2023-24 High School Confidential: Week 22

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Welcome to Year 8 of High School Confidential, powered by Danville Area Community College. It's an award-winning project made possible by aspiring student journalists from every corner of our circulation area. Each Thursday through April, they'll tell us what's happening in their hallways at news-gazette.com.

At least once a week, we'll also hand over our Snapchat account (News-Gazette) to our correspondents for behind-the-scenes tours.

Feedback? Email N-G/VP Jim Rossow at jrossow@news-gazette.com.

On to this week's report, Spring Break edition ...

ALAH

Last Friday, Chantell Benedict's zoology and anatomy and physiology students along with Chris Stinebring's advanced chemistry students took a trip to Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. On March 8-10, Drama Club performed "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical." Good job to everyone who participated and made the play possible. Pictured: Layla Deel and Skyler Vorck; and Gracie Arrnett, Riley Robinson and Natalie Hutchcraft.

— Lilian Edwards

Armstrong

National Honor Society hosted its annual spring blood drive with the Red Cross. Advisers Amber Cluver and Amy Bailey orchestrated the show with NHS officers and members as many familiar faces from school and community showed up to donate.

Bement

Students celebrated Foreign Language Week with daily homeroom trivia, as well as an assembly on Friday that included breaking the piñata, learning how to salsa dance and enjoying a Spanish lunch.

— Quinn Flavin

BHRA

Eight members of the FFA club went to Waterloo to participate in livestock judging. They examined hogs, sheep, cattle and goats to determine how well they perform for the purpose they are bred for. Members also judged whether the livestock were meant for market or breeding production. Left to right (courtesy Aubrey Carpenter): Madison Heidrick, Kandace Behrends, Maddy Dillon, Jordyn Rutan, Cami Carpenter, Maya McCool, Chelsey Makemson and Alex Wombles

— Krislynn Kizer

Blue Ridge

The varsity Scholastic Bowl team had the privilege of taking part in the Masonic State Tournament. The Knights placed fourth in their division. Captain and leading scorer A.J. Johnson showed off the plaque with coach Evan Miles. Pictured (courtesy David Harris), left to right: Elias Nolan, Devin Wrestler, Brody Soliday, Addison Warsaw, Miles, Johnson, Indra Nolan, Ollie Yeagle, Ivy Whitehouse and Renn Light.

— Addison Warsaw

Cerro Gordo

The fourth annual student vs. staff basketball game took place March 1. It was intense on the high school side, sophomores beating juniors. But once the seniors stepped on the court, they shut all of the grades down and finished undefeated. The seniors beat the staff team thanks to amazing defense and offense. The game raised money to give back to the community, in this case benefiting former student Jayden Zinentara, who has been battling a brain tumor. Everyone was happy to see an appearance from her at the games. #TEAM JAY-ZEE!

— Jaydn McCarty

Chrisman

Biological sciences teacher Jennifer Lorton took the students to a science competition, including: Addison Phipps, Brodie Haton, Ali Prisecaru, Clementine Neuman, Ellie Lorton, Sara Goss, Grace Bishop, Levi Crawford, Leah Phipps, Seth Ellis, Landen Douglas and Piper Knight. The students spent multiple weeks studying science materials in preparation for the competition against other schools spanning six counties. The hard work paid off as Chrisman's team placed first in the categories of wildlife, soils and renewable resources. The wins ensured their spot at the state competition in May for the third year in a row.

— Grayson Strange

Danville

On Friday, jazz bands collaborated with North Ridge Middle School to host the annual jazz band coffee house. Performing groups included three North Ridge jazz combos, the high school's 10th Degree jazz band, the DHS Jazz Lab Band and Doc Ashton and the Root Canals. The event served as a fundraiser for the Danville jazz program and doubled as an experience for students to watch and learn from a professional jazz band.

— Isaiah Easton

DeLand-Weldon

New school resource officer Justin Ernst will be helping keep the school safe and helping administrators when incidents occur.

— Emma Westray

Fisher

Last weekend, Drama Club put on a production of "Pillow Talk," a play they had been working on since November. The cast and crew consisted of 13 members, some filling in for multiple parts as needed. On the last night, directors Tara Stafford and Sarah Coulter had the eight seniors start a new tradition by signing a piece of the set so they would always be remembered. Pictured, left to right: (back row) Tara Stafford, Noah Hurley, Caleb Zwilling, Daniel Bein, Bradon Eby, Ryan Coulter and Sarah Coulter; (middle row) Emily Coulter, Jenna Clemmons, Ella Hazzard, Sophie Moore and Zeke Walters; and (front row) Addilyn Bent-Perzee, Lizbeth Ramos and Kira Becker.

— Jenna Clemmons

Georgetown-Ridge Farm

The Buffaloes were given the opportunity to compete in this year's Envirothon. Each member worked hard to try and bring home a win. This team consisted of Anthony Dodson, Haley Carlton, Sydney Spesard, Cale Cavanaugh, Ruby Frazier, Rylan Mosier, Owen Clark, Jase Latoz, Kelsey Cramer, Kaylee Peterson, Maddie Digby and Malorie Fegget.

— Ashlyn Spesard

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley

Congratulations to senior Getty Greer on his selection as Gibson City's Junior Citizen of the Year by the Gibson City Chamber of Commerce. Greer, who works with the Angela Roderick team in the school's co-op program, is senior class president, FBLA president, FFA treasurer and a National Honor Society member.

— Rylie Huls

Heritage

Last Thursday, FFA and science classes went to Lake Land College to participate in the annual Envirothon. There students from other schools and counties competed by taking five different tests on topics that included soils, forestry, aquatics, current issues and wildlife. Photo courtesy Lauren Hopper.

— Lillian Montgomery

Judah Christian

The newsroom took advantage of good weather and held a business meeting outside, discussing future plans and assignments for the following weeks. Pictured: teacher Michael Himick with students, including Grant Ipsen, Caleb McCullough, Keaton Welch and Rachel Divan.

— Hannah Jackson

Mahomet-Seymour

Freshmen English classes put on their annual Shakesfest performances. For Shakesfest, each class creates a parody of "Romeo and Juliet" to put on for an audience of other students and staff members. They have to write the script, play the roles and perform it. During Margaret Weimer's first hour, students put on "Romeo and Juliet: A Western Feud." Characters included Annabeth York as Romeo, Breauna Lewis as Juliet, Isabella Perez as Tybalt, Gracyn Shotkoski as the Maid, Norah Allen as Pastor Lawrence, Zoe Harlan as Paris, Brooke Thurman as Capulet, Johnny Andrawes as Mercutio, Jaycee Fancher as Balthasar, Anniston Huff as the Sheriff, Emma Scott as C. Servant, Marin Bernotes as the Narrator, Coy Benway as Partner, Cora Ummel as Mrs. Capulet, Lilly Jones as the Messenger and Tate Kimball as the Strange Dude. Many other students participated, such as the directors and script writers, stage crew and publicity crew.

— Maddie Grindley

Milford

Spring sports are in full swing here. Pictured: (baseball) Colt Halpin, Beau Wright, Gage Vogel, Gavin Schunke, Preston Janssen, Caleb Clutteur, David Bell and Aiden Frerichs; (softball) Hunter Mowrey, Lillie Harris, Jossalin Lavicka, Abby Storm and Addison Lucht; and (girls' track) Olivia Leoppard, Emma Malabehar, Sesilia Salinas, Emma McEwen, Erica Felton, Kara Harwood, Macy Sinn, LaMonica Holden, Elianna Salinas, Anna McEwen, Sophie Newman and Maris Cook.

— Hunter Mowrey

Monticello

P.E. students last Thursday traveled to Washington Elementary to participate in Read Across America. High school students read to the children before partaking in parachute activities with kindergarten and first grade and basketball with second and third grade (photos courtesy Travis Courson).

— Tynley Jackson

Oakwood

Friday's sixth annual staff vs. senior basketball game also supported the high school's baseball team and its upcoming season. The staff won 84-41, and the seniors put up a fight!! Stephanie Marsh had the "Best Basket of the Night!"

— Lily Chesnut

Paxton-Buckley-Loda

Track star Bailey Luebchow is setting records for pole vaulting in her senior season. A year ago, Luebchow broke the school record twice, topping out at 11 feet. On March 2, she was invited to the Windy City Pole Vault Summit in Rolling Meadows, a meet that brought together some of the state's — and nation's — best pole vaulters. There, she cleared 11-3 for yet another school record.

— Becca Lackey

Rantoul

FFA members and horticulture class planted over 200 plants in the greenhouse. The band put on its first indoor drumline event. The Eagles pep band performed at the IHSA boys' basketball state final tournament.

— Ashlee Freeman

St. Thomas More

Congratulations and good luck to the Science Olympiad team, which advanced to state. Additionally, congratulations to the Scholastic Bowl team, which finished out the season strong. Pictured: Philip Lee, Emmanuel Tittora, Owen Dively, Brenden Damore, Mannatdeep Kaur, Elliot Neault, Kaitlynn Ballard, Coach Vavrin, Jason Ballard and Kaleb Dively.

— Suhani Garg

Salt Fork

FFA teacher Stacey Rickard and her husband, Aaron, attended an induction ceremony for her award as the 2024 East Central Region Teacher of the Year. Rickard is loved by all students. She is passionate about her job, and it shows. This award is well deserved.

— Macie Russell

Schlarman

In a week filled with volunteering and excitement, students found creative ways to get in touch with both their school and neighborhood communities. Several students took the initiative to serve chili to local residents at a community luncheon. During a power outage, students read to the elementary school students. Pictured: junior Emma Osterbur reading to a group of kids; and junior Evelyn Kelsey posing with her reading buddy.

— Anna Lehmann

Shiloh

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America students collected money throughout the week of Feb. 26-March 1 for a pie-in-the-face winner. Science teacher Kendra Saddoris had the most donations with $75 collected. Sophomore Maggie Milburn was selected in a raffle to pie Saddoris. Many students came to the event held on March 4 in the gymnasium.

— Lydia Richardson

Tuscola

Congratulations to the students who received first ratings at the Band and Chorus Solo and Ensemble Contest (left to right): Chase Nixon (vocal solo and trombone solo), Lanie Yantis (vocal solo), Emma Spillman (vocal solo), Bella Taylor (trumpet solo) and Jordan Quinn (bass clarinet solo).

— Brayden Gough

Unity

The Rockets celebrated three District 4 FFA proficiency winners. Abby Woolcott was the district winner in ag sales placement, Grace Wherley took part in diversified livestock production, and Olivia Shike won star in agriscience and agriculture research-integrated system. All of the winners advance to the state judging contest!

— Tatum Meyer

Urbana

Teachers and students alike had the opportunity to fight for glory in a volleyball competition each P.E. hour. Students rotated in and out to make sure everyone got a chance to play, while the teachers were put through the wringer, having to play every class period. Despite their lack of rest, the teachers destroyed the students with a 17-0 record, leaving us all wondering if the students even had a chance!

— Eisla Madigan

Villa Grove

The fourth annual high school badminton tournament, hosted by P.E. teachers Jacob Griffith and Mary McGarigle, saw 72 participants and 36 teams participating over two days during study hall. Brady Clodfelder and Kyler Williams won the championship.

— Alexandria Brown

Westville

The pep band played at Danville Area Community College, energizing Mary Miller Gym during a Jaguars game. The concert and jazz bands also performed for family and community at the winter concert.

— Irelynn Phelps