2023-24 High School Confidential: Week 11

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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. This Friday, we're at Arcola.

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

On to this week's report ...

Academy High

To finish their culturally inclusive food drive for Eastern Illinois Foodbank, students collected three large boxes of food, including items like quinoa, canned mango and spices. The non-perishable food items were collected to help people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds feel welcome and supported at the foodbank. Pictured: Sophia Popescu, Eleanor Laufenberg, Hayden Jenks, Porter Milling, Sophia Libman, Aurora Johnston, Julia Stafford, Ray Scifris, Dr. Annie Tock and Jack Braun.

— Eleanor Laufenburg and Cassie Patten

Arcola

As boys' basketball kicked off the season, Intro to Biology students put their scientist hats on and performed an experiment with eggs, Coca-Cola and vinegar to study movements across cell membranes (pictured: Jahir Ponce and Miguel Rodriguez). Also, before break, foods class got to practice their cooking skills by making Thanksgiving dishes (pictured: Aymara Leal and Desi Thomas).

Armstrong

Senior Kollin Asbury celebrated his milestone of reaching 1,000 career points at the varsity basketball Friday night.

— Eli Kennel

Bement

Members of the LifeSavers program participated in the 2023 retreat at the Allerton Mansion, alongside members of Monticello's program. Bement sent three senior leaders and five new inductees, who learned how to be the link between problems and solutions over a three-day course. The students were educated on suicide prevention and mental health.

— Quinn Flavin

BHRA

A school newspaper has made its way back into the classroom of English teacher Lindsey Andrews. "It's definitely a learning experience that gets better with time," said Andrews. "It's exciting to see the students get passionate about the stories they are writing." The Blue Blaze is made by six aspiring journalists who cover different school events, student opinions, student spotlights and bring a great atmosphere to the high school. One of the members, Morgan Bozarth, saidL "I really like that I can put my own opinion in my own stories. My favorite story has to be about the volleyball team's Pink Night." Pictured, left to right: Natali Garcia, Peyton Warren, Percy Belt, Bozarth and Jaelyn Atwood

— Krislynn Kizer

Blue Ridge

This week in Cullen Scurlock's Science of Energy class, students learned about organisms that live in water, taking a field trip to the creek behind the school to collect samples. Peyton Roy (pictured) was proud of the sample he collected. The next day, students were able to look at the samples through a microscope and identify the organisms.

— Addison Warsaw

Centennial

Computer Science Club=, which meets every other Thursday, is learn different languages of code. The biggest project this year is to make The Centinal, the school newspaper, more accessible online. They are working to fix the code of the website to share it easier and faster to the student body. Pictured (courtesy club president Cameron McCullough): David Yakoub.

— Lydia Shaw

Cerro Gordo

Tri-Valley beat St. Thomas More to win the annual boys' basketball Turkey Tournament, one of the biggest events of the school year with 12 schools competing.

— Riley Welch

Chrisman

The annual Christmas Band Concert, including high school, junior high and fifth-grade band members, got the community in a jolly mood. The musical pieces performed ranged from "Hot Cross Buns" to the "Polar Express" theme song, which featured solos from Ellie Lorton and Ali Prisecaru. Band director Dayna Traver (pictured) said: "I think (the highlight of the concert) would be this week, hearing all of the finished pieces. The moment on the podium when it finally clicks and the realization that this is what (the music) is supposed to sound like. This is what I am supposed to be doing in my career." Pictured: the high school band performing the Polar Express theme song.

— Grayson Strange

Cissna Park

Last Wednesday, FFA competed in the Section 10 Agronomy Contest and Section 10 Dairy Contest, winning both contests (it was the chapter's 37th consecutive dairy win). Taylor Kaeb placed first in Dairy Judging and Trent Schmid placed first in Agronomy. The students worked very hard to prepare and the wins were well-deserved. Photos courtesy Macy Sinn.

— Brooklyn Stadeli

Danville

In Brian Golish's AP Psychology class, students took the roles of Hellen Keller and Anne Sullivan to simulate what it would be like to be blind and deaf. Students playing Keller wore noise-canceling headphones and blindfolds as they traveled around the school with only their senses of smell and touch, attempting to navigate with the help of their guide.

— Isaiah Easton

DeLand-Weldon

All alumni are invited back to school for a pep assembly during homecoming week. The assembly will be held in the high school gym on Jan. 26. Also, the hallways have been decorated for the holidays.,

— Emma Westray

Fisher

Members of the all-school spring play met in the cafeteria for the first table read. Directors Tara Stafford and Sarah Coulter (pictured) handed out scripts and highlighters so members could begin highlighting their lines in preparation for learning their parts in the production of "Pillow Talk."

— Jenna Clemmons

Georgetown-Ridge Farm

The Buffaloes are hosting a compassion drive where students can bring in canned goods and other objects to be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card.

— Ashlyn Spesard

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley

Eight students and two adults went to the Operation Christmas Child processing center in Aurora to pack shoe boxes with Christmas gifts for children. The boxes packed were being shipped to children in Belize and Chile. The goal for OCC is to send 9.7 million shoeboxes to children all over the world this year. Photos courtesy Josh Carter. Those pictured include Jack Gimble, Ava Fehr, Carter Kallal, Anna Warren, Chloe Tjarks, Londyn Rodrick, Maryn Berry and Kate McCall.

— Rylie Huls

Heritage

On Nov. 30, FFA officers visited the elementary school to teach ag in the classroom, showing the kids about different Illinois birds and doing a fun bird call activity together. Officers pictured, left to right: Gwen Happ, Bailee Lubben, Loran Tate and Rylan White.

— Lillian Montgomery

Hoopeston Area

The bowling team had its first home meet against Taylorville at Fast Lanes. There are three seniors on the team: (left to right) Bryson Brewer, Rylee Thompson and Keygan Field.

— Emmalee Bruens

Judah Christian

Getting into the Christmas spirit, many students have been helping teachers decorate their roomsincluding the English classroom (pictured). Also pictured: senior Grant Ipsen setting up Christmas lights in the hallway for student council's Christmas Spirit Week.

— Hannah Jackson

LeRoy

Sunday's annual Christmas Parade was led by LeRoy's police and fire departments. The marching band, girls' basketball team, Key Club, FFA, Living Well United Senior Center, Girl Scouts, and many others were recognized during the parade.

— Emily Bogema

Mahomet-Seymour

National Honor Society hosted its first semester chapter event on Saturday. To be involved in NHS, students must have a grade-point average of 3.6 as well as 10-plus service hours. At "Parents Night Out," K-5 students in the district were able to attend. Proceeds went to Moms Pantry, which is a resource for M-S students and families that providesfood, school supplies, personal care items, clothing and outdoor wear. At the event, students got to color and make Christmas cards at the craft station, read books, create balloon animals, play basketball and other sports, and also watch a movie while they enjoyed pizza and snacks.

— Maddie Grindley

Milford

On Nov. 28, FFA Chapter went auction collecting in several towns for donations to their 11th Annual FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction. The auction will be held Feb. 3 at Town and Country Events in Milford (doors open at 11 a.m., food at noon). Pictured: (left to right) Hannah Potter, Ryleigh Rieches and Abigail Beckman.

— Hunter Mowrey

Monticello

Madrigals had a busy Wednesday last week caroling. As a yearly tradition, the Madrigals travel to all four schools in the district to carol throughout the halls for students and staff. They also capped off the day with a trip to Monticello's Rotary Club meeting to sing for the members.

— Tynley Jackson

Oakland

The monthly community coffee took place Friday as the school opens up to the community for coffee and cookies. Visitors see what's going on in school and what different grades and clubs are up to. FFA members showed community members the ag room and projects the ag classes are working on.

— Lucy Krabel

Oakwood

The high school is holding "Buckets for Bujar," whichconsists of a handful of fundraisers for a student, Bujar Haziri, who has been battling cancer for a little over a year. That includes penny ears, which is a competition between homerooms to see who can donate the most change. Students also are selling shirts in honor and support of him, as he gets most of the profit from each shirt sold. The shirts are for students to wear at the basketball game on Tuesday, before which a dinner will take place for him as well. The school is excited to be able to help Bujar and his family in these bad times!

— Lily Chesnut

Paxton-Buckley-Loda

On Saturday, the competitive cheer team traveled to Pontiac for its competition of the season. The Panthers, who have advanced to state three years in a row, competed in two divisions, placing seventh in Small Varsity and second in Game Day while also qualifying for ICCA State in January. Pictured in with their Game Day trophy in new uniforms, left to right: (front row) Carley Fauser, Caliaynna Jones, Brynah Johnson, Chloe Price and Rebecca Shook; (middle row) Payton Lackey, Hayli Glad, Alyssa Steffy Cannan, Ava King, Hayden Williams and Petra Chaddock; (back row) Josie Scorza, Eriel Eichner, Aubreee Sawyer, Lexi Muhl and Gabi Aguilera. Not pictured: Rebecca Lackey and coaches Madison Warner, Courtney Schwing and Kailyn Kleinsteiber.

— Rebecca Lackey

Rantoul

The first-year dance team performed for the first time at the basketball game and the student cheering section — the Rantoul Rowdies — showed up dressed for a White Out. The cheerleading team placed fourth at Saturday's competition in Pontiac. Finally, science club tested chemical reactions on pennies, made threads from silkworms and built contraptions to protect eggs during an egg drop.

— Ashlee Freeman

St. Thomas More

Twenty-six new members were inducrted into the school's National Honor Society chapter. The new inductees took part in the ceremony, hearing from the officers as well as David Markun about the four pillars of NHS.

— Suhani Garg

Salt Fork

FFA students had a bunch of fun volunteering at the Crooked Creek Country Christmas last weekend. Students were in charge of the petting zoo, crafts and dressing up in costumes.

— Macie Russell

Schlarman

In a musical week, community members were graced by performances from the Singing Toppers, fourth-grade band, fifth- and sixth-grade band and the Schlarman North Campus band (readers hoping to listen to these performances can tune into WITY radio this week). Pictured: North campus band members (left to right) Elise Hunter, Charles Medlin, Maya Jenny, Mark Lehmann and Heather Smith; and the Singing Toppers (left to right) Heather Smith, Elise Hunter, Amelia Rome, Mai Nguyen and director Zhanna Lehmann.

— Anna Lehmann

Shiloh

Christmas spirit has been present in the hallways with Christmas tree displays courtesy classes and clubs. The physics and art class made their own trees and many clubs participated. The art class with their Christmas Tree Cake, left to right: (front row) Ellie Brown and Kylynn Powell; (middle row) Gracie Baugh, Kennedy Richardson and Emily Powell; (back row) Skyler High, Kylie Webb, Lily Morris, Nicholas Powell and Vlyden Nichols. The physics class won first place at Robinson where the goal was to make the tallest tower. The class used the tower as their Christmas tree in the hallway. Pictured (courtesy Kendra Saddoris), left to right: Taran Borntreger, Myles Watson, Andy Houlihan and Jack Houlihan. Picture Credit: Kendra Saddoris.

— Lydia Richardson

Tuscola

Congratulations to the three Scholastic Bowl all-conference scholars recognized last week at the regional tournament: (left to right) Brayden Taylor, Blake Taylor and Braxton Moody.

— Brayden Gough

Uni High

Before Thanksgiving break, the first — and possibly first annual — pie eating contest took over the entire first floor hallway. Representatives from each class participated, with the seniors winning, led by Gabe Davis, who finished miles ahead of other competitors.

— Knox Mynatt

Unity

Tony Reetz's Criminal Justice class had Illinois State Trooper Tracy Lillard — also known as Trooper Tracy — as a guest speaker. She spoke on the importance of state police and the criminal justice system in general while sharing amazing and hilarious stories she has accumulated as a trooper for 22 years. She runs several social media accounts for the Illinois State Police so as to get news and information out in a quick and effective way and connect with the community.

— Tatum Meyer

Urbana

The annual Richard M. Nixon Title IX volleyball game, hosted by Urbana's Habitat for Humanity Club, took place last Tuesday. All of the teams fought hard but the seniors triumphed, first beating the juniors 2-0 and then rallying past staff 2-1. The staff ultimately saw themselves as winners for beating the seniors in the first set, however. "It's so much fun. It's great to build community and just be on a team to both support our students during the day, then crush them in a set that night," laughed science teacher Alex Riley.

— Eisla Madigan

Villa Grove

This time of year, students love playing basketball during P.E. It's one of their favorite units during the winter times.

— Alexandria Brown

Westville

The band put on their rain gear and Santa hats and headed for the Danville Parade on Friday. Pictured: Mackenzie Wright on drums and Jesse Irelan on trumpet. Also, the school district served its 28th Senior Citizens Dinner on Nov. 28 at the high school, both the food and fellowship turning out amazing. Pictured: Sophomore Laney Cook with a gift to give away; administrators and State Sen. Paul Faraci serving dinner; and teacher Joe Brazas chatting with his grandmother, Bev.

— Irelynn Phelps