What’s recently happened?
Whiting High School (WHS) participated in a national walkout on April 14, to talk about gun violence.
The entire student body filled the street in front of the school and made signs in their designated homerooms on Wednesday to bring to the walkout.
The entire middle school was also involved in this walkout and followed the high school down the street and around the block to also show their solidarity with other schools in the nation.
This event was organized by the administration at WHS, and the administration was very proud of its students to bring awareness to this topic.
What’s coming up?
WHS has been preparing for many events coming up for the junior and senior classes. The junior class is currently in the final stages of its preparations for prom and getting the essentials together for a great event for the upperclassmen.
The theme this year is “Under the Stars” and will be a magical night at Meyers Castle in Dyer where the event will take place.
WHS senior class is preparing for their senior class trip to Six Flags Great America for the annual Grad Nite, which allows the students to ride any roller coaster and eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
This event is an all-night affair for the senior class and is their senior trip thanks to all the fundraising the class has done in the last four years.
Staff spotlight
Connor Downs is in his first year at WHS as an earth-space and biology teacher, while also an assistant coach for the football team.
This is Downs’ 10th year in education overall, and he is very excited to bring to a close his first year at WHS and start again in the fall.
Downs is a very familiar face to many students and athletes, known for his great attitude and for helping students in need.
“I’ve always wanted to coach and be a mentor, being a teacher is something I will continue to work toward. It gives me the ability to not just teach my students science lessons, but to mentor them past that,” Downs said.
Downs is very focused on building relationships with his students and providing them an outlet to further their education and success in any way that he can and ensure they are continuing to work on becoming their best selves.
“My number one strength is people and communication to read people and be able to see how they are truly doing and helping them just from that interaction,” he said.
Downs works with his students and athletes at WHS to find their path and purpose and know that someone is there for them.
Downs also is very grateful to have been part of the football coaching staff this year and be there to see their growth from the summer to the end of school year.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the group of seniors here, they are amazing people, and being able to build relationships with them has been a big part of my time here at Whiting,” Downs said.
Downs is very excited to finish off this school year on a positive note and continue to help many more students in his years at WHS.
Student spotlight
Julia Olson is a senior at WHS and is the valedictorian of the Class of 2023. With her many accomplishments this year alone, her friends and family stand by her proudly.
Olson has been a student at WHS since freshman year and describes her experience with loving words such as spirited, tight-knit, and encouraging.
Julia Olson is graduating at the top of the Class of 2023. Working extremely hard the last four years does not mean she hasn’t undergone struggles. During the pandemic in 2020, Olson still worked hard for her future and wanted to ensure she could make not only herself but also her family proud.
"Going into high school, I never had the goal of becoming valedictorian. However, once the ranks came out and I saw I was third, I began to think it was possible to strive for more. My main contributor to wanting to strive for success was my godfather, Luke Debold,” Olson said.
Olson has been extremely involved throughout her time at WHS. She participated in sports, booster club, science olympiad, National Honor Society, student council, and the Whiting Oilers Leadership Council.
"Though the road of high school may seem long, it will fly by as cliche as that sounds. Take advantage of the moments you have with your peers and enjoy your limited high school years,” Olson said.
Olson will be attending Purdue University in the fall, and plans on majoring in behavioral sciences to help children in the future.