the state of Indiana. This bill requires school districts to develop and implement an electronic device policy, as well as posting them online for public access. More specifically, this ban is on the use of electronic devices during “instructional time.” While there are some exceptions to the ban, such as allowing use of devices during instructional time for educational purposes, managing healthcare, in the case of an emergency, and if the use of a cell phone is allowed under a student’s Individualized Health Plan or 504, there is a large gray area, which is the level of enforcement this bill will have in schools.

Many schools already have implemented a cell phone ban or policy, but some schools leave it up to each individual teacher. Although, schools are finding it difficult to enforce and maintain an electronic device ban because many students find ways to keep and access their cell phones, or some teachers are not as strict in regards to cell phone use in the classroom. This bill was pushed for by many activists within the state of Indiana who said that it would improve students behavior, engagement, and mental health. It was also pushed for because it is believed that students have become increasingly distracted by their cell phones, taking away from their quality of learning. How much this cell phone ban will improve student’s lives and education is left unknown for now, but the effects of this bill will soon play out in the upcoming school year.

by Taylor Rothrock

Community Pride

Purple Door Bridal, serving Lowell since 2018

Purple Door Bridal in downtown Lowell is far from mediocre. Since the store opened in 2018, it has gained much popularity and there is hope for even more success ahead. Google reviews from customers rave about the atmosphere, prices, and gowns available. At Purple Door, you're sure to Eind the perfect dress for whatever event or occasion.

Purple Door offers unbelievable deals on formalwear. The boutique specializes in buying and selling formal gowns including bridal and prom. Customers choose the price when selling their pre-loved gowns. Once sold, the proEit is split evenly between the customer and the store.

by Hailey Fox

Community Pride

Tri-Kappa hosts annual Easter breakfast

Each year, our town's beloved Tri-Kappa puts together two community breakfasts per year, the Santa Breakfast and the Easter Breakfast. This past weekend on March 16, the Easter Breakfast occurred at the Lowell Middle School.

Like the Santa Breakfast where Santa Claus is present, the Easter Bunny was there to bring joy to the children. The families are served donuts, a cup of cereal, and their choice of coffee, orange juice, or milk. Many of the generous businesses of our town help make this event possible each year. Lowell High School Leadership Club members volunteer each year to help set up the event the night before. The L-Club members also help run games, serve breakfast, and ensure the events are run smoothly. And they clean up after the event. Breakfast is just a minor aspect of the event, there are many games that the L-Club students help run, and the children can meet the Easter Bunny and get a photograph with him. There is hand painting, a book walk, cookie decorating,

continued on page 17

by Allie Lukasik

Artistic Endeavors

Junior Brooke Schneider dazzles in AP Art

Brooke Schneider is a junior in our AP Art class here at Lowell High School. I decided to do a small interview with her to find out what has been going on in that class. Brooke is a very talented artist and I’m glad I got the chance to interview her!

What made you want to join AP art this year?

“The teacher (Ms. LaPage) and the prospect of expressing myself without limitations on projects! Making a portfolio seemed super fun and being able to create something based on a single question/thesis statement was a little challenge that piqued my interest.”

Have you always had a passion for art?

“Yes! I’ve always drawn since I was little, no matter how awful things may have been, I took pride in showing my drawings to people. The more I drew, the more I produced deeper meanings and real ideas behind my pieces. Though my art

continued on page 18

by Emma Sampias

Modern Minute Easter: a global celebration

As we have just celebrated the holiday of Easter, it is known that the celebrations of Easter are endless. Commonly known Easter activities include Easter egg hunts, decorating/ coloring Easter eggs, visiting the Easter bunny, and enjoying festive meals with loved ones. These traditional activities stem from a mix of Christian themes and ancient pagan celebrations. Although these popular traditions are known in many households, the unique festivities continue to grow. A few include making Easter wreaths, decorating Easter bread, sending Easter cards, and plenty more. These activities are implemented all over the world. In countries such as New Zealand and Australia, they celebrate Easter by eating hot cross buns. Another thing associated with Easter in these countries is an animal called a Bilby, it has long ears and looks similar to a bunny. They identify Easter with a Bilby rather than a bunny because bunnies are considered pests in these countries. In countries such as South Africa, they recognize the day after Easter as “Family Day.” A day to recover from Easter festivities and spend time with their families. In places such as India, Easter is celebrated as a “spring festival.” Although egg dying isn't as popular in India, parents of children buy elaborately decorated eggs and give them to their children as a gift. Each of these celebrations around the world represents the diversity a holiday could hold.

by Naveah Hurtado

Courts and Fields

Meeks signs with King University in Tennessee

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Super Bowl, continued from page 1

Blankenship also finished first. Alyssa Krusza, Peter Kotlin, and Jonathan Budz brought that trophy home. The math team, coached by Mrs. Swinford, doubled the score of every other school behind Mikey Vitols, Jonathan Budz, and Micah Ambrose. Mr. Werling’s social studies team finished first on the backs of Jack Brugos, Jonathan Budz, and Jon Tsoukalis. Finally, two Lowell English teams tied for second. English is coached by Mr. Gianotti, and Sydney Cantrell, Avery Hudak, Hailey Baran, Jack Brugos, Cameron Brawley, and Jon Tsoukalis represented Lowell.

Good luck to the Red Devils at regionals on April 16th. We know they will make us proud!

Spain, continued from page 3

Q: Where in Spain did you guys visit and what were some of the plans for the trip?

A: When we arrived, we took a walking tour of Las Ramblas which is also a landmark. Some of the places are just walking tours. On Saturday, we went to Barcelona to visit La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and see Montjuïc. Half the group took a bike tour of the city, gaining an understanding of the city and visiting historical landmarks and city sites. Not everyone did it, since it was extra. On Sunday, there was a walking tour and scavenger hunt in Barcelona. We also saw the gothic quarter and Barcelona Cathedral. Also saw Montserrat, a monastery of the Black Virgin Mary of Barcelona. On Monday, we traveled to Madrid, but stopped in Zaragoza and visit Basilica del Pilar. On Tuesday, we took a tour of Madrid and visited the Royal Palace, ate lunch, took a flamenco lesson and saw a flamenco show. On Wednesday, we visited the Prado Museum, took a walking tour of Madrid, and visited Puerta del Sol, Piazza Mayor and Mercado de San Miguel. We took a half day excursion to a small city called Toledo.

Q:What were you most excited about with this trip?

A: I’ve always wanted to see La Sagrada Familia. It’s something I’m very excited about. It’s a huge cathedral that is still under construction. I love seeing churches, I want to see it. And the food as well.

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share about the trip that I didn’t ask about?

A: Um, I’m very excited that the district allowed us to have adventures with our children and allowing these trips for them to visit another country and learn more about other cultures, practice Spanish with locals, eat the foods. I’m very grateful that Tri-creek gave us this opportunity to travel.

CNA, continued from page 8

yourself as much as possible.” She also stresses the importance of making sure that you take care of yourself so that you can care for others to the best of your ability and get the most out of the field. She ended off by saying, “It’s a great opportunity so if you want to and can do it, then I say take it.”

Purple Door Bridal, from page 10

This method of selling benefits customers because they get to buy a one-of-a-kind dress for a reduced price. Beyond consignment finds, Purple Door provides new gowns with both amazing quality and budget-friendliness. If that’s not enough, you can find heels, men's dress shoes, jewelry, purses and handbags, rental suits, and more with the same quality and budget-friendliness as the dresses.

The atmosphere at Purple Door is superb. Inside the store, customers notice dazzling chandlers hanging from the ceiling. Couches where people can sit to relax. And racks of dresses. The boutique is clean and organized. However, the true gem of this shop would be the staff at Purple Door. Known to be helpful, knowledgeable, accommodating, and kind. Prom girls receive special attention when picking out their dream dress. Bridal appointments are needed to try on bridal gowns. These appointments allow the staff at Purple Door to give one-on-one guidance to find their dream wedding dress. Upon purchasing a gown, brides have the honor of signing their name on the boutique's signature wedding dress located in the middle of the store.

As someone who works at Purple Door, I can say firsthand that I love my job. I am constantly seeing the staff working hard to meet people's expectations and needs. Every day, I am inspired by the people I work with. Lowell is very blessed to have a boutique like Purple Door.

Tri-Kappa, continued from page 11

different crafts, and other fun games. When the children meet the Easter Bunny each child receives a certificate for one free McDonald's ice cream cone along with an Easter egg ornament. Michaela Montgomery, a 2-year member of L-Club, said that the event brings out the joy in everyone who attends, the volunteers, the other children, and their parents. Montgomery also feels that the event is so unique and special to the town of Lowell and she, one day, hopes to bring her children to the same event.

Meeks, continued from page 14

The factors that made Kings University the best school for her would have to be the environment which was like no other colleges she visited, the amazing coaches, and the team she would play with. Kaylee has been playing since 7 years old. Through the 11 years she has played, experience, confidence, dedication, and hard work got her to where she is now. Her favorite two parts of softball would have to be the many friends she has made through the sport, and the escape softball brings her, which she calls an instant mood booster. The friends and teammates she has met will be the thing she misses about the Lowell Senior High softball team, she emphasizes she has been playing with these girls since she was 8. For Kaylee determination is the most important trait to have as a student athlete on the field and in the classroom. When asked for some advice for these athletes, she said “ School is so important, even though it gets hard sometimes with having practice every day. I would say just making sure you stay on top of school at all times is so important.” Determination is the most important part of being an athlete, but the most important part of being on any team would be thinking about the team rather than just yourself, this is such an important aspect to have as a teammate says Kaylee. Her pre-game ritual includes a blue alani slush, meat and cheese sticks, and making sure to ALWAYS put her left sock on before the right. As soon as she's on the field she is focused, whether it's about what pitch she's gonna throw next or what pitch she's gonna be thrown once she's up to bat. While at King University Kaylee Meeks will pursue nursing, when asked whether she will continue her softball career after college she says she would like to either coach or continue giving lessons, which she already does. She states “I definitely want to continue giving back to the game.” Congratulations to Kaylee Meeks on your dedication and hard work, you will continue to do great things at King University!

Schneider, continued from page 12

passion dies down sometimes, I still love creating.”

What type of projects have you done this year?

“AP art doesn’t exactly have projects. The entire class is guided work time to produce an art portfolio to be turned in by the end of the year. Sometimes, Ms. LaPage will have us do a small project for the reason of taking a short break from our portfolio.”

How was going to the elementary school to teach them more about art?

“Depending on how you look at it, sure! It was more of a reward the kids had asked for. The only art teaching we did was show them the intricate process of watercolor painted over white crayon and what you could produce with it.”

What is your favorite form of art?

“It’s difficult to say. I’m still finding my art style, although I enjoy stippling. The process of millions of little marks being pushed together to create depth and shading. As well as mixed media, using every single form of art I can to make something feel chaotic but put together at the same time.”

Do you prefer drawing or painting?

“I prefer drawing, no doubt. My style has always been a little messy, and purposeful, with with lines never being very straight, so painting is difficult for me. If I have painted, it’s mostly been for a background or I’ve drawn over it.”

Do you do group projects in AP Art?

“Normally, no, but this year Ms. LaPage had us do a group project with a high school near Indianapolis. We were given a prompt to draw and switched our pieces with the other school, finishing or adding to each other’s. It came out amazing and everyone really loved it, but other than that, no group projects.”

These are just some of the pieces of art that Brooke has worked on. Clearly, she is very talented. I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to interview her about Ms. LaPage’s art class.

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