WISCO PILOT
Vol 31 no 3
Articles
by and for students
March 2025
Spring Musical: Singing In The Rain
By Jeraniha Gilbert
Every year, Wisco students eagerly await the spring musical For some, it was a chance to showcase their talents; for others, it was about enjoying the final production This year, Wisco presented Singin' in the Rain, written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green Several cast members shared their thoughts
Sydney Biebert (‘25), who played Lina Lamont, loved how the musical pushed her to improve, both in skill and character. Kiah Schuessler (’25), who played Zelda Zanders, enjoyed learning choreography with the whole cast. Both emphasized the joy of working together and the satisfaction of seeing everything come together.
Many students are not familiar with the plot of Singin' in the Rain, so the cast shared their explanations. It’s set during the 1920’s/30’s during the transition from silent films to the "talkies," where characters Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont struggle to adjust, especially because Lamont’s voice is not suited for sound. Kathy Seldon is brought in to voice Lamont's parts, and eventually, Seldon's talent shines through, winning Don Lockwood’s love. Schuessler said, They come up with a plan to get Lina out, and it becomes a success where Kathy's true talents are revealed.” The musical also portrays some of the historical changes in movies. Gabriel Krill (‘28) saw the plot as a historical piece that shows the shift from silent to sound films, showing the struggles that actors and directors faced
The cast diligently practiced; rehearsals were nearly every day, especially as showtime approached Sydney Biebert said that they rehearsed lines, songs, and choreography both at school and at home Gabe Krill added
(continued on page 2)
(continued from page 1)
Biebert and Schuessler highlighted the community spirit that brought the cast and crew together before the curtain rose: “We complimented each other and built each other up Right before we went on, we prayed; then it was showtime ” It was a wonderful way to start a show! In such a nerve racking environment, praye
One of the things that the cast appreciated during performances was an engaged audience. Biebert and Krill both appreciated when the audience reacted with laughter and excitement, as it helped to bring the story to life. The cast enjoyed working together. Biebert described the actors as bringing their best energy, and Schuessler loved how everyone is committed to making the musical a success.
PILOT STAFF
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Anaya Britton
Makayla Wendl
Assistant Editors: Sarah Lin
Layout Editors:
Zuzanna Eft
Ngoc Minh Anh
“Natalie” Than
Photographer: Joanne Lee
Staff Writers:
Jeraniha Gilbert
Hope Larabee
Seonwoo “Gianna” Lee
Ryan Parker
Terry Cai
Zhan Kuandykuly
Nur Ushkempirov
Advisors: Mrs Becker
Ms Grzanna
Artist: Nadia Alejandro
Schuessler encouraged others to try theater, highlighting the benefits of teamwork and learning. Krill reflected on the hard work it takes to make the production come together, trusting that God will guide them through Instead of focusing on fear, he focused on God and will continue to glorify him by using his gifts in the art of acting This is something we should all strive to do!
The Spring musical is a beloved event at Wisco, requiring hard work and dedication from the cast and crew. Be sure to give them a high five for creating a memorable show!
Boys Varsity Basketball
is Heading Back to State!
The Boys Basketball team defeated #2 seed West Allis Central (72--53) at the WIAA Sectional Final on Saturday to go to State for the second year in a row! The next game is the WIAA State Semifinal. They will play Oshkosh North on Friday, March 21 at 6:35 p.m. Location is the Kohl Center (601 W. Dayton Street) in Madison.
Photos by InFocus Photography and Mr. Brad Nault
Lunar New Year
Photos by Joanne Lee
Ski and Snowboard Club
By Gianna (Seonwoo) Lee
The winter ski and snowboard season has ended! This winter, about 50 people participated in the ski and snowboarding club It was the second year of having this club at Wisco, and this year even more students joined In this club, students can learn a new winter sport One of the places we went was Little Switzerland We left right after school in order to get in as much skiing and snowboarding as possible Typically, we had one school bus and one van, so that people who had their own gear--skis or snowboards--could take the van with their equipment, and the rest of the people took the bus There are two sides of a ski mountain; one side is for beginners, and the other is for intermediates or experts
The first time we went skiing there were a lot of beginners in the club, so most of the group went to the easy courses and practiced how to stop and control the gears They learned the skills from their friends who had more experience skiing and snowboarding The beginners learned the basic skills and worked on learning to control their bodies Once they felt more confident, they were ready to ski down Easy Cheesy, which is the easiest way down. Then they could try some of the other beginning trails: Turnpike, Sno Bowl, and Grandpa's Run.
There are intermediate and advanced courses on the backside of the mountain, and there are tracks where you can practice your jumping skills There are also two Black Diamonds called Big Deal, and Shorty's for those who are advanced skiers and snowboarders There are different courses all people can enjoy no matter how good they are at skiing and snowboarding.
After a few hours of skiing, the group was treated to a beautiful sunset. There were some great spots
where we could see the sunset and take pictures with friends. We could see the whole city at sunset. After about two hours of skiing and snowboarding, people gathered inside to rest, eat something, or to just get warm.
My friends and I gathered around a wooden table after a few exhilarating hours of skiing, indulging in what was the best pizza I have ever had in my life! I enjoyed it while sitting with friends, warm and cozy after hours on the slopes. After about four hours of skiing and snowboarding, we returned to Wisco.
We had so much fun this year! Many international students eagerly joined our club. It was a unique opportunity at Wisco, filled with the thrill of trying something new. Our club is a welcoming space where anyone willing to step out of their comfort zone can experience the joy of winter sports, even if they are initially nervous. The temperature was absolutely perfect for outdoor skiing crisp and refreshing, with a clear blue sky overhead that made the snow glisten like diamonds I hope more people will join next year, and we can have more fun together!
The Quest for MLK Day
By Ryan Parker
When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) was assassinated on April 4, 1968, almost two-thirds of the United States had a negative opinion of him. This is almost impossible to imagine in today (when 90% of Americans have a favorable opinion of him), but Dr. King’s desire to fight for equal rights, coupled with his later critiques of America’s economic inequality and foreign policy, made him an immensely divisive figure in his lifetime.
How, then, did this controversial Civil Rights’ leader become one of the most revered figures in American history, one of the few whose legacy is celebrated with a national holiday?
Despite King’s unpopularity at the time of his death, legislation intended to designate his birthday as a federal holiday was introduced only four days after his murder According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, King’s politics lacked popular support among both the American public and the government of the United States As an additional roadblock, when a small cohort of Congressmen first recommended establishing MLK Day, a widespread wave of protests and rioting broke out in reaction to his death. Even though the violent actions committed by some of those involved in this fervor of rage and grief contradicted the nonviolent principles of Dr. King, his legacy was clouded by the unrest. Many people believed that racial equality itself was the cause of the violence. Creating a federal holiday to celebrate King was difficult, but creating such a holiday for a man whose name was being invoked to justify a national surge of violence and chaos was unthinkable
The prospect of an MLK Day staggered in Congress, rejected for over a decade. Congressman John Conyers, though, who initially spearheaded the legislation in support of it, was persistent. He introduced a bill calling for the introduction of MLK every year until 1979, the first time the bill came to a vote in the house. Yet, although it received bipartisan support, it failed to pass into law.
While many viewed its failure to pass into law as a sizable setback, this event succeeded in galvanizing popular support for its establishment, especially since it only fell five votes short of passage. For the first time since Dr. King’s death, a federal day in his honor seemed well within-reach.
What followed was one of the most massive public pressure campaigns in American history, culminating with a petition to Congress demanding the institution of a federal MLK Day, which received six million signatures After overcoming opposition from a number of elected officials, including then-president Ronald Reagan, the bill establishing MLK Day was passed into law on November 2, 1983, and observed for the first time on January 20, 1986
ought to be strived for, no matter what
A Call for Hope and Recovery
By Youran Chen
Wildfires in Los Angeles, California, in January brought over 14,000 firefighters to the scene The Palisades Fire started on January 7 and eventually covered 23,448 acres and destroyed over 6,800 structures. The Eaton Fire started soon after and spread to 14,021 acres and damaged or destroyed 10,491 structures. Seven additional fires started before the fire was finally contained. High winds and record low rainfall were major contributors to the blazes. Twentynine people died because of these fires. Governor Newsom has also sent 2,700 National Guard troops to assist with the firefighting efforts.
What Does It Feel Like to Meet Famous People?
By Terry Cai
There are a lot of different kinds of great experiences that create memories One of the greatest must be meeting famous people That feeling of “once-in-a-lifetime” and surrealness gives us a surge of adrenaline, and we will remember that moment forever This kind of experience is also something we will chat about with friends and family, and could even cause envy Pilot surveyed the WLHS student body to find out what experiences they have had meeting famous people
The survey results show that the numbers are pretty even as far as people who have met a famous person before and those who have not Most of them met a famous athlete, like Giannis Antetokounmpo (6 students met him), Derek Jeter, Magic Johnson, Kevin Zietler, Jordy Nelson, Marcelo Viera, Freddy Peralta Diaz, or Kon Kneuppel Some of them also met a famous politician, like the Governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers or former First Lady, Jill Biden.
Most of them met famous people a couple years ago. Many of these lucky encounters happened at big events and large venues, like at a Bucks’ game or a Brewers’ game. Some of our respondents said that they met someone famous at small venue, like at church or one student met comedian Chris Tucker when eating at a waffle house One student met actor Max Greenfield and actress Lauren Graham at a meet and greet. Another student met Michael Blackson at his father’s 50th birthday party. When asked about how they felt about their encounters, people expressed different feelings. Most of them felt excitement and
unbelief at meeting someone famous. One student said, “When I got to meet him, it felt like a Christmas present.” Another person said, “This experience was more than enjoyable I loved every second of it ” Others felt nonchalant about it because the famous person seemed very collected and cool
As for the future, Wisco students have high hopes There is a long list of different famous people the respondents would like to meet. They come from completely different fields as well. Some want to meet successful athletes--the “GOATs”, like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, or Cristiano Ronaldo. Some would like to meet pop idols and other great actors and singers such as Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, or Robert Downey Jr Some also would like to meet politicians, like presidents Barack Obama or Donald Trump Many students responded that they wanted to meet Jesus Thankfully we all we do that one day!
Judging from the results of the survey, the Wisco student body truly has had interesting experiences.
Advanced Placement Classes Advanced Placement Classes Advanced Placement Classes
By Zhan Kuandykuly and Nur Ushkempirov
Sources consulted were www princetonreview com and apstudents collegeboard.org
FashionablyWarm in Winter
By Hope Larabee
In Wisconsin, it is vital to stay warm during the winter. As Wisco saw on January 21, the cold can even shut down school for a day. So, how do people dress for the weather? While we have had several
Driving
“spring” type days, there will most certainly still be some cold days ahead The clothes you wear during the winter should be made of thick material meant to keep you warm Wool, cotton, and fleece are all good examples of this. Heavyweight items, such as polos, sweaters, and jackets, are also suggested to maintain proper body heat. Puffy jackets help keep dampness (which could make you feel even colder) away from your skin in the winter.
But how do you stay stylish in the winter? Puffy jackets come in vest forms that can easily be paired
In Winter
with a long sleeve cotton shirt for a simple and warm look. Beanies can also create a cute look while keeping your ears and head warm. (Just don’t wear them inside.) For a sophisticated look for boys, you can try wearing a sweater. If you’re still worried about how to look good and dress for the weather, try the sandwich method The sandwich method means matching your top and bottom pieces while using a contrasting middle piece For example, white jeans can be paired with a loose white sweater and a black belt The most important rule to remember while dressing warmly is full coverage. If you plan on going outside, make sure you're covered from head to toe. Always have a way to cover your head, ears, and hands, even if you’re only going from your car to inside. A fashionable scarf never hurt anyone either. A smart way to prepare for this is putting a hat, gloves, and earmuffs into your glove compartment at the start of winter
Now remember: layer, accessorize, and cover Stay warm, Wisco!
John 13:34-35: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Comic by Ngoc Minh Anh “Natalie” Than and Zuzu Eft
Artwork by Nadia Alejandro