The CHIEF September 2023

CHIEF PONTIAC TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL The

SEP, 2023

UPPERCLASS ACTS

FRESHMAN PERSPECTIVE Read about the class of 2027’s transition from junior high into high school

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

A Note from Your Editor

I found myself absolutely beaming when I was assigning all of the articles of The Chief’s first monthly edition that you are about to discover. With a amazing total of sixteen members this year, this is the most unique and creative edition that I have ever had the pleasure of editing. I am so glad to be the Editor-in-Chief once again for my senior year. The first month of this school year for me, and for many others, has been plenty busy. But as I sit here at my home desk next to my Pumpkin Spice candle, taking a break to walk outside and hear the PTHS marching band clearly from Water Street, I am able to be relaxed and reminded of the joys yet to come this year. My hope is that you, the audience, can get a glimpse of PTHS and such joys through the multiple perspectives of the talented writers of The Chief staff plus all of its other terrific contributors. Sincerely, Vanessa Kapper

New Athletic Director: Mr. Neisler Interview By: Lauren Russow

Mr. Neisler is the Athletic Director, Cross Country and Track Coach at PTHS! He graduated from St. Xavier College and ISU. If he were to describe PTHS in one word, he would call it “student-focused.” He became interested in working here partly because he was looking for something different and our school’s student-focused motto caught his attention. Before coming to PTHS he worked at U-High as a math teacher, Track, and Cross Country coach. During this school year, he is looking forward to having new experiences and learning opportunities. His favorite memories during his career have been the basketball supersectional and working with the broadcasting team. Mr. Neisler enjoys building relationships with the students and faculty, the community that surrounds our school, and to watch the sporting events. When asked why people should be involved with the Cross Country/Track and Field team, Mr. Neisler said that it will teach students how to commit to something even if they do not necessarily want to, and it gives them the opportunity to be a part of a team that runs on an individual basis. In running based sports like Track and Cross Country, even though there is a large team, the runners compete against themselves in a sense to get a better time. This holds them accountable for what they do and can inadvertently help students learn a lot about themselves and how they manage different situations. Mr. Neisler predicts that in the sports season a sense of hope will arise because it is the start of these sports after a long break, so it gives athletes and the community a fresh start to the sports season. The sporting events at PTHS he is the most excited for are any games hosted at our school. Being the Athletic Director has more to it than just sitting and watching the games. Sometimes during home games Mr. Neisler is called away to go help work the concessions or the ticket windows, which he does happily. He enjoys being able to be around when help is needed and likes to hang out during the games. Life when our Athletic Director was in high school is different from the students' current experience. Mr. Neisler recalls that there were no iPhones when he was in high school.If he wanted to talk to a friend and make plans he would have to physically talk to them or call on land line, so he did not get the ease of access that students have today to talk to his school friends outside of school hours. Mr. Neisler’s hobbies are walking his two dogs, mowing the lawn and watching The Mandalorian with his wife. He also has a pet cat. His favorite band is Switchfoot and his favorite sports team is the Cardinals. His tips for freshmen to have a successful school year are to stay positive, keep an open mind, give their best effort and give everybody, whether it is an adult or a classmate, grace.

Going from a small school to having to transition to Pontiac Township High School has definitely had its challenges, such as learning my way around the hallways, staying on top of all my assignments, and even trying to find a new lunch table to sit. I asked another freshman classmate of mine, Casey Taylor, what has been one of the biggest challenges for her. She said, “Graduating Odell Grade School, with a class as small as eighteen students and having to get used to the eight period class schedule is definitely a challenge. As time goes on, I’m sure my fellow classmates and I will adapt to the new environment.” Casey explained how the first couple of weeks have gone perfectly! As a freshman myself, I recommend getting involved, especially with an activity that starts in the fall but has open gyms, meetings, or camps in the summer. Doing a sport like volleyball gave me a head start on making new friends which has helped me tremendously. One last tip I have as a freshman is to really focus on your grades. I know with the help of my teachers and classmates, I will be able to have the best scores possible. With this advice, I hope everybody continues to have a great rest of the semester and amazing school year! Class of 2027: Freshman Perspective By: Taylor Henson

Get to Know Your Local Business: Lola’s Homestyle Filipino Cooking By: Hannah Ricketts

Do you ever wonder about the history of the businesses in Pontiac? Well, I do, too! This week, I interviewed the owner of Lola’s, Anna Hoerner. I got to know how her life changed before and after opening a restaurant. To give a little of her history, she attended PTHS in the graduating class of ‘07, and decided that she wanted to be a chef the second semester of her senior year. She enrolled at Kendall College, a culinary arts and hospitality management college located in Chicago, Illinois. She lived in a dorm in the heart of downtown Chicago, which she absolutely loved. Hoerner had all manner of people in her classes—young, old, experienced, and learning. It was a mix of people who were great to learn from and work with. To simplify the learning structure, they would have a lecture and then a practical afterward to perfect what they had learned. Another interesting fact I learned was that breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served in the cafeteria and were prepared and served by students. I asked her what she would have to say to someone who wants to pursue a career in the culinary arts, and this was her response: "Don’t do what everyone else does just because everyone is doing it. If you want to go to school—awesome. It was a great experience, but at the same time, I learned WAY more from my job than I did at school. I learned much more practical skills and time management than I ever learned in school." Hoerner has had many unique experiences from different restaurants, and she shared those with me. Her first job in Chicago was waiting tables in a tiny cafe, and after that experience, she swore off waiting tables, saying that she "would stick to cooking or hosting." She worked at Viand Italian Kitchen in the city, which is no longer open. She stated that her sous chef, Mariela Bolanos, "was instrumental in shaping the way I worked and thrived in a kitchen." She also really enjoyed working at ZED 451, an upscale Brazilian steakhouse, as a tableside chef and hostess. Hoerner also played an important role in many other restaurants that we love in Pontiac. When she first moved back, she helped open Cafe Fontana and worked there for around three months. After that, she worked at Lydia’s Cup and a few years later she helped open The Cup and the Scone. She ultimately decided that her goal was to work for herself. After she left the coffee shop, she helped open Acres Inn. It was during her time here that, as she says, "the opportunity of my dreams open[ed] up for me.” Lola's began its journey as a pop-up. Hoerner loved being a pop-up due to the creative freedom of a completely rotating menu, along with being able to travel around to different people, share her food and meet a multitude of different people. However, there were some things that were less fun when she was a pop-up: she had to figure out the logistics of service, scheduling, and prep without having a place to do it. Another downside was that she had to haul all of the equipment from the Sportsman’s Club, her ghost kitchen, to wherever she had to go. Brick and-mortar Lola’s opened on March 3rd, 2022. There were many difficulties that Hoerner faced during opening that she wasn’t expecting. As we can all understand, its hard work to open your own business, especially in the beginning. Hoerner said that she knew she would be tired, but the exhaustion she felt during those first weeks was unmatched. However, even though it was hard work, she described it as a "rewarding exhaustion.” Hoerner described her first year in business as the "fastest, yet slowest year of [her] life." There were many ups and downs, and many learning experiences, but she is so proud of herself for what she has accomplished.

Girls Tennis Update By: Summer Negray

This year, the Pontiac Girls Tennis team has expanded by bringing in seven new players! The flowing players are Elisa Ewing, Michelle Stevenson, Willow Dodson, Abi Gall, Addison Hall, Casey Taylor, and Emily Bailey. The returning players are all very happy about the latest additions to the team! The returning players this season are Brooke Burger, Olivia Masching, Holli Vuong, Olivia Bonnvier, Jasmine Ray, Emma Reilly, Avery Butler, and Summer Negray. We absolutely love the grade diversity this year! Michelle Stevenson joined the team as a junior and has a few words to share about why she decided to join now: “I wanted a sports waiver and thought tennis would be a fun sport to try. I never thought I would love it as much as I do. I get excited for every practice and I’m so glad I decided to do it.” Also joining us as sophomores are Addison Hall, Elisa Ewing, and Willow Dodson. All of the sophomores joined the team because they heard about how lively the sport is through multiple returning players. This gave them the push they needed to sign up and become an athlete. Additionally, Abi Gall, Casey Taylor, and Emily Bailey are freshmen this year and they decided to participate in tennis. I’m personally looking forward to all of our new teammates growing their skills throughout this playing season, and excited to see how many of them join tennis again next year! I know our returning players this year are excited to kick butt on the courts, and we are all looking forward to having the best playing season yet.

PTHS Football Update By: Jack Demopoulos

Pontiac continues their season after coming off of a big win against Rantoul winning the game 40-14. The offensive line showed big improvements during the game, proving how Pontiac is still a team to not be messed with. In the game against Rantoul, A.J. Delong stepped up in his second game as starting quarterback for varsity, showing off in this game with four touchdown passes. Pontiac had the lead in the first half and never let go once they had it. Overall, the season has not been exactly what the team has planned for as of yet, but these boys continue to pick themselves back up and keep working, no matter the win or loss. Senior Amare Curtiss says it best, “I feel as if we’re a gang of guys who put in the work day in, day out trying to change this program around. We all put in a lot of hard work and try to show it on the field and win.” With that being said, let's keep cheering on our team!

Color Guard Update By: Lily Fetgatter

Hello everyone! Welcome to the new school year! PTHS is currently in its football season, which means that the PTHS Marching Band has taken the field! For this season, we have a total of 23 members on the PTHS Colorguard team including Emma Bolen, Alexis Kindred, Maddie Sancken, Grace Murphy, Audrey Negray, Benji Valadez-Mustonen, Annabell Baker, Haley Shadwick, Brinlee Dearth, Maddie Bressner, Ashleigh Heath, Mariah Wallis, Addyson Brannan, Mickala Travis, Summer Negray, Hailee Bressner, Megan Wiechmann, Olivia Edinger, Kylie Hall, Kat Mercer, Kalli Johnson, Addison Hall, and Lily Fetgatter! This year our show is called “Lost and Found.” If you didn’t have the pleasure of attending the Showdown on September 16th, you can still come to an upcoming football game and watch the PTHS Marching Band perform! This year’s Homecoming was a success for Student Council! This was the first big event that we led as a club. We discussed all the major choices and small details, from buying decorations to actually putting them up. If activities like these interest you, we would love for your input! Mr. Durbin and Mr. Hackler send emails for meeting dates, so check your inbox. Coming to a meeting doesn’t mean you have to join, but getting a feel is the perfect way to see if this club is a fit for you. This year's officers are seniors, Lucy Jackson as president and Vanessa Kapper as secretary, and juniors Lily White as vice president, and Brieaunna Duck as treasurer. It looks to be a promising year, but that is due to the students! Let's hear a word from our officers. Lucy Jackson- I am president and I hope to teach but also learn things from other members to help further my knowledge. I am very excited to see what student council brings to us this year! I can’t wait to see what opportunities bring themselves to the others and myself. Student Council By: Brieaunna Duck

Vanessa Kapper- I am your secretary this year and I am excited to be more involved at PTHS! With such great officers, I am looking forward to what we will contribute to the 2023-2024 school year!

Lily White- I am your Student Council vice president and I am so excited to have this opportunity! I love being involved all around the school and taking this position is just another step forward.

Brieaunna Duck- I am so excited to be your Student Council treasurer! I appreciate this opportunity to develop my leadership and responsibility skills. Overall this is an incredible chance to share my goals as a board member and help create the best events we can do! Have a wonderful Homecoming, everyone!

Upperclass Acts

Vanessa Kapper

NAME: Vanessa Kapper

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Whom Shall I Fear” by Chris Tomlin

NICKNAMES: Nessa, Bink, my siblings call me Sa

ROLE MODEL(S): My dad, St. Rose of Lima, Megan Lauritsen, Merryn Krenz, Mrs. Jamie Woolford, Mrs. Kelly Krenz, Fr. Joe, Fr. Adam ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Editor of The Chief, Key Club, Student Council, Pontio , NHS, Spanish Club, Choir, Court Singers FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Last year, at the Spring Choir Concert, we sang a difficult, complex song named, “Ain’t No Grave Can Hold Me Down.” The song was challenging and required a lot of hard work to learn. When the concert came, we gave the best performance as a choir yet. It was absolutely beautiful and I felt so much joy. Just knowing that we sang it as best as we could, and the audience got to hear it, was one of the best feelings yet.

FAVORITE CLASS: Concert Choir

FAVORITE AUTHOR: J.K Rowling

MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: In general, all the times I was able to open up and shine my talents.

PET PEEVES: When people are uneducated about a subject, but still express an opinion on it, or even worse speak untruly on it; students being disrespectful to teachers or their peers and causing a disturbance; when people put others down for expressing their passions

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: Hopefully my kindness and faith.

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? Save it.

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Theology, Music, Family

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? A bible, a rosary, and a book of every picture that I could find.

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Attend Ave Maria University in Florida and obtain a masters in theology.

FAVORITE MOVIE: The Age of Adeline

LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Stay true to your values and know your worth.”

Upperclass Acts

Aiden Lee

NAME: Aidan Lee

MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: My most positive moment is running my fastest 800m ever at sectionals, taking our team from 4th to 2nd and qualifying for State.

NICKNAMES: Aido, Bip

ROLE MODEL: My father

ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Cross Country, Track and Field, National Honors Society

PET PEEVES: People who chew with their mouths open, mouthbreathers, and lying.

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: They’ll probably remember me for spending a lot of my time running and making them laugh. HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? I would invest a good chunk of it for a high return and more money than when I started. I would also use the money to pay for college and any debt my family has. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? I would bring a fishing kit to catch food, matches to start fires, and a knife to protect myself/help build a shelter. LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Enjoy high school. No matter how old you are, or how much time you think you have left, you’ll be a senior before you can blink. Embrace your youth and have fun with the people around you.”

FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Qualifying for state in XC and in the 4x800 for track my junior year.

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Civil Engineering, Architecture, Sports Science

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: I plan to continue running at the collegiate level and pursue engineering.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Interstellar

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “THANK GOD” by Travis Scott

FAVORITE CLASS: Foods

FAVORITE AUTHOR: Tom Clancy

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Movie Review

By Tyler Drechsel

Most people know about the concept of the multiverse. However, some people can’t grasp the idea of truly unlimited possibilities. Everything Everywhere All At Once is a film that truly understands the concept of the multiverse, and uses it in order to create comedy, emotional moments, and give the viewers something to think very deeply about. Everything Everywhere All At Once is a sci-fi comedy that managed to score three Oscars for acting, directing, and the big prize, Best Picture. This is a film that has immediately established itself as an all time classic. But what is it about this film that makes it so incredible? For those who don’t know, Everything Everywhere All At Once is about an immigrant mother from China, named Evelyn. She’s in a place where her life isn’t going the very best. She runs a laundry place for a living, she’s struggling to gain her father’s approval, she’s struggling to accept her daughter’s sexuality, and on top of everything, she’s being investigated for tax fraud. One day however, Evelyn gets a visit from her husband from a different universe, who tells her that she has the power to help fight against an evil so powerful, it could mean the end of all existence. What follows is an adventure through several universes, where Evelyn sees what her life could have been like, if she had made different choices. Now, what is it that makes this movie an incredible masterpiece? First of all, the comedy. The film takes the idea of unlimited possibilities and uses it to its advantage. There are a few well written jokes, but most of the comedy in this film comes from the absurdity it portrays. Nothing in this film is expected, and everything comes out of nowhere. When the most random, ridiculous events are thrown at you, you can’t help but die of laughter. It isn’t just comedy, but also a film that is written with love. It is one of the most well thought out, organized stories I personally have ever seen, (despite everything happening everywhere all at once.) The acting is also incredible. Everyone nails their performance, no matter how little screen time they get. The directing is unique, with a style that perfectly fits the movie. Not to mention the editing. The title is a very good description of the movie. Several different events are happening at different places, all at the same time. The editing however, makes it easy to understand what’s happening in all of the different places, no matter how much is going on. The film also has incredible themes and lessons which include the importance of family relationships, acceptance, respect, and the significant effect that one person can have on the world. This film ranks at number 14 on my list of My Top 100 Favorite Films of All Time. The theme about everyone’s life having meaning, and how everyone has an impact on the world, is incredibly well executed and gives me a positive feeling. No matter how down I feel, it lifts my spirit to know that in some way, I’ve made the world a better place. This is also one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen with bizarre comedy that is just my kind of taste. The fantastic story and comedy is well executed thanks to the spectacular directing, acting, writing, and editing. 10/10.

Music Review

Shoegaze Music

By Michelle Stevenson

One of my many favorite genres of music is a style of alternative rock/indie called shoegaze. You may be asking yourself, what is shoegaze? Shoegaze is a style of music defined by its dreamy, ethereal, atmospheric sound. Artists achieve this sound through layered vocals, distorted guitars, thundering drums, reverb, drawn-out delays in sound, extra static noise, and many effects pedals. Shoegaze obtained its name due to the overwhelming number of pedals that led them to stare at their shoes as they played. This genre originated in the UK in the late ‘80s early ‘90s but has deep roots in ‘60s psychedelic rock. I enjoy listening to shoegaze music as I drive my car. I love the melodic elements that create a balance between intensity and beauty. I also find that songs of this genre have ear catching rifts/melodies that get stuck in my head. I also enjoy listening to it while I study or do homework.

Some of my favorite shoegaze bands are:

Drop Nineteens Slowdive My Bloody Valentine Autolux Cocteau Twins Starflyer 59 Lush Duster

Some songs that I recommend:

“Monterey” - Starflyer 59 “Kick the Tragedy” - Drop Nineteens “When You Sleep” - My Bloody Valentine “Chocolate And Mint” - Duster “Plantlife” - Autolux

Musical Theatre Review

By Lily Rainbolt

Into the Woods

This year, the PTHS Drama Club will be doing an undecided musical, and while searching for possible candidates I dove back into one of my favorite Broadway musicals: Into the Woods . Into the Woods is set in a fairytale land and the main characters include the Baker, the Baker’s Wife, and the Witch as well as some familiar fairytale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, Cinderella, and Rapunzel. The plot is centered on the wishes of each character, specifically the Baker and his wife’s wish to free themselves from the Witch’s curse so they can have a child. This wish leads them on a journey for “the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold,” which sets them on a path to collide with our beloved fairytale characters’ stories. The characters eventually get their wishes fulfilled, but it isn’t quite happily ever after yet. Disaster strikes the fairytale land and the characters must reunite and attempt to survive. This musical is surprisingly dark given it is based in a fairytale world, and most characters do not make it out unscathed. Into the Woods is composed by Stephen Sondheim who also may be recognized for his musicals Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Sunday in the Park with George as well as his work with lyrics in West Side Story . Into the Woods debuted on Broadway on November 5th, 1987, and closed recently in January of this year. The original cast notably included well-known actress Bernadette Peters as the Witch. If you are interested in watching this musical, it was recorded with the original cast in 1989 and can be streamed on Apple TV. Disney also made a movie version in 2014 with a celebrity cast including James Cordon, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, and Johnny Depp, which can be streamed on Disney Plus.

Editor-in-Chief: Vanessa Kapper The Chief Staff Jack Demopoulos Tyler Drechsel Brieaunna Duck Lily Fetgatter Megan Hensley Taylor Henson Kat Mercer Summer Negray Lily Raby Lilian Rainbolt Hannah Ricketts Lauren Russow Michelle Stevenson Jalene Woolford Julie Zavala

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Fun Fact of September! By: Lily Raby

Interesting to some: the first ever created newspaper was printed in September! The exact date was September 25, 1690. It's awesome to see how far newspapers have come in our history since then. Tune back in next month for more interesting facts!