What’s recently happened?
In November, Michigan City High School’s (MCHS) Drama Club performed its production of “Mamma Mia!” The production took place during the weekend of November 12, drawing in students, staff and community members to see the upbeat spectacle.
On November 9, the MCHS Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) led a Veteran’s Day ceremony in the gymnasium. The event featured performances from the band, choir, and a speech from Indiana Representative Pat Boy. JROTC’s Armed Exhibition also gave a special display in honor of the special day.
On December 7, Michigan City Area School’s (MCAS) music department put on its biggest spectacle of the year: “One City One Sound.” The performance featured elementary music students, middle school bands and choirs, and MCHS’s bands and choirs. The performance offered free admission to the public and was also broadcasted to the community.
Representatives of MCHS’s National Honor Society (NHS) attended Rotary International’s World Affairs Conference on Friday, November 17. An annual conference, the event typically discusses world affairs. This year, the conversation included teen mental health.
MCHS’s Jobs for America’s Graduates program recently installed new officers at its installation ceremony. 23 students were sworn into office for a program that focuses on preparing students for their futures in a number of ways.
What’s coming up?
MCHS’s Den Delirium will present a talent show on Wednesday, December 13. The event will include a range of performances from MCHS students and will begin at 7 p.m. It will provide a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the talent the school has to offer. Tickets will be $10 for students, $15 for adults, and free for ages 6 and under. However, tickets are $5 off for preorder until December 8.
On Monday, December 11, MCAS eighth graders will visit MCHS to learn about the school they will be attending next year as well as to get tours of the building. This event is typically as exciting for the upperclassmen and seniors as it is for the eighth graders; they get to meet and assist the students who will be taking over the school after they leave.
MCHS’s Student Council is running a food drive. Canned foods can be dropped off at any MCAS building from now until December 16. They can also be dropped off at Ames Field on December 16 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
MCHS’s chapter of NHS is also running a book drive for the annual Operation Bookworm. Similar to the food drive, both new and old books can be dropped off at any MCAS building until December 16, or on December 16 at Ames Field.
Staff spotlight:
Danielle Reed is in her third year of being the head counselor at MCHS. She has been a counselor since 2010 and has been at MCHS for six years.
“Day to day is always different. Some days, it could be talking to students all day long. Today, I spent an hour doing home visits. I talked to kids and I visited classrooms. We do different activities with students to help prepare them for college and to get jobs. We get to make everybody’s schedule and help them pick out classes, which is fun. We get to help kids figure out what they want to do after high school, what jobs they would want,” Reed said.
This particular part of her job is important to Reed.
“I always try to remind students that getting a job is not about making money – it’s about enjoying what you do and making a positive footprint on the community,” Reed said.
Of course, Reed has duties that extend beyond the regular picture of a counselor. These are some of the most important to her.
“I help everybody figure out what their strengths are and what roles they should be in charge of. I’m the go-to person for teachers if they have questions or concerns. I go to all the after school meetings, but I like it because I get to stick up for the other counselors and I get to be their voice. It's nice to work closely with all of the teachers, too,” Reed said.
Reed's path to her current position was one of discovery. She had to try a lot of different things to figure out where she belonged.
“I knew I wanted to help people, so I started doing internships at various places because I was told I needed to narrow it down; who do you want to help and how do you want to help them?” Reed said.
She continued her internships until the choices began to narrow.
“First, I worked with adults, and that was all right, but then I worked with kids. I figured out I wanted to work with them, but then I had to figure out how. I knew I didn't want to work late hours, and I knew I always liked being at school, so I narrowed it down to school counseling because I could have both those things,” Reed said.
Reed's life is still filled with plenty outside of the school day, just as she had hoped. She has found some pretty special passions during her time.
“My favorite thing to do when I get home, besides playing with my own children, of course, is to play with my chickens,” Reed said.
An absolute highlight, Reed considers her chickens to be one of the most important and special parts of her everyday.
“They just come out running when I get home. They're the most amazing pet that anyone can ever have,” Reed said.
Overall, Reed is a wonderful counselor who has helped a plethora of students over the years, as well as enjoyed the things she's found she loves in life.
Student spotlight:
Junior Aaverie Wingard is a member of the tennis team, and her favorite thing to talk or learn about is chemistry.
“I’ve liked it ever since freshman year, and back then, I really liked the teacher who taught it. Right now, it's really hard, but I'm trying,” Wingard said.
Wingard is currently enrolled in Advanced Placement Chemistry, a challenging class that the brightest students can struggle in. Still, she pushes through for one important reason.
“Chemistry made me want to go into pharmacy – not being a pharmacist in a commercial area or a hospital, but pharmaceuticals where you make medications,” Wingard said.
Wingard has had one very special experience with pharmaceutical medication creation already, and it's a very exciting memory to her.
“It was for Science Club – the teacher knew I wanted to go into pharmaceuticals. One day, he stopped me and said, ‘We're making Aspirin today. You want to come?’ I said, ‘Yes. Yes I do,’” Wingard said.
Wingard described the process, which took approximately an hour, and the result of the work.
“It wasn't the pill form, it was the stuff inside, not the coating, or anything else. We had to use a vacuum filter to purify it. We had to heat it up for the salicylic acid to achieve what it needed to. We had to let it sit to let needles form. It was pretty cool,” Wingard said.
Wingard sees the experience as something she would love to repeat in her future.
“It's the process that's really cool to me. I would like to learn how more things are made, too. It would be so cool to know how they're made and how they work in the body,” Wingard said.
Wingard’s plan to get to that point is clear to her.
“I plan to attend Purdue University and get my bachelor’s in pharmaceutical science there. Then, I plan to study chemistry and get more background in that and get my PHD in pharmaceutical science,” Wingard said.
Wingard's future is big and bright, as evidenced by the knowledge she holds and the hopes she maintains.