What’s recently happened?
The 4th of July parade was a major success; even with a delayed start, there were very minor complications. Every year, the town of Hebron holds a fireworks show the day before the 4th as a kick-off to the festivities sure to follow. While many people also hold their own fireworks shows, few can beat the finale of Hebron's annual show.
The North Central Cyclones made their way to Ohio the week of July 7 to compete in a baseball showcase. Teams from across the country and even Canada made their way to the Buckeye State for opening ceremonies on July 8. The day before the ceremony, the team met at the hotel they were housed at, spending their free time playing volleyball, two-hand touch, and mini golf with other baseball teams and travel teams of other sports. The opening ceremony included athlete competitions like a throwing speed test, catching pop-up speed test, home run derby, and a coach's fungo bat speed test. The Cyclones won the competition where they had to throw the ball around the entire field as fast as they could.
The team truly is a family, with parents spending every night together on the back patio of the hotel. The team made friends with a softball team that was staying at the same hotel and playing in the same tournament. The team celebrated three birthdays, two on July 11 for Kaden Hines and the head coach's daughter, Laney Podell. July 13 was Deitrick Gibson's birthday. A few days earlier, he was surprised with a trip into the city, where he got to see the Bengals’ stadium and get ice cream with fellow teammates.
This tournament was somewhat bittersweet with head coach Jake Podell and his son, an asset to the team, Parker Podell, going back down to Parker Podell's age group. Along with Jake Podell and Parker Podell leaving the team, Kaitlyn Podell, the team mom, has done an incredible job managing the team and keeping everything in line, whether it's the boys' walk-up songs or keeping the team updated on practices and game dates.
A huge day came and went unnoticed by most, but Advanced Placement students have had July 5 marked in their calendars. Scores were released, leaving many students with immense pride in their scores and the dedication they put into getting those scores. Whether it was long hours, days, weeks, and months of studying or the night before cramming, these students worked their hardest to make the most out of the courses they took this previous year.
What’s coming up?
As many of the 2023 graduates start a new chapter in their lives, some are starting their college careers, moving into their dorms, meeting new roommates, or moving in with old friends. Some may even be rushing fraternities and sororities in hopes of starting their Greek life at the college of their choice.
With school starting in the upcoming months, many students are excited to shop for school supplies or even get back to their classes. Every student will be returning to familiar faces and hopefully having a fun start to the year with the friends they left behind in May.
Starting along with school are many fall sports: cross country, soccer, volleyball, cheer, dance, and football. While Hebron doesn’t have a football team, many students and teachers alike are avid fans and keep up with everything football throughout the year. Long practices and competition are what the athletes live for, even if they aren’t keen to admit it. Student-athletes play their hearts out in hopes of contributing to their teams or even securing a spot playing in higher education.
Community member spotlight:
Danny Pastrick, more commonly referred to as simply Pastrick, is known by most in the town of Hebron. Danny Pastrick heads the middle school and high school cross country teams, the middle school and high school Girls Track teams, the mentoring program at the middle school, the National Junior Honors Society (NJHS), the elementary run club, and the annual Hebron Haunted House. Along with everything previously listed, Danny Pastrick is the 8th-grade science teacher and has coached 5th and 6th-grade Boys Basketball in previous years. Danny Pastrick seems like he lives at the school with everything he does for it.
“We try and do our best to help the families we buy gifts for during the holiday season; it means a lot to me and all the kids involved in the Haunted House,” Pastrick said.
His wife, Andrea Pastrick, also works at the school as the 6th-grade English teacher, and their three kids attended Hebron. The twins, Olivia and Max Pastrick, graduated in 2022, and Gavin Pastrick is still in middle school. Danny Pastrick celebrated his birthday back in May and went skydiving with the twins.
Danny Pastrick has been partaking in Hebron Havoc for years now. Hebron Havoc is where the teachers get together and wrestle WWE style to raise money for local families. Overall, Pastrick does more than enough for the school and the town; without him, many students would never have joined track or cross country, many would never have joined the Hebron Haunted House, and many would never have become mentors or NJHS members.