Red Devil Post, Vol. 1, Issue 2

RED DEVIL POST

Lowell brings it home against Kankakee Valley, 38-29

by Payton Williams

The Lowell Red Devils played one of their best games this season at the homecoming football game. The team came out firing in the first quarter, scoring two touchdowns. The Red Devils have been working on consistency throughout the season, and they accomplished this against Kankakee Valley. By scoring 10 or more points in 3 of 4 quarters, the team did not let up. The third quarter got a bit dicey, as the Devils did not score a touchdown, but they kept their opponent off the scoreboard, too. The third quarter defense proved important, as late scores brought the margin of victory to 9.

Thanks to three quarters of offense and a quarter of defense, the Devils ran out the time for a final score of 38-29. On offense, senior standout, Riley Bank, did much of the heavy lifting scoring three times on runs of 39, 2, and a soul crushing 64 yard run that put the Milk Can in the tank.

Masthead

Hannah Cano, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Sophia Emery, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Editors

Alyssa Andriese, School Counseling

Hailey Baran, Student Spotlight

Alyx Doty, Administration

Bella Funk, School Culture

Walter Kotlin, Class News

Morgan Laumeyer, School Culture

Madelyn Logan, Fine Arts

Mia McMillan, Diversity

Allie Mecha, Lower Schools

Hailey Moore, Sports

Olivia Perlick, Opinion

Bella Silva, Community

Lilly Susko, Pop Culture

Jacquelynn Van Der Linde, History

Payton Williams, Sports

Writers & Photographers

Savannah Amschl

Brooke Bane

Jon Budz

Jaiden Estrada

Emily Gerstenkorn

Sarah Gygi

Adam Hammer

Ethan Hernandez

Bre Kidd

Gabby Morache

Makalyn Patrick

Joey Paternostro

Alycia Ramos

Daisy Ray

Emma Sampias

Kayanna Seely

Addy Vaught

Sponsor

Joe Gianotti

IN THIS ISSUE

Homecoming, Mental Health

Epidemic, Mrs. Chavez, Art Club, Newspaper, Principles of Engineering, Aerospace Science, RDT Expansion, Jessica and Jillian Davis, Mikey Vitols, Gabby Morache, Haley Sauzer, Dress Code, Choir, Marching Band, Ceramics, Student Hub, College Go! Week, Lake Prairie News, Three Creeks News, Harvest Tyme, The Town of Lowell’s Growth, Fashion Ideas, Squishmallows, Hispanic Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ Matters, Diversity Club, History of the Caesar Salad, Bob Thomas Invite, Boys Soccer vs. Hobart, Matthew Kawanna, Jr., An Interview with Eli Anderson, Riley Bank, & James Langen

Red Devil Pride

A field house masquerade

by Brooke Bane

On Saturday, September 24th, Lowell High School hosted its annual Homecoming Dance in the field house under the “guise” of a masquerade. The dance showed off many beautiful dresses, creative costumes, and the occasional well-styled suit. Batman’s costume with matching mask stood out amongst its peers, however. While not everyone participated in the masquerade theme, others went above and beyond. Many males were dressed in all black cloaks with their masks. Many masks were decorated to match their date’s dress. The DJ was amazing and upbeat, and the music got the student body rocking.

When entering the field house, guests were greeted with a cool photo-booth looking contraption. When students entered the booth, they discovered a video set up rather than photography. Students posed, typed in their cell number, and immediately received the video.

The student body would like to say a special thank you to Mr. Hudak, Mrs. Mikovetz, and Mrs. O’Neill for listening to us and making this Homecoming Dance the most amazing ever. They created a truly memorable night, augmented by incredible decorations done by the student council. From the halls all the way to the field house, students were greeted by gorgeous decor that made for a great, memorable night at LHS.

Red Devil Pride

RDP on display at annual fall pep rally in The Pit

by Hailey Moore

On Friday, September 23, the students of LHS all joined together in the Pit for our famous, annual homecoming pep rally. This year the pep rally started in a new, exciting way. Lowell’s band marched around the school while playing music and walking past classes. When the band passed your classroom, the class was expected to walk out and follow the band as they marched through the halls and led everybody to the Pit. The pep rally then began with students from the choir singing the National Anthem. During the pep rally, students and teachers enjoyed a video presentation showcasing student and teacher life so far this school year. Students got to see their friends, teammates, and classmates on the video presentation and what's been going on at LHS recently. Also, students from each grade level got to volunteer to participate in a game and compete against other grades. The game involved throwing a football into a net and trying to get more points than your opponents. The sophomores ended up winning this competition in a tiebreaker against the juniors. The homecoming court was announced and walked across the floor. The court included freshmen Maddison Nelson and Joe Brown, sophomores Emma Sampias and Matthew Kawanna, and juniors Alli Mecha and Nathan Vujaklija. The senior court included the aforementioned Carter and Langen, Rozzy Galvan and Riley Bank, Tommy Johnson and Iraly Aguilar, Ava Copak and Cayden Quale, and eventually King and Queen, Hailee Frederickson and Caden Britton.

Red Devil Pride

No school immune to attack on mental health

by Makalyn Patrick

Many call it a silent epidemic. Mental health in teenagers has been spiraling for years now, and it’s only getting worse. Studies show that one in five kids living in the United States are showing signs of a mental health disorder in a given year. Another study shows that about 80% of children who need mental health services won’t receive them.

Mental instability among the Generation Z doesn’t only hurt their happiness, but it’s also affecting their education. Ignored mental health issues can result in chronic absences, low achievement, disruptive behavior, and even dropping out of school. Not only does this have a direct effect on them now, but it is also affecting their future.

No one wishes for their student or child to go through this without help, but there are some aspects that are causing this to be the rule. Many schools across the United States give their teachers minimal training on mental health issues. Without proper knowledge on the subject, it’s hard for them to detect what they are supposed to be looking for or what they are supposed to do to help the student. Not only in the school environment, but also from home.

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Red Devil Pride

From the office to the court, Chavez Provides guidance

by Bella Silva

Kelly Chavez is the women's varsity basketball coach and the women's freshman volleyball coach. Despite Coach Chavez being known for girls' sports, she is also the backbone of the LHS guidance office. Coach Chavez has the role of the registrar, which means she’s responsible for keeping track of all student records and files. Some of her duties include processing new student records, transferring student records, and putting together transcripts for college. Before she worked at Lowell, she worked at Ridge View Elementary School in Hobart. She chose to become a Lowell High School employee because she was allowed to coach varsity basketball. Basketball is her passion, and she devotes her time all year round, including her summers, to building up the program she has been striving for.

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An art club interview with Ms. LaPage

by Jaiden Estrada

JE: What pushed you to form an art club to begin with?

RL: A lot of students at LHS have an interest in art, but cannot fit a visual art class into their schedules. This gives those students the opportunity to create, collaborate, and have some fun expressing themselves with art. It also takes the pressures off of structured projects and assessments so they can try something new! Art brings

people together. A lot of my art students who would not normally know each other from other classes or acGviGes, meet and connect. Art Club also brings lots of personaliGes, skills levels, and passions together.

JE: What did Art Club accomplish last year?

RL: Last year, we stared the Art Club in February. I sent a call-out to all the teachers to submit ideas for us to customize their recycling bins. This was a project brought to us by former LHS student, Grace Durham. We completed about six of them, and it was so much fun! We will

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Red Devil Pride

LHS “prints” first newspaper in a decade: Red Devil Post to be sent out via Skyward

When seniors Hannah Cano, Sophia Emery, and Olivia Perlick casually asked English teacher Joe Gianotti if Lowell High School had ever had a newspaper, he replied that it had been awhile, and then quickly pounced on the opportunity to corral them into starting what has become The Red Devil Post. You’re reading its second edition.

Gianotti sent out a blast of emails and asked students to spread the word. He wanted to get as many people on board as possible. “We had a paper in the early oughts, I think it lasted for two years and ended around 2013,” Gianotti said. “We couldn’t sustain it because we didn’t have enough students. We couldn’t carry the proper structure of beat writers, section editors, editors, and sponsors. This time around, I immediately had fifteen students interested before school had even started.” Once high school came back in session, that number swelled to thirty-one. Gianotti asked head secretary, Diane Schoon, to email the student body announcing the opportunity to everyone. Her email added more faces and more sections: the second edition boasts four new areas of interests. But, it all goes back to that conversation with Cano, Emery,

and Perlick. Had they not wanted to do it, Gianotti would have taken a pass, too. “When three of the most talented and active students come to you and ask you to be a part of their idea, how can you say no,”

Gianotti said. “It’s been challenging, no doubt. Because we’re an extracurricular and not a class, we can’t offer equitable coverage. For example, the girls golf

team is off to a fantastic start, but we haven’t covered them at all. I can’t “assign” anything to anyone, but I think we’re doing a lot more than people thought we could. The students have been incredible.”

Gianotti said he went to Principal Angela Patrick with the idea and she signed on. As usual, if students want to do something that creates PRIDE within LHS, Patrick is onboard.

The Post asked beat writer, Makalyn Patrick, why she wanted to help with the newspaper. Patrick said, “I fell in love with writing when I was younger and knew this was something I’d enjoy.” Gianotti says that all the students are working on the Post because they love to

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In the Classroom

Speedy Pete’s Challenge

by Adam Hammer

The second-year engineering students are currently working on the Speedy Pete Project in Mr. Peterson's Principles of Engineering Class (POE). The students are tasked with making a car from scratch that must travel approximately 10 meters using the axles and motors provided, but are able to use any materials and tools they need to make their car the fastest.

The competition is important because the order they finish determines their group's grade: 1st gets 100%, 2nd gets 90%, 3rd gets 80%, and the rest gets 70% scores on the project. One of the main challenges the students were faced with in the requirements is that the motor must be built perpendicular to the axle, making it difficult to get the axles to turn at a high rate of speed. As Mr. Peterson says, “While at first glance, the project may appear fairly straightforward, but as students develop their ideas they are faced with many challenges. These challenges necessitate multiple design modifications throughout the project. It is interesting to see how students deal with the problems they encounter throughout the project.”

There are many different ways students are building their cars. Some groups choose to use pieces of wood for the base with hot glue guns and saws or make them out of metal pieces and bolts. A select few chose to 3D print the base of their car with AutoCAD, a digital design program on the laptops they learned how to use in the year one program. Regardless of strategies, it is going to be exciting to see which type of car finishes fastest and how long it takes the students to finally get their final cars all put together. The project is providing a good challenge to the students so far, and there have been setbacks for almost every group. Fortunately, every group has been able to use their problem-solving skills to get around it, and progress is starting to be made towards final designs and race day.

In the Classroom Aerospace students take flight

by Sophia Emery

Lowell High School’s aerospace engineering class is the third year class option offered for those seeking an engineering career pathway. The two previous PLTW classes include the Introduction to Engineering (IED) and Principles of Engineering (POE) classes. Taught by Mr. Lodise, this class uses physics concepts to fuel and understand real life aeronautical applications. The students in aerospace class were tasked with creating paper airplanes, and needed to complete a total of three challenges.

Each student in the class researched different paper airplane designs, and were able to test and modify their airplanes. One difficult part of the task was the inability to use different planes for each challenge, and instead needing to have one plane complete each trick.

For those showing an interest in engineering, exposure to these concepts is highly recommended. Regarding aspiring engineers, Mr.

Lodise spoke about the class emphasizing “It’s challenging in a good sense. It really lets the students know if they have the aptitude for the subject of engineering.”

Not only should students who plan on further studying engineering outside of high school consider the class, but to anyone who wants to dip their feet into the aerospace realm. It’s not only teaching career specific skills, but also physics concepts and real-life problem solving skills. Mr. Lodise continued, “There are many applications. You don’t need to be a pilot or a mechanic or engineer for it. You can work in many fields inside the aerospace industry.” Being a third year engineering class, the prerequisites required must be met first. The aerospace students will now take what they have learned and apply it to more advanced projects in the future, such as building a model plane out of balsa wood.

Red Devil Trades expands in square footage and offerings

by Alyx Doty

Lowell High School recently opened their new addition to the CTE trades building. Mr. Ganzeveld, who teaches the construction trades, as well as Mr. Favors and Mr. Goss, who teach automotive technology and welding, were willing to give an interview about their perspectives.

“Hello Mr. Ganzeveld, what is the construction program and what do you do?”

“The Principles of Construction class is the Intro class which is the only class offered this year. Next year we will advance to having construction, trades, general carpentry and the following year [we’ll add] framing, and finishing. The students will learn basic construction knowledge this year advancing each year to eventually learning how to build a house.”

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Student Spotlight

Freshmen

Jessica and Jillian Davis

by Hailey Baran

Let’s get to know Jillian and Jessica Davis, two dynamic freshmen, new to the corporation, and already leaving an impression.

HB: What is something that nobody knows about you?

JeD: I can sometimes be shy, but if you get to know me, my shyness goes away.

JiD: I love to dance, and I love cinema. I’d like to be an artist or a world traveler.

HB: What is your favorite movie?

JeD: The Departed by Martin Scorsese.

HB: Musical genre?

JiD: Indie.

HB: What’s it like having a twin?

JeD and JiD: Sometimes it can be annoying, but we also have the benefit of a built-in friend for life.

HB: What are your hobbies?

JeD: I like football, poetry, and watching Netflix.

JiD: I like to draw, listen to music, and take photos.

HB: Do you have any other siblings?

JeD and JiD: We have a half sister and a half brother.

HB: What is your favorite subject in school?

JeD: English.

JiD: Computer science.

HB: Do you have any pets?

JeD and JiD: We don’t.

What do you hope to do when you get older?

JeD: I want to be creative like an architect or a cinematographer.

JiD: I want to be an artist, too, and travel the world.

Student Spotlight

Meet Sophomore Mikey Vitols

by Hailey Baran

HB: How have you liked your sophomore year so far?

MV: It’s pretty good. I’m getting used to my classes, and I enjoy them so far.

HB: What is something nobody knows about you?

MV: I’m a metalhead.

HB: What are some of your hobbies?

MV: I like Rubik’s Cubes and video games. My favorite video game is Classic Doom.

HB: What’s your favorite subject in school?

MV: Math

HB: What’s the hardest class you’re taking right now?

MV: Probably engineering. we’re doing a project in there that I’m not a big fan of at the moment.

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Catching up with senior unicorn shapeshifter, Haley Sauzer

by Mia McMillan

Q: Plans for after graduation?

A: I plan on going to college, possibly to Indiana University

Q: How’s school going?

A: My favorite classes currently are Honors English 12 and sociology, my favorite teachers are Mr. Gianotti, Mr. Higgins, and Mr. McLindon.

Q: Interests?

Off the trail with Gabby Morache

by Makalyn Patrick

Junior, Gabby Morache, earned the student spotlight for her exemplary academic accomplishments. She has been attending Lowell for her whole life now. Morache indulges in cross country and track and has done so since 6th grade. She explained that once she began, she fell in love with it ever since, and hopes to run in college once she gets the opportunity.

When asked what she would like people to know about her, she talked about her love for animals. Because of her passion, she hopes to pursue a veterinary career in the future. If not, she would also enjoy being in the medical field, so she has the opportunity to positively impact the life of those around her. Little known fact about Gabby is her beloved potbelly pig named Oliva (named after the Nickelodeon show), who she got around three to four years ago.

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A: Inside of school I enjoy learning about sociology with an honorable mention of lunch.

A: Outside school: Outside of school I enjoy swimming, painting, hanging out with my friends, cooking, and starting small projects working towards finishing my room.

Q: Did you go to Tri-Creek your whole Life?

A: I went to Lowell Christian Academy for preschool and then I skipped a grade and have been going to Tri-Creek since the first grade.

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Devils’ Advocate

Dress code a perennial source of disdain for students, teachers, and administrators

by Olivia Perlick

Lowell High School has a dress code policy that students are expected to follow. It consists of common decency, where students are expected to have adequate coverage. Students must not disrupt the educational process. The guidelines also consist of no hats, hoods, or head coverings except on school spirit days. No clothing which reveals any undergarments or a lack of. Also no excessive skin such as midriff, back, and lower shoulder blade areas.

With these guidelines in place, some students agree with the dress code policies. The main issue students face is the belief that the dress code does not apply equally to everyone. Alyssa Andriese commented, “I believe that the dress code is more strict to girls. You hardly see boys getting dress coded.” With this, we see students believe that the dress code is more firm for girls and applies mostly to the girls. However, LHS faculty and staff are quick to point out that the majority of head wear dress code violations are made by male students.

When students were asked if they wanted to see a change in the dress code, they responded by saying they wanted a change in the enforcement, with consistency. Madalyn Logan said, “It's more the enforcement of the rules that I think is unfair.”

Many students would like to see more clarity in the dress code policies with times of when the rules apply and definitive rules on what is and is not allowed. Other students would like to see slight changes in the rules to fit the current style of 2022. As Grace Henke stated, “We should be able to dress in a respectable manner but with more freedom. A situation only becomes distracting when it’s called out and it embarrasses the student.” Therefore, specification, consistency, and freedom are what students are

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Devils’ Advocate

Bay Area dress code policy too extreme in our view, but the sentiment is right

California school’s no-shame dress code empowers students to wear that they want

by Jennifer McClellan/USA TODAY

This article was originally published on August 21, 2018 in USA TODAY

Reprinted with permission

School dress codes have been getting their fair share of backlash lately.

Parents and students are frustrated that rules banning bare shoulders, ripped pants and short shorts often target girls over their male classmates.

Just this week, a Texas principal apologized after showing only the school’s female students a dress code video that depicted “bad girls” being punished by a teacher who forced them to repeat, “I will not wear athletic shorts.”

On San Francisco Bay area school district has a possible solution: Let students wear what they want.

This school year, students at Alameda Unified School District will be allowed to wear everything from tube tops and baggy sweaters to miniskirts and sweatpants.

The district, which has elementary, middle and high schools, adopted the new dress code over the summer, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“We want kids and parents and guardians to be deciding what appropriate is,” Rebecca Baumgartner, an English and history teacher at Lincoln Middle School told The Chronicle.

Baumgartner helped a group of students at her middle school advocate for the changes starting in 2016. School administrators heard the complaints and updated the dress code after a suggested policy from the Oregon chapter of the National Organization for Women. It is being adopted on a trial basis and will be revisited later in the school year after student, parents and teachers weigh in.

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Artistic Endeavors

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Choir numbers hitting a high note

by Savannah Amschl

The Fine Arts portion of our school has been something that has really improved throughout the past two years and many of us would like to shine a spotlight on all the success that Ms. Rumbles has brought to the choir program. Last year, the choir program had around 48 members and now has over 70. At almost 45% growth, the improvement is easy to see. Although I am not a choir member myself, I was welcomed with open arms and many explanations. One of the levels of choir, as kindly explained to me, is called Premiere. It is the highest level and requires not only an audition, but also the members must compete as Solo and Ensemble where they are judged either together or alone. As I was told; last year, in the premiere choir, they had struggled to learn 3 part music, and took much longer to get songs under their belts. The premiere

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Marching band earns gold at Highland

by Daisy Ray

The Marching Red Devils recently competed at an invitational competition at Highland High School. They performed their show The Beatles, playing the songs “Magical Mystery Tour,” “A Hard Day's Night,” “Yesterday,” and “Hey Jude.” They marched on field at 7:30pm, and Drum Majors Hannah Cano and Cooper Gregor-Skillman conducted the band as they performed their six-minute show to a panel of judges. The band played to the best of their ability and performed their best show yet.

The judges seem to have agreed with that statement, awarding the Lowell Marching Band and Guard a gold medal. The next competition for the Marching Band is on October 1st, 2022. This ISSMA contest will be the biggest competition of the season. The band has been working hard since August to make this show the best one yet. Wishing them all the best, and good luck to the band on their ISSMA contest!

Ceramic fall festivities

by Madelyn Logan

The ceramics students are bringing fall into the classroom with their pumpkins! Not only have the students made pumpkins, but many have made monsters, ghosts, and spiders to get ready for the spooky season of Halloween! The fall decorations have been made, fired, and the students are just finishing up the glazing process. The glazing step is by far one of the coolest steps in ceramics. The glaze goes from a matte finish to a glossy shine once it’s been fired. Most of the time the glaze changes color as well! Everyone is very excited to show off their fall projects. Keep an eye out for them in the front office!

Counselors’ Corner

Student hub essential but tough to find: Follow these steps for an easier life at LHS

The Student Hub: 2022-2023: A place where news and important information can be found. But, how do students find this incredible resource in the first place. Need tutoring support, test prep recommendations, an exhaustive list of scholarships, transcripts, social and emotional support, help with the FAFSA, dual credit info, pathway news, AP news, vocational information, and more, go to the Student Hub.

Follow these steps to get there:

• Go to the LHS website

• Click on “Students and Parents” on the left side

• Click on “Student Services” on the left side

• Click on “Student Hub”

A wealth of information awaits!

Student hub info immediately awaiting your attention

• Updated SAT Information

• Graduation Pathway Forms

• Self Soothing Skills

• FAFSA 101: Financial Aid FAQ

• A list of twelve scholarships that by the end of the year will number in the dozens

• Course Description Guides so that you can make informed decisions about scheduling

• findhelp.org A FREE website that has information about local resources to help families in a variety of ways

Counselors’ Corner

Let’s go! For College Go! Week!

by Alyssa Andriese

College Go! Week is an annual statewide event to promote enrollment in two and four-year colleges across Indiana. School are encouraged to promote enrollment in college with a weekly schedule of events based on this theme, such as presentations by college admissions representatives, trivia contests, and daily announcements. Most importantly, however, numerous Indiana colleges and universities waive their application fees during College Go! Week.

LHS keeps getting better and better at advertising College Go Week. Opportunities to gain more information for students are made available via announcements. Spirit days with future

Staff members sport their alma mater’s spirit wear. Seniors are provided with ASVAB testing as a way to clear a hurdle for graduation. The School Counseling Office, ever overloaded and understaffed, goes out of its way to celebrate the week.

Predestined Devils

Keeping up with the young Devils

by Allie Mecha

In 2012, Lowell’s population was roughly 9,100 people. Comparatively different, the current population is 10,960, showing a noticeable increase in a 10 year period. With the population on the rise, the amount of children coming into Lowell schools is significant. Due to this, there aren’t enough teachers or space to go around.

At the beginning of the school year, Lake Prairie Elementary was hit with a wave of students. To combat this, the three classes of 5th graders were moved to the middle school. They handled it with grace and are pushing through the brand new year with a positive attitude, overcoming every challenge that is thrown at them.

This school year, Three Creeks gained a new principal, Mr. Nannenga, who is very excited about his new position and creating a happy environment at Three Creeks Elementary. Keeping the B.E.A.R.S expectations and a positive culture at Three Creeks is the goal for the 2022-23 school year, and it’s starting out strong. They had a special guest, Omegaman, who came in and reminded everyone to be the best version of themselves, to choose kindness over bullying, and follow their dreams. The students also had a parade of superheros. This included each class to parade around the building with a banner that they created identifying their individual “super powers” or “one word” for the year and show it off to the entire school.

The Tricreek School corporation as a whole is working to maintain a positive environment amongst the student body, and the outlook for this year is already looking great!

Community Pride

Harvest Tyme: A Lowell cultural attraction for kids of all ages

by Bre Kidd

Harvest Tyme is a place in Lowell, Indiana that anyone can go to have fun with friends and family. It is located at 17904 Grant St, Lowell, IN 46356. Harvest Tyme has a lot of fun things to do, from attractions to a corn maze, to eating food, and spending time with family and friends. At the beginning of the season, Harvest Tyme has a Dino Tyme from August 27 - September 18. Dino Tyme is when Harvest Tyme brings out a bunch of dinosaurs to the farm and makes everything dinosaur related. Also during Dino Tyme is when the sunflowers come out, so anyone can buy them during that time. After Dino Tyme is over, the fall season starts, and that is September 24th - October 30th. During that time is when the pumpkins come out and everything turns fall related. After the fall season, there is a winter part. That is from November 25 – December 30. During the winter season, some of the workers come together to make a fun Christmas light show. The Christmas light show is a drive-through area located on the farm for family and friends to go through for a fun time. During every season, Harvest Tyme is always looking for employees. Anyone can start working at Harvest Tyme at age 14. If someone is 14 they may not be able to work the rides that the 16-year-olds do, but they still get to have a working experience and interact with the customers. Whether someone wants to work or just wants to have fun, Harvest Tyme is the place to go.

Community Pride

Lowell beginning to see the rapid growth of its near north neighbors

by Sarah Gygi

The population in the little town of Lowell is soaring. The expansion of Lowell is on the rise, and the end is not in sight. Lowell’s 10-year growth from 2010 to 2020 was an increase of almost 2,000 people. Just in the last year, Lowell has been the place which now over 10,000 people reside and call home. Almost 30% of Lowell's population is persons under the age of 18. With this growing number, there is a likelihood of further alteration to the TriCreek School Corporation’s three elementary schools and its middle school. Lake Prairie Elementary’s fifth grade class has already moved into vacant space at LMS, but the shift is seen as only temporary. As reported by the Town’s comprehensive plan, “Subdivision development and a range of housing options will become important in handling growth.” lowell.net reports nearly 300 new construction homes on the rise, each with the possibility to house the common family of four. With these new advancements and beginnings for our little town, what will the next ten years look like? Rapid growth represents both challenges and opportunities for the TriCreek School Corporation. TriCreek is one of nineteen school districts in Lake County, but it sits on one-third of the County’s land, which has never been an issue since so much of it was zoned for farming. With subdivisions springing up around every corner, building and transportation needs will get prioritized more than ever.

Modern Minute

Fashion forward on a budget

by Ethan Hernandez

For most high school students, clothes are a big part of personal image or even everyday lives in general. The familiar “Mom, can I have money to go clothes shopping?” is somewhere that everyone has been at some point. The response may be a yes or just a straight up no; regardless, for most high school kids, money does not grow on trees and struggling to have a steady income while still attending school is not uncommon. The odds that those weekly paychecks can cover not only occasional fast food, a personal phone bill, the gas that costs $100.00 a gallon today, and the stylish clothing that is sought after, isn’t very reasonable. The expensive mainstream stores such as Express, American Eagle, Hollister, and PacSun will leave your wallet crying, but fortunately there are other solutions. Here is a compacted bulleted list of the top five stores to find expensive clothing of all styles at reduced prices!

5. Romwe—an online store with great prices ranging from $4 to $50. All sorts of clothing and fashion goods such as shoes and backpacks. They allow refunds, so treat yourself and order a huge hall on your phone, right from your couch.

4. Ross Dress For Less—“Less” is literally in the store name. They offer great deals on popular brands with nearby stores in Merrillville and Schererville.

3. TJ Maxx—They offer tons of options for Women, plus some men’s clothes as well. TJ Maxx has great deals on clothes that do not get distributed by their parent companies. They sell top brands like Zara, Adidas, and American Eagle, and like Ross, they have stores in Merrillville and Schererville.

2. H&M—This is the one store in NWI that sells quality clothing at cheap prices. They boast a Merrillville store with wide selections, and H&M can fit a student’s weekend, school day, and dance event needs.

1. Shein—Online store that sells super inexpensive clothing of all brands. Shein is the Amazon of clothes shopping. They allow refunds, have clothes as low as $3 and as high as $70, and boast seemingly limitless selections and deals. Shipping is also not a factor at Shein.

Modern Minute

21st century Beanie Babies:

The Squishmallow saves the 2020 quarantine

by Jacquelynn Van Der Linde

If a toy aficionado has ever had to clean out an attic, gone to a garage sale, or sparred with an older sibling, they know about Beanie Babies. Those small, bean-filled animals that could, apparently, pay for a person’s college tuition given enough years. Did they actually sell for that much? No, definitely not. But there’s a new kind of Beanie Baby taking people by storm?

While not made by the same company, Squishmallows resemble Beanies in almost every way. They’re both soft, adorable stuffed animals with insane demand. Each one comes with a name tag and unique personality, serving as an emotional incentive for buyers to get attached to their stuffed animal, therefore “needing” to buy it. They both have different styles and varieties to appeal to all demographics and tastes. And they both give consumers a flock mentality, leading buyers to think: “everyone is buying this thing, so I should buy one or I will miss out.” But neither company knew the extent to which these seemingly simple toys would reach.

Squishmallows have been around since 2017, starting with the original lineup; Cameron the Cat, Wendy the Frog, Piper and Puff the Penguins, Hans the Hedgehog, Hoot and Holly the owls, and Fifi the Fox. They were marketed as being plush and round, a perfect mix between a stuffed animal and a pillow. It was quarantine, almost everyone needed some optimism and a hobby to pass the time; their popularity increased tenfold. Everyone on Tik Tok and other social media platforms posted pictures of their newest finds, their collections, and even their own designs of custom Squishmallows. People coped with their trusty, cuddly friends at their side.

continued on page 32

Diversity Matters

Hispanic Heritage Month history

by Jacquelynn Van Der Linde

Blooming colors of yellow and orange, vibrant fruits like guava and mango, and delicious food that is savored with each bite. All these things are commonly enjoyed and have become widespread through Hispanic culture. Simply, not enough credit is given to those of Hispanic descent and their effect on American culture. Not just the traditions and recipes they carried over, but the hard work and dedication they have granted. As such, there are memorable accomplishments that deserve attention and recognition. Here are some of the most impactful events in which Hispanic people have changed America.

1861-1865: 20,000 Hispanic soldiers helped fight in the Civil War, both for the confederacy and the union. Most Hispanics during this time lived in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, so some were more inclined toward the confederacy. One Alabama division was specifically made up of soldiers with Spanish ancestry. They were called the Spanish Guards and they protected cities fiercely.

continued on page 34

LGBTQ+ Matters

by Mia McMillan

Society as a whole has never been able to share this much information with the world at once. Because of this, electronics have made it so people only see the information of interest to them. This article is going to give recent news highlights over topics that may not get the attention they deserve. This week's focus, LGBTQ+ news!

To kick off for the month of July, “The Crown” star Emma Corrin is the first non-binary person to appear on the cover of Vogue, taking a huge step forward for the LGBTQ community. In her interview with Vogue, published July 6, 2022, Corrin spoke about gender fluidity, sharing, “In my mind, gender just isn’t something that feels fixed, and I don’t know if it ever will be. There might always be some fluidity there for me.” Vogue has a wide platform that Corrin uses to discuss her identity and offer great representation for the gay community.

continued on page 35

Diversity Club: An open letter

by Savannah Amschl

Dear Lowell High School, LHS Culture and Diversity Club is fairly new to LHS and is looking for new members. The club is focused on promoting and appreciating all differences within our school community, including but not limited to looking at mental health, race, disabilities, sexual orientation, and many more differences. Everyone is welcome.

continued on page 35

Quirks of History

All hail, Caesar! (salad)

by Jacquelynn Van Der Linde

Contrary to popular belief, this fan-favorite appetizer was not actually invented by the late Roman emperor. Instead, its creator is a tie between a well-known restaurant owner and his Italian immigrant cook. Setting the scene… It’s January of 1920. The 18th amendment just passed and you can no longer drink, serve, or produce alcohol of any kind. This means no wine at dinner, no glass of whiskey after work and certainly no bar hopping with friends. So, where else can you go to get your boozy fix? The border of Mexico.

At the time, Mexico was a huge hub for tequila smugglers (tequileros, or “tequila people”) who made their living by illegally transporting alcohol into America. Once they reached the states, their alcohol could be sold for whatever price they wanted. During the initial stages of prohibition, the demand for alcohol was high enough that people were willing to pay these smugglers' prices. The most common price was $6 per gallon, but with inflation, that’d be about $89 in today’s money–for just one gallon! Clearly, people wanted their alcohol. But paying $89 a gallon? Heck no!

Their next best bet was to go somewhere that still allowed alcohol.

Right across the border of Mexico is a little city called Tijuana. From San Diego to Tijuana is a 45minute drive, so folks in the 20s would make a day/weekend trip of going there. All they had to do was cross the Tijuana bridge and they were free to drink until their head spun…or until their pockets were empty. The hottest restaurant at the time was run by a man named Caesar Cardini–named Hotel Caesar. Or alternatively, Caesar’s Place.

continued on page 35

Weird Facts

A hamster’s teeth never stop growing.

About a million Earths could fit inside the sun.

A hippo’s lips are about two feet wide.

The first candy canes were made without stripes.

Nearly 20% of all the calories consumed by all the world’s humans are provided by rice.

Mr. Potato Head was the first toy to be advertised on television.

A duel between three people is actually called a truel.

In 2014, a missing woman in Iceland was found when she was discovered in the search party looking for herself.

Walmart sells more bananas than any other item they have in stock.

The term “brah” is Hawaiian pidgin, and was popularized by surf culture.

by Gabby Morache

Courts and Fields

Myers and Snow lead boys and girls cross to solid finishes at the Bob Thomas Invite

Every cross country season, Lowell High School hosts one of the most thrilling and memorable invites in Northwest Indiana: The Bob Thomas Invitational. The Bob Thomas Invite is held annually at Lowell High School and hosts between twenty to thirty teams from nearby schools. On September 20th, 2022, twenty-one teams came out to Lowell High School to race on the relatively fast, flat, forested course, with hopes to bring home a trophy.

The boys’ team finished fifth overall, with Jimmy Snow coming in ninth place for a top ten finish. Ben Keeton, Nathan Hayden, Camden Mikulich, and Ethan Wulitch rounded out the top five for the boys. The girls’ team placed tenth overall, with Gabby Morache, Morgan Myers, Payton Boyer, Reilly Boyer, and Abbi Pflughoeft rounding out the top five for the Lady Devils. Morgan Myers had an incredible performance on her home course, as she improved her PR by thirty seconds!

However, no matter the outcome of the score or performance at Bob Thomas, the atmosphere is unmatched. The smiles, laughs, and endless amounts of cheering from spectators makes racing on the home course a memorable experience. Being part of cross country is like having another family. It gives athletes a chance to build close friendships with teammates, coaches, and even rival teams. The unbeatable atmosphere of the Bob Thomas Invite brings a whole new dynamic to the cross country team, bringing everyone together as a supportive family.

Both teams have rounded out their regular season on a high note and will compete at the Conference Championships this Saturday, October 1st. They will compete against Highland, Munster, Kankakee Valley, Hobart, and Andrean on the sandy trails of Kankakee Valley High School. This will be the most competitive meet of the season. Best of luck to the Boy’s and Girl’s Cross Country teams this weekend and let's look forward to a killer postseason.

Courts and Fields

Boys soccer celebrates senior night vs. Hobart Brickies

by Alyssa Andriese

The Lowell boys’ soccer team went up against the Hobart Brickies here at LHS on September 14th for their senior night. The seniors, Titan Shuler (winger), Logan Krambeck (winger), Tommy Johnson (goalie), Aaron Steganga (forward), Joey Paternostro (fullback), Ian Valdivia (fullback), and Chris Bishop (fullback), were walked out right before the game by their loving parents. It was a great senior walk down the field and this season won’t be forgotten by these soon-to-be graduates, and neither will these seniors be forgotten by their fellow team members. All seniors were gifted a jersey-like shirt with their name and number to always remember the team they fought and played with.

Unfortunately, the boys lost a tough game against the Brickies 1-6. Titan Shuler, one of the seniors said, “For a top team in the state, I think we did alright. We hustled and had the ball on their side (of the field) a lot of the game, and scored, which a lot of teams can’t say. The positive vibes helped us big time though. No matter the gap in the score, we always hustled.” Looking back at the last three games Lowell has played against the Brickies, this game was by far their best match. The only goal that was scored that night, was shot by Jesus Sanchez, after hitting a top left shot on a free kick, being far out by the 18 mark. On top of them having great offensive plays, they also had some great defensive plays. Tommy Johnson saved a beautiful penalty kick with his knees after one of Lowell's soccer boys fouled a Brickie inside the box. Tommy Johnson is also the official team captain. However, the other boys on the team show great leadership and sportsmanship, which is not something every sports team always gets. The team has improved a lot this year compared to previous years, not winning many games, but now coming in and winning the number of games they won all season to the first five of their games this season. Titan Shuler also said, “It’s like night and day. We haven’t gotten a conference win in four years, and this year we’ve already collected two. We’ve matched the number of wins from last season in five games, and are looking up from here. With the bias of course. I would say from seasons in the last ten years, this one might have a chance of being one of the best for sure.” The boys’ season is coming to an end, the sectional draws came out September 25th, and the boys went up against Hammond Central Saturday 24th. Best of luck to the boys on the soccer team, and good luck with the sectional draw!

by Emma Sampias

Courts and Fields

With great effort comes great motivation:

Varsity football player, Matthew Kawanna, Jr.

Matthew Kawanna Jr. is a member of the LHS varsity football team. This student-athlete has a high drive and determination for success in everything he does. He manages to possess strong academic ethics while also putting forth total effort toward football. Kawanna, Jr. is enrolled in all honors core classes, allowing himself to work towards being accepted into a distinguished college. Kawanna, Jr. intends to study computer science while in college, as it has always been an area of interest for him.

Many athletes subconsciously structure a pregame routine. This may include a pregame meal following a pregame song. He stated that his typical pregame meal is a subway sandwich filled with different meats, cheese, and vegetables. This meal fills him up, leaving him energized and prepared for the following game. Kawanna, Jr. was then asked what his favorite pregame song is, he stated, “My favorite pregame song would probably have to be “Power” by Kanye, from start to finish the song is just hype, I love it.” These traditions play a significant role in his preparation for playing a game.

While being a student-athlete comes with the traditions of the sport, it also comes with a burdensome amount of mental pressure and stress. Kawanna, Jr. was asked how he copes with the pressure of being a student-athlete. His response was, “I like to keep my focus on school and football separate, when I’m in school I need to make sure I’m on top of all my work and just focused on school, and when I’m on the field it's the same thing, just worry about football. Once you start stressing about both at once, that's when you'll find yourself in a hole.” Just as he stated, stress begins when you allow separate portions of your life to overlap. Focus is key. Though this mental pressure can cause negative emotions, they also cause positive ones. These high standards motivate Kawanna, Jr. to be his best self while exceeding the expectations he faces.

continued on page 33

Courts and Fields

Sitting down with varsity football standouts Anderson, Bank, and Langen

by Hailey Moore and Payton Williams

As this season has progressed, our Red Devil football team has started to mold together and become one. After the first five games, and a good record of 2-3, we interviewed starting varsity players Eli Anderson, Riley Bank, and James Langen. In the last few weeks, the football team has really been working to become one unit on the field, and have been doing everything to achieve it. The team has really looked to underclassmen this year for bigger roles. Even though most of the team has never played together, they have a strong team chemistry as though they’ve been together their whole lives. Since the first game, the team now knows what’s at stake and are being held to a higher standard. This year has been a major growing year, especially for Anderson, Bank, and Langen. These three have all become leaders on and off the field, and have overcome the mental part of the game. But even with a strong mental mind, there are still moments that things peek through. When senior Eli Anderson was asked how you get back up and shake plays off, he said, “In football you have to have short term memory because there are too many ups and downs. So many things can go a different way than how you’d expect.” Even when things don’t go his way, he knows that time is ticking and all he can do is get back up. When asked what he hopes to see happen in the following games, James Langen said, “We have to learn to come out and fight in the first quarter. Play 4 good quarters and don’t slow down.” In football, you have to always be coming to fight the whole time, not just when you are winning. Starting quarterback, Riley Bank, was asked what makes a football player great. He said that to be a great football player you need dedication and grit. These two characteristics are so major in football because it’s such a mental game, and you have to always be in it. Our Red Devil football program is working hard everyday, constantly pushing to improve, and it has shown in the last few weeks. With more games coming up, they see nothing but success in their future.

Courts and Fields

Scores from throughout fall sports

Girls Cross Country

6th at Highland Invite

10th at Bob Thomas Invite

20th at New Prairie Invite

Boys Cross Country

8th at Highland Invite

21st at New Prairie Invite

5th at Bob Thomas Invite

5th at Crown Point Invite

Freshman Football

Lowell 21, Hobart 14

Kankakee Valley 14, Lowell 0

Boys Varsity Soccer

Hammond Central 2, Lowell 1

Munster 4, Lowell 0

Lowell 3, Hanover Central 2

Merrillville 5, Lowell 1

Hobart 6, Lowell 1

Morgan Township 4, Lowell 1

Boone Grove 2, Lowell 1

Girls Varsity Soccer

Lowell 2, Munster 1

Lowell 2, Andrean 0

Conference Champions

Girls JV Soccer

Lowell 12, Merrillville 0

Lowell 4, Hanover Central 0

Munster 1, Lowell 0

Lowell 1, Andrean 0

Boys Tennis

Michigan City 3, Lowell 2

Crown Point 5, Lowell 0

Lowell 4, Wheeler 0

Chesterton 5, Lowell 0

Lowell 5, Hammond Morton 0

Lowell 4, Highland 1

Lowell 4, Merrillville 1

Varsity Volleyball

Munster 3, Lowell 0

Lowell 3, Griffith 0

Lowell 3, Hebron 0

Highland 3, Lowell 1

Freshman Volleyball

Lowell 2, Griffith 0

Lowell 2, Michigan City 0

Kankakee Valley Invite Champions

continued from page 6, Art Club

steadily continue that endeavor this year, too. Art Club is also utilized as an open studio time. Many of the AP Art students need extra studio time to work on their own artwork and use Art Club as a place for that.

JE: What are your plans or goals fro the Art Club this year?

RL: This year we are going to finish the recycling bin project, but also we would love to reach out to other school organizations in ways we could help make posters for events, t-shirt designs, and other visual needs for the school. It might be fun to go through an entire Bob Ross episode and create our own “happy tree” paintings. Also, we may make our own tie-dye t-shirts, too! There are tons of ideas that we can do, and we will see where the wind takes us. No matter what, it’s going to be fun and creative!

JE: What do you think people should know about Art Club?

RL: If you struggle with art, don’t worry! This is a judge free zone, where you can try out new things and have fun, too. No art experience is required to join!

JE: What would you say to someone considering joining Art Club?

RL: Come and check it out! It it’s not for you, that’s o.k. But it might be something you’d love. You’ll never know if you don’t come and find out.

JE: Is there a specific moment from Art Club that is memorable for you?

RL: I think it’s a sprinkle of moments, where I see students meeting each other and forming friendships. It is so fun for me to see people exploring art, but also creating relationships with people they would never run into if it wasn’t for Art Club.

JE: What have the students taught you since you formed this club?

RL: This is such a great question! The Art Club members have taught me that even without a graded assignment, their passion for art if strong. They want to learn and grow as artists and create something awesome. It inspires me to be a better artist.

continued from page 9, Red Devil Trades

“How has the new expansion benefited you?”

“Well, so far the construction of the shop area is not complete so we are not benefiting from it yet. Once done, we will be able to set it up and build various projects from personal items to group projects.”

“Where do students usually go after graduation? Do they go straight into the workforce, or do they need additional training?”

“This program is affiliated with the Carpenters Union. If the students meet all the criteria set by them, the students will be offered direct entry into the Union when they graduate.”

“What do students do in your class and what kind of assignments do they do?”

“Currently students are getting certified with OSHA 10. It is an online class that many factories, mills, and unions require. This will give them an edge in an interview process if this is already completed. There are 4 books the students must complete to meet the criteria for the Carpenters Union agreement. Like mentioned before, students will also build their own individual project along with 2-3 group projects.”

“How has the new expansion benefited you?”

“Our program has benefited from the project on a few levels, the easiest to visually see is the addition of a separated classroom. We are able to use the old classroom area as lab space for cars during hands-on instruction. We were able to obtain tools and equipment along with additional vehicles for instruction. Which allowed us to apply for the ASE Accreditation. This intense scrutinization of the entire program took months to prepare for and an on site team evaluated every aspect of the program. LHS is now one of thirteen high school auto programs in Indiana to meet this top level certification.

This certification has now opened doors for support from all the major auto manufacturers. We were able to secure the donation of two Subaru Outbacks, a 2015 and 2017 in perfectly good condition. We have been adopted by Schepel Buick GMC as a partner. This partnership also opens the door for students to complete General Motors training online while in the program which will transfer to their employment records post graduation.”

Because of the new facilities, Lowell High School can give its students opportunities to practice, learn, and succeed in the workforce.

continued from page 12, Dress code

looking for within the LHS Dress Code.

Still, it should be noted that LHS’s dress code policy has come a long way in the past three years, and administration is to be thanked for that progress. While we might have a ways to go toward equity, all seniors know that the policy was more harshly written, tilted even more toward females, and enforced with even less equity prior to the pandemic.

It should also be noted that the students asking for more consistent enforcement of the dress code would send home dozens of females a day who have shown their midriffs since the beginning of the school year.

continued from page 7, Red Devil Post

write or they want to spread PRIDE. “For of them, I think it’s both,” Gianotti claims.

The staff currently includes Savannah Amschl, Alyssa Andriese, Brooke Bane, Hailey Baran, Jon Budz, Hannah Cano, Alyx Doty, Sophia Emery, Jaiden Estrada, Bella Funk, Emily Gerstenkorn, Sarah Gygi, Adam Hammer, Ethan Hernandez, Bre Kidd, Walter Kotlin, Morgan Laumeyer, Madelyn Logan, Mia McMillan, Alli Mecha, Hailey Moore, Gabby Morache, Joey Paternostro, Makalyn Patrick, Olivia Perlick, Alycia Ramos, Daisy Ray, Emma Sampias, Kayana Seely, Bella Silva, Lilly Susko, Jacquelynn Van Der Linde, Adeline Vaught, and Payton Williams.

continued from page 5, Mental health

Families don’t know what to look for when it comes to the symptoms or signs of mental health issues. Some guardians might think it could be a phase or they're just tired, but it could be something much more serious. Some of these signs can include changes in eating or sleeping habits, experiencing irritability, difficulty keeping worry levels under control, constant fatigue, changes in motivation, and many more.

It’s recommended that parents, teachers, even students do their own research on the mental health of teenagers and kids. More can be done to help change and change the lives of others.

continued from page 4, Pep rally

The winners of the spirit week contests were also announced and were awarded prizes for whoever had the best outfit from each day of the week. At the end of the pep rally, the tradition of the spirit stick stayed alive as each grade level competed against each other to determine who had the most spirit. This year a noise meter was used to determine each grade's amount of spirit and the juniors ended up being the loudest.

Continued from page 6, Chavez

She is well known by every coach for her intense nature to push her girls to show “hard work and determination”. She previously coached at Hobart and transferred to Lowell to build the Running Red Devils program for the younger incoming middle school and high school girls. Mrs. Chavez creates lasting bonds with her players, making a respectable name for herself.

continued from page 13, California dress code

“AUSD rejects the idea that certain students’ bodies are distracting and therefore must be monitored and covered,” administrators wrote in a Dress Code FAQs document.

The new dress code is divided into three categories: what students must wear; what they may wear and what they can’t wear.

Students must wear:

• Bottoms

• Tops

• Shoes

• Clothing that covers genitals, buttocks and areolae/nipples with opaque material

Students may wear:

• Hats, including religious headwear

• Hoodie sweatshirts (over the head is allowed)

• Fitted pants, including leggings, yoga pants, and “skinny jeans”

• Sweatpants, shorts, skirts, dresses, pants

• Midriff-baring shirts

• Pajamas

• Ripped jeans, as long as underwear is not exposed

• Tank tops, including spaghetti straps, halter tops and “tube (strapless) tops

• Athletic attire

• Clothing with commercial or athletic logos provided they do not violate the guidelines in the “Cannot Wear” section

• Sun-protective clothing, including but not limited to hats, for outdoor use during the school day

Students cannot wear:

• Violent language or images

• Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity) or the use of same

• Hate speech, profanity, pornography

• Images and/or language that create a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class

• Visible underwear or bathing suits of similar design—visible waistbands or straps on undergarments worn under other clothing are not a violation

• Helmets, hood

“We believe these changes will reduce inequitable and unnecessary discipline and help us maximize learning time,” Steven Fong, AUSD’s Chief Academic Officer, said in a release. “Districts across the country are adopting similar revisions for similar reasons. We are excited to be moving forward with such a student-centered approach.”

continued from page 11, Vitols

HB: What do you want to be when you’re older?

MV: I want to do something related to STEM. I want to go to college and get a job that I’m happy with.

HB: What do you think is one of your best characteristics?

MV: That I’m committed.

HB: What’s the fastest you’ve ever solved a Rubik’s Cube?

MV: 6.1 seconds.

HB: Have you ever competed in a Rubik’s Cube event?

MV: I went to one a couple of years ago in Michigan.

HB: What is your favorite movie?

MV: My favorite movie is Alien

continued from page 21, Squishmallows

Going forward to the present day, there has been a significant fall-off in demand. This is due to the very unreasonable resale “value” online. People known online as “scalpers” will buy up entire shelves worth of Squishmallows for the sole purpose of reselling them for upwards of $50-$100 each. (For context, a 32-inch Squishmallow is around $30 in stores, and the average 12inch is around $15.) If the Squishmallow is particularly sought after, like the cow and frog varieties, scalpers will charge over $1,000 for it. Sound familiar?

Taking a time machine back to the 90s–1993 to 2000 to be exact–we can see this trend in Beanie Baby fans. People would flock to their local Hallmark or toy store and clamor to get their hands on the latest Beanie. Whether it was Goldie the Goldfish or Cubbie the Bear, you can bet you’d have to fight tooth and nail to get it. I’m talking about actual mobs here! Eager fans would wait over two hours standing outside the stores to ensure their place in line, physical altercations would break out, and some lucky kids were even called off school to attend events (though in rare cases). If you managed to get your hands on a Beanie, you were heavily advised to not take off the tag under any circumstances. It “would be worth money someday” and that little tag was your ticket to the bank. At only five dollars a pop, people would say certain Beanies would be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

And it’s the same thing with the Squishmallows today. Walgreens and other stores that sell Squishmallows will host events during a certain time bracket within store hours. For a few hours, fans can come into the store to meet other fans, buy the latest Squishmallows, and even trade for ones they have or ones they don’t want anymore. It’s a win-win for everyone in the situation; the fans, the store owners, and Kelly Toys themselves.

Though the truth is, neither of these stuffed animals truly sell for that much. Sure, people will put up listings on eBay and Facebook marketplace with those prices, but people don’t actually buy them. Most of the time they get passed up in favor of reasonably priced ones. Because who’d spend $1,000+ on a stuffed animal? The real value these things have are the happiness and friendships it brings to people. Material items only have as much value as you give them, so if you have a happy memory attached to them, they’re going to feel way more valuable than money.

The moral of the story: don’t sell a $5 stuffed animal for $10,000.

continued from page 14, Choir

choir this year is practicing music with 6 parts and has been able to master a song a week with only 3 hours of rehearsal for each song. Lucky for those who enjoy going to the choir showcases and performances, which this year will be October 26th, December 19th & 20th, March 25th, and May 19th. Not only is this extremely impressive, as many choir members have filled me in on, it’s super fulfilling. “Being able to move beyond basic music and having that struggle of learning harder, more challenging music has made the satisfaction of hearing it all come together so much better” as one Chamber Choir member tells me. Chamber choir is the after school, extracurricular choir for those who want to learn more. Many students have told me how Rumbles have reignited their love for music and learning, which as a high school student, I can tell you, it’s not an easy task. “It’s an amazing class, and my voice has improved so much under Rumble’s teaching.” “Rumbles is very honest and she is very good at helping you be a better person and singer.” “Just join. It’s worth it. Easy to learn and people are super cool.” Basically any student I asked had nothing but raving reviews about Rumbles. One very loudly opinionated choir member even went as far as to say “I will throw hands if anyone tries to fire Rumbles”. The choir program has changed the lives of so many students and I am so excited to see how far it will go under Rumble’s careful guidance.

continued from page 26, Kawanna, Jr.

With great effort comes great motivation. Matthew was then asked what his greatest motivation is. He responded, “My biggest motivation for football would definitely be my teammates and the brotherhood aspect of the team, the bond I’ve made with my brothers, and how much of those emotions you feel on and off the field are unmatched by anything else.” As he describes, teammates play a massive role in the motivation for your sport, they’re your support, your family, and the ones who pick you up when you fall down. Not only do your teammates play a huge role, but so do your coaches. Kawanna states, “My coaches and the relationship I’ve built with them definitely play a great role in the player I am today, they always strive to make my teammates and me better and never give me anything but 100%.” This motivation from his teammates and coaches helps empower him while building up confidence within himself.

The brotherhood aspect that Kawanna mentioned, is never forgotten after a team victory. Matthew described winning his first varsity game as surreal. The raw emotion and pride of being a part of a unified team is something that he values. He demonstrates a thorough commitment to the team, and describes it as the greatest thing he has ever experienced. After working hard for these incredible wins, the team comes together as a family to celebrate. They go out to eat and reflect on the game they just played.

The build-up to experiencing this success in football comes with great inspiration. Matthew's most inspirational professional athlete is Bobby Wagner. He states, “he’s very smart on the field and he was the first NFL player I remember watching and wanting to be like.” Matthew and Bobby play the same position, creating many relations with Bobby. He feels as if he mimics Bobby’s game, he’s not very flashy but is efficient and smart.

These components form Kawanna into the athlete that he is and adds to the dedication he has for the sport. With the determination and high drive he shows, on and off the field, he has proven that he will continue to succeed throughout his life.

continued from page 11, Morache

Someone who has significant importance in her life is her dad, who Morache says has always been her number one supporter in life. She’s thankful that he’s able to attend all her meets and can talk to him about anything she pleases. In fact, one of her vivid childhood memories is with her dad. She explains she was about five years old and sledding with her sister down a hill. When her dad gave her a big push down the hill, making her face the other direction. By the time she was able to face the correct way again, she ended up hitting her head on a tree next to the trail. She said how it definitely wasn’t her best memory but they do laugh about it now.

She considers herself an extrovert, explaining that she is never really shy or quiet around others. She also explains that she has two favorite nicknames that people call her. One of them being “Gibs'' which has stuck since about 7th grade which her friends call her. Although she’s not completely sure why it became one of her nicknames she said it may be from the show iCarly and the character Gibby. Her other nickname is “Peeps” which is one that her father calls her. Again she is not quite sure why he calls her this but it has stuck around ever since she was younger.

Gabby also talked about her job she has outside of school. She explained how she works at McVey’s in the downtown area of Lowell. She works as a busser, and enjoys the fast paced environment and that many of her friends work there.

Gabby Morache works hard to balance her sports, school, job, and social life, which is never an easy task. Keep up the great work Gabby!

continued from page 11, Sauzer

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: My favorite tv show would have to be either Rick and Morty or Only Murders in the Building.

Q: Favorite band?

A: I do not have a favorite band

Q: If you could shapeshift into any animal what would it be:

A: If I could shapeshift into any animal it would probably be a giraffe, I would want to be a giraffe because it would allow me to see things in such a different perspective and a different terrain with different wildlife. I also just think that giraffes seem pretty careless and laid back, although if they were real I would definitely enjoy shapeshifting into a unicorn.

continued from page 22, Hispanic Heritage

One Loreta Janeta Valázquez was a particularly famous Cuban woman, known for disguising herself as a man to sneak her way into fighting battles. Even after she had been discovered the first time, Loreta was not going to give up. She reenlisted under another name and went right back in. Then, she became a spy, utilizing both male and female disguises.

1900s: In the wake of the Mexican Revolution, an influx of Hispanics are migrating to the United States in search of a better, safer life. The modern iterations of cowboys we see today are white men. However, the first “cowboys” (otherwise known as vaqueros) were typically Indigenous Mexican men. They were the founders of the American West. Vaqueros were excellent horse riders, cattle herders, and ranchers. They’d happily teach any unknowledgeable young man who stumbled across their ranch. Common cowboy items like lassos and ponchos are a result of these Hispanic vaqueros. The word “lasso” actually comes from the Spanish word “lazo” meaning “rope.” And the poncho was originally from 18th century South America, brought over by immigrants. Most media today featuring cowboys take place in New Mexico, which is self-explanatory.

1914-1918: States with high Hispanic populations, such as Texas and New Mexico, were eagerly ushered into deployment. Since America was less than ready to fight a war, a large portion of soldiers were Hispanic. Most spoke little to no English, but still fought tooth and nail to defend the country they called their second home. Because of this gap in communication, the U.S. military developed the Camp Gordon Plan. This plan meant that soldiers were separated into groups by spoken language and were taught in their native tongue. With that barrier gone, the militaries had more men at their disposal and a better chance of winning the Great War.

1939-1945: Every division in the military during World War II had Hispanic soldiers in it. 3% of the total American forces were of Hispanic descent, making the total amount around 400,000 - 500,000 people. Though, it’s hard to tell exactly how many were enlisted. During this time, Hispanic soldiers were counted among the general white population, so there was no need to specifically mark it on their forms. The number listed here could easily be only a fraction of Hispanics who actually served. The 65th infantry was known to be comprised of men from Puerto Rico almost entirely.

1960-1963: A new promotional club is started by Hispanic neighborhoods to encourage people to vote for John F. Kennedy in the upcoming election. The club was called Viva Kennedy and were actually very impactful in getting Kennedy into the Presidential Office. The Viva Kennedy club had won Texas in favor of Kennedy, allowing him to carry the South. This was another weight on the scale for Kennedy to win, and it made all the difference.

And that’s just a very short, generalized list of the immense help Hispanics have given to America over the multiple centuries they’ve been here. There’s so much information out there, there’s no way it could all be covered in one short article. Information nowadays is easily accessible, and different areas of interest regarding Hispanic history can be researched further. Hispanics have and will always be a key part in America’s roots, culture, and history.

continued from page 22, LGBTQ+

For the next month of August, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed the first openly gay NFL player, Carl Nassib. Nassib re-signed with the Buccaneers August 16, 2022 after being released from the Las Vegas Raiders. The world was made aware of his sexuality last June, before the 2021 NFL season when he posted a coming out video to Instagram. In that video he said, “I did it because I felt an obligation to the LGBTQ community to bring representation and visibility to a very popular industry that doesn't have a lot of representation.”

Finally to end the list for this week, Fortnite is introducing DC superhero Dreamer as it’s first transgender character. Her character promotes inclusivity with gamers by instilling a desire to help and protect others who were faced with intolerance and hate like she was. She made history with this game along with national television when she became the first trans superhero to be on TV. Dreamer was made available September 8, 2022 for this year's Rainbow Royale event, which is essentially Pride month for the game, with her ability to astral project and see the future.

For more recent news make sure to check out next month's article; the topic is going to be women's news!

continued from page 22, Diversity Club

The club’s goal is to give back to the school community through organizing advisory activities, events, partnering with other clubs, creating posters, and more in order to better promote inclusion within our school. Not only will this look great on a resume, but it is a great way to support everyone in our school community and our community at large. We have quite a few projects underway and we’re super excited to begin pushing them out to the student body! If interested, please contact Mrs. Franklin in A308 or by email at pfranklin@tricreek.k12.in.us

Sincerely,

LHS Culture and Diversity Club officers

continued from page 23, Caesar salad

Caesar’s Place was the perfect hang-out spot for everyone who was someone. Famous movie stars, the rich, the influential, no matter who you were, you wanted to be at Caesar’s Place. One fateful day in 1924, their popularity reached new heights. They had run out of almost everything. Caesar ran into the kitchen, searching for something to keep his fat-walleted customers happy.

Now here is where historians start to debate.

Some say that Caesar himself made it. Others say it was his cook, Livio Santini, who gave him the idea.

Caesar’s story, as retold by his daughter, states that during the aforementioned dinner rush Caesar ran back into the kitchen. He scrambled about, looking for whatever ingredients he had left. Producing a rather basic dish compared to what he usually served, Caesar decided to prepare it tableside for anyone who ordered it. (He always had a flair for the dramatics, patrons would say.) He’d toss leaves of fresh romaine in a large wooden bowl, then add in minced garlic, olive oil, an egg yolk, Worcestershire sauce, and cracked black pepper. Then finished it off with a homemade crouton and gratings of Parmesan. It was not eaten from the bowl with a fork, but instead, you’d eat one leaf at a time, with your hands.

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