The CHIEF January 2023

CHIEF PONTIAC TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL The

JAN, 2023

UPPERCLASS ACTS

SECOND SEMESTER ADVICE Get ready for a successful spring semester!

Check out which PTHS seniors are this month's Upperclass Acts

Second Semester Advice By: Summer Negray

Here we are again for second semester. We are now halfway throughout the school year and that means that we are thankfully much closer to summer break. Second semester can be hard to get through. Motivation is running low and it can be hard to stick to good habits. Here are three tips to start off this semester right. First, use a planner and create a master plan for second semester of the school year! This means looking at the school calendar to see any important dates such as finals, school dances, and sport events. Also, I recommend writing down anything non-school related. For example, birthdays, doctor appointments, and your work schedule. You can also write down any school assignments that you have to do here too. Revise and review your schedule every week to make sure you have time for every event to make sure nothing overlaps. This will help decrease your stress because you will know exactly what it is you need to do that week! The next tip is for SAT preparation. It’s important for juniors to start preparing for the SAT as this test will take place in April. This test is important because it plays a part in getting accepted into college. The SAT helps colleges compare students from different high schools! Some studying tips for the SAT are setting up a study group or studying alone, taking ten minutes a day to look over questions, and using the app Khan Academy. Remember, April will be here before you know it! Also, if you are underclassman, you will be taking the PSAT the same day as the juniors are taking their SAT. The PSAT is a test to help prepare you for the SAT and taking it seriously can very much help you with the SAT. Finally, here is a tip that I recommend a lot but it is so important to incorporate into your life: Take care of yourself. Setting time for just ten minutes a day morning and night to decompress and prepare for school can make a positive impact on your mental health. I am guilty of not sticking to a routine every day, but just having an idea about what your goals are is a very good start! Thank you for reading and make sure to find motivation to incorporate these good habits and routines into your day!

PTHS Senior Illustrates Book Cover Artowork By: Rebekah Hendershott

Lilly Logan, a senior at Pontiac Township High School, was nominated to have her artwork displayed on the cover of a book, Tracks across Europe. Holli Vuong, a junior, also received recognition. Mr. Vogt approached Lilly asking her if she wanted to participate in a competition to have her art on a book. After a little background on Tracks across Europe about a war hero’s family trying to honor their dad, Lilly gladly agreed. Lilly received a picture from the family that was to be on the cover and got creative freedom to do what she wanted. Lilly made the decision to add cool colors to represent the cold and dull times of the war. She wanted to emphasize the seriousness of a war and the losses accumulated in it. This war hero, Dal Estes, survived D-day and earned a Purple Heart. This book was written after Dal returned from service and was celebrated in a country foreign to him, so not in his homeland. He opened the war museum to honor all the men and women who have served their country. If you are ever in downtown Pontiac, take a stop in and view the amazing collection that has only grown.

PTHS Music Update By: Hannah Ricketts

After a great Christmas Concert, the new semester brings with it many exciting new opportunities for the PTHS Music Department. Concert Band and Symphonic Band have split, and we are now preparing for the next concert, the Winter Pops Concert. This means that we are learning well-known music from popular movies, television shows and artists. On another exciting note, there is going to be not one, but two Jazz Bands on the Winter Pops Concert. The rehearsals for those are starting this month. The Pep Band is bringing on the school-spirit by playing everyone’s favorite stand tunes at upcoming Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball games, this month through February. Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Treble I will each be performing their own pieces on the Choral Showcase Concert in February, but will once again be combining into one large choir to perform a few pieces as a large ensemble. In the absence of Madrigals, Jazz Choir has begun rehearsals and will also be performing on the Choral Showcase. For choir students that are interested, they have begun preparing for the Solo and Ensemble Contest taking place in the upcoming months. Lastly, Mr. Durbin has begun the preparations for the PTHS Music Department trip to Disney World this upcoming March by holding Disney Choir rehearsals twice a week. It’s a busy time to be involved with the PTHS Music Department, so to those students, keep working hard and managing your time to be successful both in rehearsals and in the classroom.

FFA Update By: Addisyn McKinney

On January 18, the Pontiac FFA held their annual chapter meeting. During this meeting, it started off with our opening ceremony where past and future events are mentioned that may have happened recently or are being planned for the future. Some past events that have happened recently include Prepared Public Speaking CDE (Career Development Event), the chapter exchange to North Carolina, and making/donating tie blankets. For future events, a major event that is happening is that our FFA members have an opportunity to attend a skiing trip coming up on February 20th at Chestnut Mountain in Galena, Illinois! After the opening ceremony was finished, our members partook in games of dodgeball for the main event of the night with a little bit of our famous line dancing to top it all off for the night. If interested, the next chapter meeting will be February 8th at 6:30 - see you there!

NHS Update By: Vanessa Kapper

National Honor Society is a group of honorable high school students who have exemplified the three needed characteristics one must extraordinarily have to be in National Honor Society: Leadership, Service, and Character. Last semester in November, new students were inducted into this club and have worked hard with the 2nd-year members with volunteering for ringing the bell for Salvation Army at Walmart, participating in the Book Drive, and continuing to get their volunteer hours in. This semester they are already off to an amazing start. They had a successful time volunteering for their one and only basketball concessions, with the money being raised to fund for their “Pay it Forward” project that is their service project for this year. There will be further discussion on this project as they are getting ready to have their club meeting this month. I am personally so thankful for being a part of this amazing group of fellow students and am wishing luck to our sponsor, Ms. Baumgardner, as she is retiring this year!

Upperclass Acts

Jaedyn Casares

NNAME: Jaedyn Casares

MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: When I realized that I could make a career out of art.

NICKNAMES: J

ROLE MODEL(S): My Grandpa, and my mother.

PET PEEVES: Someone talking over me, being late, and when people are messy.

FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: The wide variety of amazing people that I have met over the years.

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: I hope how funny I am and my kindness and support that I gave. HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? I would invest some, put it into my college, and I would give it to my mom for getting me to where I am. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? An endless supply of water and food and a Swiss army knife

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Art, Literature, Math

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: College to get a degree in art

FAVORITE MOVIE: Karate Kid

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor

LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Do not live for others’ expectations of you. Live for yourself.”

FAVORITE TEACHER/CLASS: Mr. Vogt-Art

FAVORITE AUTHOR/BOOK: Under the Oak Tree by Kim Suji

Upperclass Acts

Aithen Sullivan

NAME: Aithen Sullivan

FAVORITE AUTHOR/BOOK: The Holy Bible because it was a big part of my education at St. Mary’s.

ROLE MODEL(S): My parents for the values they instilled in me.

MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Getting accepted into National Honor Society because it's an achievement that not all high school students can attain.

ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Basketball and National Honor Society

FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Homecoming week because of the school spirit, football game, and the dance.

PET PEEVES: My biggest pet peeve is when people are downright disrespectful, especially to their elders.

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: I hope that my friends will remember that I would always have a smile on my face no matter my mood. HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? First, I would pay for my college education. I would then put $125,000 in a college fund for my little brother and sister. The remainder would get invested. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? I would want a bow and arrow, fire starter, and a hatchet. LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “If you can dream it, you can do it”- Walt Disney. This quote pushes me every day to follow my dreams and keep striving for greatness. “Reach for the stars.”

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Working out, basketball, and music.

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Attend Heartland to pursue my nursing career and transfer to ISU after I get my associates degree.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Pirates of the Caribbean series

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

FAVORITE TEACHER/CLASS: I like all of my teachers equally buy my favorite class was Anatomy which was taught by Mr. Nollen. This sparked my interest in science and a possible nursing career.

Movie Review

By Vanessa Kapper

The Age of Adeline

I have recently watched my new favorite movie of all time. The Age of Adeline , starring Blake Lively, came out in 2015 and has such a unique and tear jerking storyline. When Adeline was twenty-nine, she got into a near-fatal accident that had caused her to completely stop aging. For decades, she keeps her secret hidden from the world by moving place-to-place with her daughter and changing her identity. The Age of Adeline tells a fictional story of this beautiful, wise woman who lives a long, but wonderful life. She falls deeply in love twice and feels she must resist telling them her long-kept secret. The storyline is so well done that this was one of the rare movies that I truly found myself wanting more. Before I completely spoil this magnificent movie, I must highly recommend you to watch it yourself.

Music Review

By Caroline Paulson

Spirit Phone

There is always something new going on in the music world, from scandals to new singles. After spending some time browsing through new music, both recommended to me and not, I was amazed to see just how many artists have recently released interesting new singles. This article, however, isn’t about anything new. Lemon Demon’s album, Spirit Phone , came out in 2016. It was the bestselling album on Bandcamp the week of its release, and probably my favorite album of all time. With twenty-seven songs, thirteen of which are bonus tracks, this album has a lot to offer. The first song on the album is “Lifetime Achievement Award," a song about a popstar being revived from the dead. It opens with a strong baseline that continues throughout the song, and includes a deep computer-like voice effect in the chorus of the song. On a personal note, this was my most listened to song this year. It includes heavy references to Michael Jackson, including even asking if the pop star being revived remembers him, and stating that he “really happened.” This very fun and ominous song ends with a droning synth and a robotic voice reciting a paraphrased warning from the “Thriller” music video. The next song is called Touch-Tone Telephone, which features strings throughout most of the song, and includes sound effects of a phone’s dial tone. This song is about a man with absurd conspiracy theories trying to get them out to the world. Much lighter in sound and tone, the song’s narrator insists that they are an expert in their field, Ufology. Composed of a string baseline and chorus instrumental, and heavily featuring synthesizer, this is one of, if not the most, popular songs by Lemon Demon. “Cabinet Man,” the third song on the album, is about a man who puts his organs and consciousness into an arcade machine as an attempt to become immortal. Much more energetic and upbeat than either of the last two songs, this was a personal favorite of mine, with it including exciting synth and drum beats. The rest of the songs on the album include just as interesting topics, such as an alien apocalypse, a man who dies under extremely strange and suspicious circumstances, and a ghostly mongoose. If you like synth pop or strange lyrics, this album has something for you. Spirit Phone by Lemon Demon is a strong recommendation to anyone looking for something different than what they’re used to in most music.

B Y : L A U R E N R U S S O W & M A V E R I C K W I L C O X N e w Y e a r ' s H a i k u Twenty twenty three A new year brings a new you Try new things each day

Make goals for yourself To better your bodies health Live a healthy life Be more positive Show others you are kind Be a role model

Me Poem

Anthony Who wants to become a union pipefitter/ welder Tired, busy, late to class Enjoys sleeping, welding, hanging out with friends Friends with Will, Corey, Landon A big fan of 311 Resident of home Colon

Editor-in-Chief: Vanessa Kapper The Chief Staff Dalton Baker Kyla Baker Willow Dodson AuBrianna Foglio Rebekah Hendershott Addisyn McKinney

Enjoy creative writing? If you ever would ever like to see your creative pieces in The Chief , contact Dr. Soares or Mr. Blair!

Summer Negray Caroline Paulson Lauren Russow

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Student Poetry: "The Sky's Goodnight Bliss" By: Neva Morris

A beauty is bestowed upon the earth Only at the time for slumber The sky paints itself in its colors waving goodnight to all its people The painters try to match its pattern

While the photographers try to catch a glimpse Yet they cannot capture its spirit for its spirit is free Free to wander the earth for others in need Need of colors of hope, and love It is a wildfire that opens the hearts to those who are willing to unlock its true beauty within