The CHIEF September 2024

CHIEF PONTIAC TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL The

SEP, 2024

UPPERCLASS ACTS

NEW TEACHER INTERVIEW

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

Read an interview with one of PTHS’s newest staff members

New Teacher Interview with Mr. Valois By Hannah Ricketts

As we all settle into the new school year, it’s important that we get to know new faces in the crowd, which includes the new teachers! This month, I received the opportunity to interview our new Director of Bands at PTHS, Mr. Valois! Mr. Valois lived in a small suburb of Chicago called Villa Park and attended Willowbrook High School. In high school, he was very involved in both academics and extracurricular activities. He was, of course, involved in the music program, which included marching band, a competitive level jazz band, pit orchestra, choir, and Tri-M music honor society. A few of his many other extracurricular activities include speech team, student council, and various other honor societies. He realized his sophomore year of high school that he wanted to be a band director. Later he attended the University of Illinois and majored in music education. He was inspired by his high school band director to become a music teacher. He described the process of getting into U of I as "rigorous,” and he felt underprepared as a freshman. From that moment on, he studied and practiced to ensure he would never feel that way again. From private lessons that honed every aspect of his musicianship to time spent in classrooms working with young musicians, he was working to become the best band director possible. During his junior year of college, he became a part of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national service band fraternity, where they hosted events and did various service projects for bands across Illinois. His senior year, he student taught at Vernon Hills High School and Jackson Middle School, where he received great mentorship from the band directors there. Throughout his college career, he was a part of the famous Marching Illini. He enjoyed being a part of the marching band, and one of his favorite aspects was being able to meet people from different backgrounds. One fond memory from his time in the band was when they got to travel to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day to march in the parade and perform. When I asked him if he had any advice for students, he said this: “Take every opportunity that is presented to you. Time is always working against you, so don’t use it as an excuse not to do things.” With that parting message, let’s all give Mr. Valois a warm welcome to PTHS!

Starting the year off strong, Mr. Ritter's environmental class made a trip to the Kickapoo Prairie near Cayuga on August 28th. The purpose of the visit was to help spark ideas within the class of what we would like to do with the prairie, as many projects within the class involve the community and how we impact it. During the visit, Mr. Ritter showed us the interior of the building that is on the property and asked the class to brainstorm some ideas on how to utilize the space. Mr. Ritter then guided us through the tall grasses of the prairie, providing information on the plant species and their impact on the environment. Some of the plants that he pointed out were goldenrod, milkweed, coneflowers, and Queen Anne’s lace. Fun ensued, such as running through the grass, attempting to identify bird calls, Mr. Ritter pointing out mice in the building, and even sticking a burr on Levi Rients’ shirt. Overall, the trip was both fun and educational and I enjoyed learning more about the environment around me. Environmental Earth Science Class Update By Devin Skrzypiec

Football Update By Ben Melchers

The 2024 Varsity Pontiac football team started their season 0-3, losing to Bloomington Central Catholic, the Prairie Central Hawks, and the Rantoul Eagles. Even though the season isn’t turning out the way they wanted to start it, the team has been working hard since the end of February, whether they've been in the weight room over the off season or getting work in as teammates on their own time. Pontiac just played their recent game against the Rantoul Eagles, losing 21-15. The team had four key players that couldn’t participate in that game against the Eagles, including star receiver Amazin King and starting quarterback AJ Delong. Also on the injured list is Santi Piña who is an all-conference defensive end and starts right tackle, and Trenton Blackwell, another all-conference player who plays defensive tackle and starts left tackle. With all of those key players injured, the team could only go forward from there, and that means that backups have to step up. It was a lot of pressure for sophomore quarterback Joshua Hartke to play starting quarterback and try to lead Pontiac to a win against the Eagles. But Josh wasn’t scared of that opportunity because even though the game didn’t go the way he and his team wanted to, he stepped up as a sophomore and led the team to a very close loss. Overall, the team is going to keep working hard, and the coaching staff will keep on challenging the players to get better. The next game will be on September 20th against the Paxton-Buckley-Loda Panthers.

Unpopular Opinion: Does Pineapple Belong on Pizza? By Angelyn Lee

Pizza is one of the most popular foods worldwide, with endless options for toppings to suit your taste. However, one topping that has been a continuous debate over the years: pineapple. Does it or does it not belong on pizza? To help you decide, let’s look at both sides of the debate. When eating pineapple with pizza there is a unique combination of sweet and savory flavors to create the perfect pizza slice. The sweetness of the pineapple contrasts with the taste of the salty toppings such as the tomato sauce, ham, and cheese, which combines into a blend of spectacular flavors. Pineapple enhances flavor, adds a marvelous contrast to pizza, and goes well with the savory and/or spicy flavors of traditional pizza toppings. Other people might disagree with this argument. Pizza and pineapple do not go together due to its conflicting flavors, different textures, and basic pizza making rules. Traditional pizza toppings complement each other; however, pineapple disrupts the balance of flavors creating a dish not enjoyable for many. The moisture from pineapple can seep into the crust making it soggy and less appealing. The question of whether pineapple belongs on pizza or not is all based on preference. While some enjoy the unique twist it brings, others may not.

Sophomore Class Officers 24-25 By Casey Taylor

The votes are in, and PTHS is ready to announce the 2024-2025 sophomore class officers! Four students have been voted in to be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These students will be in charge of mainly Homecoming festivities such as decorating the class float for the Homecoming parade and decorating the sophomore class hallway.

These votes were a close draw, but the officers were officially announced on September 6th: President:Liliana Joyner Vice President: Nevaeh Vogt

Treasurer: Casey Taylor Secretary: Taylor Henson

Taking the leading role of president, Lilliana Joyner is known for her positive attitude and great leadership skills. Lilly will do an outstanding job at being the class president. Vice President Nevaeh Vogt is another great addition to the team because she is very involved with many sports/extracurricular activities and is always willing to help anyone who needs it. Secretary Taylor Henson will do an amazing job at keeping tasks organized and paying attention. She is also very involved with many sports and extracurricular activities. Being an officer myself, I can assure that these three excellent students and I will do a wonderful job at all appointed tasks.

Band Update By Nevaeh Lee

If you attended our first home football game and sat in the student section, you might have seen some new faces. The Pontiac Marching Indians are a new addition to the stands, bringing a brighter atmosphere and smoother connection between the band and the rest of the student body. However, we aren’t just at football games; since July 29th the marching band has been preparing to compete with this year's show entitled “Eclipse: A Celestial Symphony.” When writing the show, they were looking for a spacey, atmospheric vibe written into the music, score, and drill itself. The show begins with a remix of the revolutionary three note interval everyone associates with space. The second movement uses pieces from Gustav Holst’s The Planets, such as “Mars” and “Jupiter. ”Holst was revolutionary in the fact that he wrote in a time where little was known about space, and still managed to encompass space through music. Our whole show tips a hat to those that came before us, while the added flare makes space for the future of music. The second movement continues to evoke emotion from the audience through several section features, including a brass feature with double tonguing to symbolize velocity and rapidness. The whole show moves back and forth between serenity and intensity. Circling back to the title of the show, the eclipse affects the shapes the band makes, how the guard moves, and how the music is played. Throughout the performance, the band makes figures of the moon throughout the various phases of an eclipse. Meanwhile, the guard moves glamorously through a “display of effortless technique.” The two soloists, Maddie Grampp and Sherry Bray create flow, and the voiceovers paint the picture for the viewers. “Eclipse: A Celestial Symphony” is a journey from a feeling of space where we don’t know where we are going, to a sense of emergence and vibrancy towards the end. The best part about this specific show is that it features a lot of great literature from the band/orchestra realm and combines the brilliance of many composers. The show creates an ecstatic feel both for the audience and those marching. Mr. Valois also has words to say about the band: “This is an amazing class and group to work with. As a first year teacher I am very lucky to have them as my first class. All of their positivity, respect, and hard work makes my job exciting, easy, and makes me grateful that this is what I get to wake up and do every day. I am very pleased with the sounds we are making and the marching, and I only expect it to get better as the years progress.” The band competed September 7th in Washington, IL, and won first place in their division. If you want to see them in action, the Marching Band will be competing at Eastern Illinois University on October 12th and at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on October 26th.

Upperclass Acts

Lilian Rainbolt

NAME: Lilian Rainbolt

FAVORITE CLASS: Concert Choir

NICKNAMES: Lily, Rainbolt, Lilith, Lil, Rily Lainbolt

FAVORITE AUTHOR/BOOK: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

ROLE MODEL: Emma Watson

MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: When I answered a Scholastic Bowl question after only six words.

ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: NHS, Tri-M, Senior Class Treasurer, Madrigals Singers, Editor of The Chief, Varsity Scholastic Bowl, Drama Club, Student Council, Spanish Club, Plant Club

PET PEEVES: Biting/picking at nails

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: When asked, my best friend told me he would remember my “tolerance and wisdom.”

FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Madrigals Tour of Schools

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Music, mythology, literature

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? Buy a big house with a nice library

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Major in psychology and eventually become a forensic psychologist.

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? A boat, fuel, and food LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Enjoy the time you have now, but also plan ahead for the future. Seriously, time flies.”

FAVORITE MOVIE: Anastasia

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Almost There” from The Princess and the Frog

Upperclass Acts

Ethan Bray

NAME: Ethan Bray

FAVORITE BOOK SERIES: Pete the Cat by Kimberly and James Dean

ROLE MODEL: Ms. Fox

ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Unified Sports, Unified Peers, Special Olympics

MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Spending time with classmates.

FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Special Olympics Track & Field

PET PEEVES: Being told “No.”

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: My kind personality.

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Disney, Plays, and Dogs (Molly)

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? Go to Disney with my whole family.

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: To meet new people.

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? Sherry, Molly (my dog), and parents

FAVORITE MOVIE: The Lion King

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: The Lion King Soundtrack

LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Always be Kind and GO CARDINALS!”

FAVORITE TEACHER/CLASS: Ms. Fox

Upperclass Acts

Michelle Stevenson FAVORITE AUTHOR/BOOK: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Winning 1st in our class at Washington’s Marching Band Competition this year.

NAME: Michelle Stevenson

NICKNAMES: Mich (Meesh)

ROLE MODEL(S): My older sisters Rachael and Anna

ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Tennis, Scholastic Bowl, Band, Math Team, Spanish Club, Grower’s Group, Musical/Play, Madrigals FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Watching the home football games after getting done with Marching Band.

PET PEEVES: Bad drivers and people who can't bother to look up from their phones occasionally.

WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER: I love to talk and always have an opinion on everything.

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Band, crafting, school

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? The absolute first thing I would do is go out and buy a fancy dinner. Then I would pay off any debts, buy a new car, then put the rest in savings. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? A tent, a knife, and matches.

PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Major in biochemistry with hopes of becoming a physician who specializes in emergency medicine.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Slumdog Millionaire or Interstellar

MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Dead To Me” by Kali Uchis

LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “It’s not that serious! Have fun and enjoy life.”

FAVORITE TEACHER/CLASS: Mr. Blair’s Speech class

Homecoming 2024: Starry Night By Taylor Henson

This year at Pontiac Township High School, Homecoming was held October 5th between the nightly hours of 8:00 to 10:00pm. The theme, decided on by the students, was Starry Night inspired by Van Gough’s famous painting. While the Homecoming dance is a very fun and amazing dance to attend, it’s not the only event to look forward to. Homecoming week is held between September 30th to October 5th and I would say is one of the best weeks of the entire school year! Some Homecoming activities include spirit days, hallway decorating the Friday before Homecoming week starts, Buff Puff, which includes girls’ flag-football and boys’ volleyball games September 30th, home football and volleyball games, the pep-rally and parade, and float building taking place October 2nd! In general, I personally love this week of school because of the many activities, school spirit, and the exuberant energy that this week has to offer! We’ll have more information on this year’s Homecoming events in next month’s issue of The CHIEF !

Fun Fact of the Month By Alexis Legner

The planet we live on is forever rotating around the sun in a place called outer space. Space is an expansive place that exists just outside our very own atmosphere. Every day, scientists are exploring more and more into the regions beyond Earth. They have learned numerous new concepts about the different ways our solar system, and the places around it, work. Let’s talk about some of the fun facts researchers have discovered.

If we filled the Sun with marbles the size of Earth, we would have to put ONE MILLION of them in there to fill it up. The Sun is the biggest object in our solar system, and takes up most of the area around it.

If you and your friend went into outer space together, you couldn’t even hear each other talk! No air is in space, which means no sound waves either. Astronauts have to communicate with each other using radio waves.

Flying on a plane to Pluto would take 800 years! Though Pluto is not technically a planet, it is still part of our solar system. At the farthest, Pluto is 4.67 billion miles away, and at its closest, 2.66 billion miles away.

The largest mountain known to mankind exists on an asteroid named Vesta. The mountain is 79,178.5 feet tall, making it more than 3 times the height of Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth.

World Wonders By Myley Remkus

To begin, Vienna, the capital of Austria, is rich with culture, life, and beautiful sights to observe, but one would not be able to grasp the beauty of this city without understanding the history first. Throughout the 11th century, Vienna was known as Vindobona and was a Roman Settlement. The city proved to be an adequate trading center and was developed into a Medieval and Baroque location. By Baroque, I am referring to the western style that applied to dancing, painting, architecture, and several other forms of art. This style of art is very prominent in the Age of Enlightenment, and has been described as dramatic and irregular. As the 16th century approached, Vienna was leading the European music center and hosting great names in the growth of music until the 20th century. Many well-known musicians, like Beethoven, Mozart, and Brahms grew their fame and resided in Vienna. Along with fascinating history, Vienna has much to offer in attractions and activities. If you enjoy sightseeing, along with expanding your knowledge of Vienna’s history, Mozart’s Apartment and the Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM) would prove to be very enjoyable! Mozart’s Apartment has been preserved into a historical sight that includes a glimpse into what his life contained. Along with Mozart’s Apartment, the KHM can be described as a fascinating sight. It contains objects from Ancient Egypt to the late 18th century. Many people are intrigued by The Picture Gallery, which contains pieces by Dürer, Titian, Rubens, and many more great masters of the arts! If you enjoy taking in the beauty of nature, Vienna has a lovely Rose Garden! The Volksgarten Rose Garden is a free activity that is filled with blooming flowers, benches to provide a respite, and rippling fountains that produce a calming noise. Lastly, a list of Vienna’s activities would not be complete without mentioning places of music! The Musikverein has been labeled as the best place for classical music in Vienna, and it definitely lives up to its title. This music hall offers a traditional Vienna experience with top stars as regular performers. If you are looking for a modern take on music, Rhiz offers concerts that appeal to the electronic scene. With a brick interior and soft lightning, this venue seems to be the perfect place to wind down and potentially discover new music and artists! To end, gaining knowledge on Vienna’s history adds so much life to the beautiful city, and the many ventures that are offered are ones to hope and aspire to partake in. As Billy Joel would say, Vienna waits for you!

The Kunsthistorisches Museum

Movie Review

Spirited Away Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

By Tyler Drechsel

Animation’s one very special genre of film. Animation takes away all of the boundaries that creators may usually encounter when trying to express their characters or story. Executed correctly, the emotion that it delivers will be stronger than any emotion delivered by any other type of movie. Imagination and the emotions that can be delivered are what make animation so incredible and is what brings us to the 2001 classic, Spirited Away, which is perhaps the greatest animated film of all time. The film has a lot of strong aspects including world building that put you directly into the shoes of the main character, Chihiro. Viewers learn new things about the fantastical world she’s in as she bears witness to the weird creatures around the world, as well as learn how this weird and mystical world operates. Spirited Away takes many themes such as a young child dealing with a new place or the greed of humans. Every single frame of this film’s drawn by hand, and painted, and it really brings it to life. The designs of the creatures are unique, and the entire world’s animated beautifully from the flowers to the animals to some of the spirits that inhabit the world.

The feeling and environment that this film provides is unlike any other film ever made, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who hasn’t seen it. 10/10

Student Poetry By Emmalee Hammer

Recipe of the Month

Editor-in-Chief: Lilian Rainbolt The Chief Staff Tyler Drechsel Brieaunna Duck Emmaleee Hammer

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

Taylor Henson Mady Herkert

Madyson Howard Abe Jean Jacques

Angelyn Lee Nevaeh Lee Alexis Legner Ben Melchers Lily Raby

Myley Remkus Hannah Ricketts Devin Skrzypiec Michelle Stevenson Casey Taylor

Mr. Blair, Faculty Sponsor Dr. Soares, Faculty Sponsor