The CHIEF April 2022

CHIEF PONTIAC TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL The

APR, 2022

UPPERCLASS ACTS

ADVICE FROM A SENIOR

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

PTHS Senior Paige Olson gives advice to underclass students

Advice from a Senior By: Paige Olson

Nothing has made me happier at PTHS than expressing myself the way I want to. I wish that I had dressed and acted the way I wanted to when I was a freshman. Regardless of what others may think of me, I wear and look the way I think is the most “me.” Let go of those judgements when you are worried about the way you look in the morning; you’ll find your people through your independence. When you learn to be the person you think that you are meant to be, everything else becomes easier. I made friends faster and became more involved in my extracurricular activities by being more confident in myself. Spend any time you can being involved with the school. Time in these events is extremely important for your future, whether it be a college application or a resume. At the same time, try not to burn yourself out by devoting the entirety of yourself to something; time for yourself is equally important! Don’t worry too much about your future beyond high school, but it is okay to worry a little. That small, healthy amount of anxiety will push you to work hard now so you can be successful later. Okay, stepping off of my self-righteous, senior pedestal now. Be yourself, work hard, and have fun.

Running a Perfect Race

Dewayne Johnson placed Runner-up or 2nd Place at State held at Illinois Wesleyan on March 26. IWU today placing Runner-up or 2nd Place. Not only was sis Prelim run was outstanding, but he ran a perfect race: 8.18 PR from 8.24 and stands as the 3rd fastest time in all classes 1A-3A. In his Finals he placed 2nd at 8.38. His 200 he was 11th overall at 23.54 out of lane 2 which is difficult for a long-legged person.

At the same competition, Brady Monahan qualified in Pole Vault. Great job!

Character Analysis: Mare Borrow By Jasmine White

Mare Barrow is a character from the Red Queen series written by Victoria Aveyard. Mare grew up in a world where they were separated from their blood color: silver and red. Silver blood is the ruling class while red blood is the lower class. The silver bloods have superhuman powers that are passed down through their respective households. Mare grew up in a town called the Stilts and often steals to help out her family as they are short on money. She hates the Silvers as the other reds do. Later in the book, Mare finds out that she has powers like the Silvers but her blood is red. Mare becomes entangled with the royal family when she chooses to go with the Silvers and do as they say in order to help her family with money and keep her childhood friend from being drafted. She cares dearly for her family members and feels guilty as she seems to be a burden on them. She feels that way because she had hurt her sister Gisa’s hand who is the main help of income in the household. Mare wants to do something right and this is her chance of doing so. In the meantime, Mare also has a second agenda: she met with the rebellion beforehand and is working with them secretly. She hates how the Silvers rule the land and wants to make a difference for the Reds to live better. Mare is an intricate character who discovers new things about herself as she deals with her family and helps a rebellion, causing her to grow throughout the series.

Some random fun facts have been brought to us by Mr. McElwee again for this month! Warning: the first fact is not very pleasant. There is a popular dish in Scotland called haggis, which is made up of a combination of onions, spices, salt, and minced heart/lungs/liver from a sheep. The worst part is that these ingredients would traditionally get boiled inside of the sheep’s stomach for hours, although in modern times cleaner methods are thankfully used. To clear your mind of that image, Mr. McElwee provided another fun fact which relates to theater! The style of “modern” musicals which society is familiar with today has only been around for about 100 years. The concept of musical theater itself, though, has existed since Ancient Greece, when the music would be sung on the stage alongside dancers and comic moments. The music would serve as a transition between scenes or set a mood in the background while dialogue was being spoken. Compared to back then, musical theater has definitely evolved!

Random Facts W I T H B I G MAC By: Emma O'Lone

Upperclass Acts

Johnathan Lenox

NAME: Johnathan Lenox

FAVORITE AUTHOR/BOOK: Holes by Louis Sachar

NICKNAMES: Johnny

ROLE MODEL(S): My father, Cal Ripken Jr.

MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Playing Varsity baseball for my high school

ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Baseball, FFA

PET PEEVES: Slow walking, loud chewing, fishing for compliments

FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: FFA bags tournament sophomore year

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: Responsible, athletic, and fun to be around HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? I would hopefully help my parents pay off their college debt and house payments as well as my own. And then buy my first home. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? I would want a grill, a bed, and roller blades

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Business, Journalism, and Marketing

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Attend Illinois State University

FAVORITE MOVIE: Moneyball

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: POWER - Kanye West

FAVORITE TEACHER/CLASS: Environmental Earth Science: Mr. Ritter

LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Enjoy your time while you have it, time will fly by if you let it.”

Upperclass Acts

Brooke Fox

NAME: Brooke Fox

FAVORITE AUTHOR/BOOK: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

NICKNAMES: Ellen, Brookie

ROLE MODEL(S): My parents

MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Getting 1000 kills in volleyball.

ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Volleyball, Softball, FFA, National Honor Society, Key Club, Student Council.

PET PEEVES: When I do not understand a joke, and it is not explained to me.

FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Being able to play softball my senior year.

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: My dedication and high energy.

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Agriculture, Sports, and Business

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? I would use the money to pay for college and invest, then donate the rest. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? Water, food, and my best friend.

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: I have not decided on my major, but I will be attending Hope College, where I will be playing volleyball.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Miracles from Heaven

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw

LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Don't dwell on your past mistakes.”

FAVORITE TEACHER/CLASS: My favorite teacher is Miss Edwards, and my favorite class in high school was AP Biology.

Music

Review

By Sam Kelly

Music Review: Scaled and Icy

With only two months left until the beginning of summer, many people may be wondering what their ‘22 Summer Soundtrack will be?!? Obviously, listen to whatever you want and just enjoy your relaxing, yet fun-filled summer. But because you are still reading this, I’m going to assume you still want a recommendation for a summer feeling album, and from my own personal selection I wholeheartedly recommend Scaled and Icy written by twenty one pilots. This album is neither brand new nor vintage but ever since January I have been waiting for May 6th to pop this CD back into my fidgety car radio so I figured that I would share it with you. Each track on this album packs its own punch and will have you dancing and getting in near accidents because you will be so distracted by how surprisingly amazing it is! Even if you don’t typically find yourself listening to mainstream pop music, many different sources (please don’t ask for names) agree that this album is a certified bop. I rate this album 9.5/10 and you should definitely check it out this summer!

Student Poetry By Rykel Jensen

“Hay, Snow, Baby Powder, and Rotten Clementines: A Compilation of Dreams”

Rising from the ground in my backyard, I am covered in snow. I roll around, and make snow angels, watching them fly when I finish them. I go inside my grandmother’s house, I stare into a mirror, and see my sunburnt face. The sunburn hurts, and I walk fully clothed into a cold shower. As my skin cools, I melt, like ice. I melt down the drain, like sludge, and land on a dock. I fuse back into myself on this dock, but I am not the same. I have changed, but the change is soon forgotten, when I see A little boy, drowning in the lake in front of me. I jump in, and save the boy. I bring him to land, a man waits for me, his fingers look like claws. He grabs me, and bites my shoulder, I scream, and slap him. The slap sends me backwards into the lake, I sink. I sink, and water melts me yet again. I turn to sludge, and fly away. I land in my bed, covered in baby powder, and wet pajamas. I sit up and sigh, glad I am free from the clutches of the man in my dream. But another beast awaits just beyond my bedroom door. Before I worry about that, I jump up through my bedroom window. The trees above me stand tall, I jump to them, and then to mountaintops. I glide in the air, above all else. I prove to myself, I can fly, fly free. Gracefully, I land in a barn. I lay in the hay, the smell hits me, it’s comforting. Just before I can get comfortable, a box of clementines lands on my head. I ate every single one, I didn’t notice they were rotten. A parrot lands on the box. “You’re quite gross.” The parrot squawks at me. “I disagree,” I reply, “I’m rock and roll” The parrot grabs me in its talons, cutting deep into my shoulders, and screeches in my face. I lay back in my bed, covered in hay, snow, baby powder, and rotten clementines. I’m glad to be home, the beast behind my door long since forgotten. That was a mistake, letting beasts be forgotten. It opens my door, and smells the air. Salivating and hungry, it lunges for my throat. Into the long night before me, I run barefoot into the world. There are many things I have yet to discover, yet to learn.

As the beast lunges for me I realize, The beast is not a monster, It’s my own face. Staring back at me.

Flower of the Month By: Lydia Grampp

Ava Nollen: Editor-in-Chief The Chief Staff

Aubreigh Carmack Mason Christianson Jack Demopoulos Brieaunna Duck Lydia Grampp Vanessa Kapper Sam Kelly Zoe Noles Emma O'Lone Paige Olson Olivia Schickel Conrad Skryzpiec Jasmine White

You know what they say… “April showers bring May flowers,” but what flowers rule in April? April’s flower of the month is a Daisy. These sweet and dainty flowers represent innocence, simplicity, and humility. Daisy comes from the Old English phrase “daes eage” which means “day’s eye.” The opening and closing of the petals represents the beginning of a new day. These tiny flowers are found on all continents except Antarctica! They are also edible and a great source of vitamin C. So next time you want to spice up a refreshing salad, pick a few daisies to garnish your plate!

Mr. Blair, Faculty Sponsor Dr. Soares, Faculty Sponsor The CHIEF logos designed by Abbi Schott

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