What’s recently happened?
With a multitude of pre-season conditioning and practices, the Munster High School (MHS) softball team has officially started its season with the finalization of tryouts on March 8. The team is now looking forward to its first game at home against Lake Central High School on March 20.
“This season, I hope to show full leadership on the field and at practice and just enjoy the ride playing for my hometown one last time,” Emily Siurek, senior, said.
Out of the three seniors on the team, two of them have committed to a college to continue their softball careers. Siurek has committed to the University of South Dakota to play Division I softball, and Senior Kylie Madura committed to Purdue University Northwest to play Division II softball.
“I want to enjoy the little things this season and not take anything for granted,” Siurek said. “I hope to set many defensive and offensive records as well as push for the team’s goal of making it to the postseason.”
To help achieve these goals, the team has put more emphasis on conditioning and weight training in the MHS weight room this year. Most of the team has arranged their class schedules to include a weightlifting class.
“Coach Riley Edgerton has made an outstanding impact in our season’s preparation,” Jill Perez, softball coach, said. “Many of the softball players have enrolled in the Strength Training class and are seeing the positive effects the class is having on their athletic performance and physical health. We are grateful to have this opportunity to strengthen our athletic abilities.”
What’s coming up?
The School Town of Munster has currently been discussing the possibility of purchasing Munster’s Center for the Visual and Performing Arts. This purchase would be used for School Town of Munster’s administrative offices and a possible preschool program.
In regards to this discussion, the board voted 3-0-2 on starting negotiations with the Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana.
Superintendent Bret Heller stated that the school district’s interest in the property is only at a preliminary stage. However, many Munster residents have been very vocal about discussing this possibility on Facebook.
Here is a quick glance at events that are coming up for MHS:
Best Buddies is in the midst of its Spirit Week for the Best Buddies’ Bowl on March 15 at 6 p.m. At this event, the buddies are against the football team. Entry is free, and there will be a halftime show.
The choir had its “Music in Our Schools Month” concert on March 6, in which the group announced its future trip opportunities: singing at the National Memorial Day Choral Concert alongside the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. in May of 2025 and singing at the world-renowned St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland in 2026.
“Crier,” the school newspaper, will be releasing its eighth issue of the school year on March 15.
Staff spotlight:
Amongst the inflatable jumping houses and obstacle courses and the carnival-like games, Kristen Smith, secretary of the Munster School Board (MSB), was reminded of the importance of her position as she looked around at Elliott Elementary School’s Fun Fair on March 1.
“Everytime I see families coming into our schools, I remember what an important job I have,” Smith said. “Every student and parent I saw at that fun fair was a reminder of how important it is to help those kids and our community receive the best possible education they can.”
However, Smith was unfamiliar with the Munster community at first. It was not until her husband, who had already owned a house in Munster, that Smith truly started to look into the area. Smith found Munster to be very convenient with its central location and proximity to the city. Then, when Smith had kids, she found another excelling factor about the area.
“I personally, because I grew up in a Catholic school environment, assumed that we would send our kids to a religious-based school.” Smith said. “It didn’t occur to me that we wouldn’t do that. My husband told me, ‘Hey, I’ve heard Munster is a phenomenal school, so maybe we should check that out.’”
After they went to their final meeting with Elliott Elementary School Principal Nicole Guernsey, they made the decision to send their oldest daughter, Zuzu Smith, off to kindergarten there.
“We thought, ‘If the school was not a good fit, we will just move Zuzu to a different school,’” Smith said. “However, Elliott was such a great school and we sent our three other kids there.”
As she started to get more involved with her kids in the school system, Smith served as the vice president, treasurer, and president of the Parent Teacher Organization for Elliott. Then, when financial challenges occurred for the school district during the time Zuzu was transitioning into first grade, Smith started to be even more informed and involved as she wanted to keep updated with the future of the schools her children were a part of.
“The impact of that financial challenge was not completely known at that time because information was just coming out,” Smith said. “When that occurred, I went to school board meetings and presentations to learn as much as I possibly could about the school district and the situation. I made the decision to bring my kids here because of the solid school system, and I wanted to make sure I did not make a mistake.”
Smith continued to learn by growing her involvement in the community by serving as the secretary, treasurer, and chair of the Grants Committee on behalf of the Munster Education Foundation and being a part of Munster’s Booster Club.
“Yes, I wanted to learn about the school district I was sending my kids to to make sure I am informed about what is going on for them, but I am also focused on all kids,” Smith said. “I wanted to be sure all kids were getting the things they needed from the schools, and not just my own. I think that the bigger picture of how to be a part of the School Town of Munster and a part of the solutions to our problems was important to me.”
Ultimately, Smith’s drive to learn about the Munster Schools pushed her to want to know every aspect of the school district. This drive eventually led her to being a part of the MSB, in which she joined in 2023.
“Now, with my time on the board, I have a better understanding of the communication that occurs between the schools, administration, and the board in the processes of creating policies,” Smith said. “I have a better understanding of why these policies are being made and considered. Every school board member, in my opinion, works under the impression for doing the best for our children. That was super important for me.”
Student spotlight:
Plopping her backpack down onto the grass, 7-year-old Zuzu Smith performs a sequence of round-offs and flips outside the dismissal doors of Elliott Elementary School. Now a senior at MHS, these gymnastic skills, which she used to show off at any chance she could get, carried on with her into high school despite her transition into a new sport.
“When my gymnastics career ended, I found diving to be very similar,” Smith said. “Once I joined, I was able to make some great memories and new friends.”
The diving season finished up in February with its state competition at Indiana University (IU) Indianapolis (formerly Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis). Smith, proud of her progress throughout the season, placed 13th at this competition.
“This season was my best season yet,” Smith said. “It was very memorable and exciting to achieve my highest scores of my entire diving career during my last three meets.”
With sports being important to her, Smith plans to attend IU in Bloomington to major in psychology with a goal of becoming a sports psychologist. As she looks toward her post-high school endeavors, she is grateful for the opportunities Munster has provided for her.
“The community of Munster is very close, filled with kind people, and has helpful people throughout the town that are always willing to support Munster teams and businesses,” Smith said. “The school system provides an excellent education as well.”