The CHIEF March 2023

CHIEF PONTIAC TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL The

MAR, 2023

UPPERCLASS ACTS

RESPECT WEEK Read about this year's Respect Week and assembly!

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

Respect Week By: Willow Dodson

Pontiac Township High School honored Respect Week through February 27th to March 4th. Like always, a lot of fun activities happened during this week. Respect Week started off with designated colors for the student body to wear Monday through Friday. Down Syndrome, Dyslexia, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and ADHD awareness were represented by wearing certain colors. Students were also assigned to create a Respect Book based on certain themes given to them. For example one of the themes was, “What is Spread the Word?: Inclusion.” Another example would be “What are ways we can include ALL people?” Next, students were asked to create a slideshow presentation about famous historical and current figures and how they related to respect. Schools from the surrounding areas were also asked to make posters with the theme: Peace, Love, and Respect! The overall winner was Kenley Sancken from Saunemin Grade School. During one of the lunches, students signed a banner to pledge that they will choose kindness and be respectful towards others. There were activities at lunches as well such as: guessing the amount of candy in a jar, participating in a win a free pair of shoes drawing, getting a free respect item, eating free sherbet for lunch, participating in a money toss game, and getting a fun picture taken which would later be hung around the commons. The Respect Week assembly took place on Friday. The winners of the Respect Week presentations were mentioned during the assembly and had their pictures taken afterwards. Ms. Baumgardner was honored at the assembly as well, due to her retiring at the end of this year. We would like to thank Ms. Baumgardner for all of her hard work and dedication throughout the years by helping bring awareness and respect to students near and far. Rounding off the week, the community was invited to Dairy Queen to receive a free ice cream cone as a thank you and for a pledge to be respectful and kind to others. A great time was had by all. Hopes of continued thoughtfulness and politeness towards one another will be the goal this year. Everyone needs it!

Some helpful tips for students who are seeking to have a great second semester is to actively check Gmail and Skyward. Teachers commonly communicate with students via Gmail, so if students have any questions on schoolwork, they can get a quick response via email. A daily newsletter also is sent out that talks about what is going on around the school, and there is a section of that newsletter that talks about when Tribe Tutoring and Study Sessions are being held. Skyward is the main hub for grades, and missing assignments show up, so make sure to check it regularly to stay on top of schoolwork! So take these tips into consideration, and have a great second semester! Lauren's Second Semester Advice By: Lauren Russow

Teacher Interview with Mrs. Pulliam By: Summer Negray and Vanessa Kapper

This March I have had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Mrs. Pulliam. Mrs. Pulliam grew up in Pontiac and "bled orange and blue." She decided to come back to her former high school as she loved the unique Special Education program as a student and has wanted to teach in that position. After obtaining her Special Education degree, she now spends her time at Pontiac Township High School checking in with students in need of help in academics and getting them caught up in their schoolwork. She enjoys making an impact on a student’s life and wants to see them succeed. One of her extracurricular activities is being a work advisor for two Life Skill students here at PTHS who are involved with the “Spread the Word” inclusion act on a college level! Some fun facts of Mrs. Pulliam is that she married her high school sweetheart, she loves Wonder Dogs , her favorite color is yellow, and she loves Ariana Grande. In the next five years, she hopes to become more involved in the Special Education program. Mrs. Pulliam makes a huge impact on our school with her compassion for students and you will always find her in the library helping with Tribe Tutoring and showing genuine curiosity in her students. Thank you, Mrs. Pulliam.

PTHS Sports Update By: Lily Fetgatter

Throughout the spring, Pontiac Township High School has many different sporting activities. Currently, both PTHS Men's and Women’s Track & Field has begun along with PTHS Softball and Baseball. During Respect Week, our PTHS Unified Basketball team went to state! While we’re on the topic of basketball, The PTHS Boys Varsity Basketball team went to Super-Sectionals for the first time since 2018 after defeating the school’s rival, Prairie Central. The boys played in the Super-Sectionals game and sadly lost, but played very hard! We are all so proud of their dedication and achievements. Make sure you support our teams, whether they’re running a 4x1 or even catching a fly ball in the outfield! The Pontiac FFA on March 1st held their annual chapter meeting. During this meeting we tried something a little different than usual. While some of our members were over in North Carolina for our chapter exchange, we did an activity with West Rowan High School that involved a few of the students hiding ninety-nine rubber ducks around the school yard while two groups of students went and searched for them. The event was almost like an Easter egg hunt but with rubber ducks. The first group to find fifty one ducks won the competition. We brought that activity back to our chapter but hid ducks all around inside the school! They were hidden in places like the auditorium, gym, band room, and the hallways. Before our activity, pizza was enjoyed by our members. Definitely one our best chapter meetings yet! FFA Update By: Addisyn McKinney

Spanish Clulb Update By: Hannah Ricketts

Throughout the last few meetings, the Spanish Club has elected board members to take charge and lead meetings and activities throughout the rest of the semester. Four representatives were elected: President Doralyn Lee, Vice President Kaitlyn Hamilton, Treasurer Jake Davis, and Secretary Michelle Stevenson. After school about twice a month, Spanish Club meets in either Señora Mounce’s or Maestra Martinez’s room, who are the Spanish Club sponsors. Some of the upcoming activities that members may participate in the future are cooking various cultural foods such as churros and mangonadas, completing different crafts like decorating sugar skulls and making piñatas, playing musical instruments, and playing fun group games. And remember, you do not have to know how to speak any Spanish or be in Spanish class to come to club meetings. Everyone is welcome! As we continue through the year, PTHS art students continue to excel in the skills they’ve been learning and honing throughout their time in the art program. Art I is currently working on drawing in graphite with one emphasized portion in colored pencil. Art II is working on multi-colored printmaking. Art III has had a choice between a number of projects, including anthropomorphism pen drawings, surrealism, and other drawing and painting methods. AP Art is still working on their portfolios, which all fit a theme that was chosen at the beginning of the year and encompass a number of methods. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for each class, and how the younger students will continue to progress. Art Update By: Caroline Paulson

Upperclass Acts

Andrew Strogis

NAME: Andrew Strogis

FAVORITE TEACHER: Doug Masching

NICKNAMES: Andy, Drew

FAVORITE ARTIST: Sui Ishida

ROLE MODEL(S): My parents and Doug Masching

MOST POSITIVE MOMENTS: Classes in a stress-free zone.

ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Networking and Technology Club, Anime Club

PET PEEVES: Getting into arguments with my teachers.

FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Hanging out with friends outside.

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: I’ve been a good student.

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Computers, education, college

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? Something I need in my life.

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Go to Heartland, probably get some special services and leave town or live with my parents.

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? Food, clothes, water

FAVORITE MOVIE: Sonic the Hedgehog

LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Farewell PTHS staff and students. I will remember you!”

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Live and Learn” by Crush 40

Upperclass Acts

Grace Rice

NAME: Grace Rice

PET PEEVES: My biggest pet peeve is when someone complains about my driving, but is a passenger in my car and they won’t drive themselves.

ROLE MODEL(S): My parents and Claire Smith

FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: My fondest memory of high school so far has been finding my friends, and creating great friendships.

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: Hopefully my birthday

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Comedy, Cooking, and Fitness

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? I would probably start off with an outrageous shopping spree, then maybe buy a house, and save what is left. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? I would want water, almond joys and a companion of some kind. LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “You don’t have to have everything figured out for the rest of your life, you have all the time to figure out what and who you want to be.”

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: I will be going to college and I am not sure what for yet.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Tangled

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Vienna” by Billy Joel

FAVORITE TEACHER: Mr McElwee

MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Summer

Creative Writing: Victor Frankenstein's Diary By Vanessa Kapper

Recently, Mr. McElwee’s Rhet III class read Frankenstein and had to complete a creative writing assignment of what Victor Frankenstein’s diary entry would be after he had created his monster. The following is my submission: I, Victor Frankenstein, with my droopy eyes wide open, stared at my creature. My heart dropped as it felt the adrenaline rush stop. What once was a dream and pursuit became a nightmare that I had to flee from. I fled from the horrid zombie and the murder that I had committed- a murder to my utmost dream, a murder to mankind, and a murder to my contributing soul. My thoughts were burdened by my actions and I needed, for even a second– just one peaceful second- needed to forget what I did. For one peaceful second I needed to be able to walk through a mirror- the mirror that was stained in my mind- and find the reflection of the man that I should’ve been. Oh, how I so deeply desired to wish I could love my studies again to find some way to break through that glass and drag that stubborn stranger to me. Then, I would plead for him to open those droopy eyes and wake up…WAKE UP! But, only then he would shake me off and abandon my desperate pleas. He would do just as I did as I poisoned the invasive, tiny tumor that was all too well disrupting my brain while I recklessly pursued my selfish and disgusting desires.

Student Poetry

"A Noiseless Patient Spiderman" By Andrew Pelletier (Definitely Not Walt Whitman)

A noiseless patient radioactive spider, I mark’d where on my hand it stood isolated, Mark’d how it sunk its power into my skin. Now I launch forth web fluid, web fluid, web fluid, out of my arm, Ever web slinging, ever tirelessly swinging.

And you O my Spider-Man where you swing, Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of great responsibility, Ceaselessly fighting, helping, saving, seeking the goblin and the symbiote, Till the Queensboro Bridge forces you to choose, till the Brock is defeated by harmonics, Till the town calls you their friendly neighborhood spider, O my Spider-Man.

Music Review

By Rebekah Hendershott

"Narcissist" by Lauren Spencer Smith

Lauren Spencer Smith released a song called “Narcissist” late July of 2022. The song holds a very mellow beat with sad undertones. Lauren explains what it is like to love a narcissist and how confusing the feelings between leaving and staying are. In a relationship with a narcissist, she also explains you are the one to always take the blame when something goes wrong and you are the only one who is going to compromise something. My very first listen, I skipped over because most of the songs I listen to are fast beats. After returning to the song and listening to the words I realized how many people live in this reality and that such representation and confrontation to an issue is important. Because of the vocals and the important meaning, I found the slow beat to be good for the song. I would rate the song a 7/10. I feel in the song there could have been more emotion expressed and emphasis on words or sentences to really push that feeling of hardship and exhaustion through to listeners.

Book Review

By Summer Negray

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I have not always had a love for reading, but in recent years I have grown to love spending my time in different worlds. After a stressful time, just the relief of cracking open a book and going off into a different fantasy makes a hard day better. Books give a person an opportunity to breathe. Currently, I am reading Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, which is part of a nine-book series. Here is the blurb to the story: “In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien. The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass—and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.” I am not completely done with this book at the moment, but so far it is amazing! There are many twists and turns that take you by surprise. Also, you have two love interests that are fighting against their feelings for the main protagonist, Celeana. She is an extremely short-tempered and loyal person. Celeana has a very traumatic past that continuously haunts her. This story makes you feel connected to the main character on her adventure to win back her freedom. I would give this book a 9/10 so far. I can’t wait to read the rest of this book series!

Editor-in-Chief: Vanessa Kapper The Chief Staff

Kyla Baker Willow Dodson Lily Fetgatter

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

Rebekah Hendershott Addisyn McKinney

Summer Negray Caroline Paulson Lauren Russow

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

Student Poetry: Spring Season By: Lauren Russow

Spring is almost here The warm weather makes many people cheer Spring sports seasons will begin to start Flowers will blossom like intricate art Hoodies and sweatpants will be put away “It’s hot out here!” People will say Springtime is a season that is great So look forward to the daylight savings time date