Rate My Professor: Ottawa Edition

Senior Theo Downey

Rate My Professor: The overall opinion of a teacher is vital when it comes to the atmosphere of a classroom. A teacher can make or break the overall quality of a class. The “Pirate Press” brings you an official rating from some students around school about teachers that they have had in class before.

Mr. Jacobi, five stars: From two students, Mr. Jacobi was dubbed a favorite. “He genuinely sees all of his students as people and connects with individual people so that each student can do their best,” senior Emily Swanson said. Junior Aubrey Sanders said, “He gives everyone motivation in a way that’s good for them.” Overall, given five stars, Mr. Jacobi has clearly had a positive impact on his students.

Mrs. Nordtvedt, five stars: Plenty of people have great things to say about the CAD teacher. “Mrs. Nordtvedt is a really nice teacher, and she’s one of my favorites. She always helps with the assignments, and it’s really easy to get a good grade in the class,” junior Kate Passwater said. If a teacher makes everything about their class easy for students, it’s almost a no-brainer to take it. CAD sounds like a great option knowing that you’re in good hands.

Mrs. Schoonover, five stars : She’s quite new to the school, but she already has high praise from students. “She’s actually opened my eyes and made it so math isn’t super hard,” freshman Mar Walker said. “Opening my day with her class, I know that I’m able to not have to worry about anything bad happening with my classmates because she watches out for everyone.” “Schoonie,” as some some students call her, is a very understanding and upbeat teacher.

Mrs. Overocker, five stars: I’m sure that everyone has heard something about Mrs. Overocker while walking through the halls. Those who have taken her class know a thing or two about her, though. “She is kind, even though she doesn’t like to admit it, and treats her students with fairness. She also is very funny and likes to have a good time,” sophomore Evvie Jeppson said. So long as you follow the rules, Overocker is a teacher well worth your time.

Mrs. Walter, five stars: The FFA adviser has made the list as a favorite. “I spend a lot of time with her because of trips for FFA, and she feels like more of a best friend than a teacher sometimes,” sophomore Billie Partridge said. Certainly a comforting presence for students, Mrs. Walter gets five stars.

Mrs. Priestly, five stars: Her students have given good reviews. “She’s cool, and I understand her class more than any other class,” freshman Charlie Thiry said. Certainly good at helping her students make it through their topics and help them, she’s a great choice when it comes to classes.

Ms. Stachowicz, five stars: She is also new to the scene and has made quite an impact. “She changed the way that I look at music, but also myself for the better,” senior Corinne Francis said. “She’s a positive person and cares about all of her students.” Maybe choir is something new to try knowing that the teacher is definitely on your side.

While this is only a mockup, the actual Rate My Professor website is an incredible resource for students. It allows them to get an insight into a professor and the way that they run a class. This is very important when it comes to picking college classes in the future, as it ensures that you will actually learn and gain something from the class. Students should keep this in mind when taking that next step in their education career.

Overall, there are a lot of great teachers in the building. Most are always willing to set aside time for their students and make sure that they truly understand each concept and are doing alright. These are just a few to consider when thinking of classes to take.

Track Meet

Senior Molly Etscheid

RUN, RUN, RUN. The girls track team have begun their indoor season at Sycamore. The girls started practicing back in early January and had their first meet on Feb. 23. They have 4 indoor track meets before they turn to the outdoor season.

Coach Emma Schoonover is seen encouraging freshman Basia Lambert through the last leg of the 4x400 relay.

Junior Mayla Ragan said her favorite part of the meet was “the 4x160 and how we all did the best we could.” She is excited to see the progress throughout the rest of the season.

Senior Abby Morris said her favorite part of the meet was “cheering on the rest of my team.” Morris is also excited to break new PR’s and improve her form.

Overall, the team placed fourth out of five teams.

The Poms

Strut your stuff. The Pirate Poms Dance Team competed at the IDTA state competition on Feb. 11. The team placed second in AAA Jazz, second in AAA Lyrical. They were also awarded third place AAA Grand Champions for overall combined scores.

Sophomore Sienna Banushi said that her favorite part of the day was “getting lined up on the performance floor while the judges called out what place our team received while holding onto my teammate's hands hoping we got top 3.”

The team had a long and successful season since starting in November with multiple top 3 finishes.