Category: Announcements

Slugger Trip on Seventh Grade Agenda Tuesday

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On Tuesday, May 10, many seventh graders will travel to the Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. 

This is the second trip for junior high students in two weeks with the first coming on May 2 for eighth graders to Spring Mill. 

The Spring Mill field trip was planned by social studies teacher Aaron Reckelhoff. On the trip the students visited the pioneer village, a nature program, the Grissom Memorial, and took a hike. 

“I hope the field trip gave students a chance to learn some valuable content in a different and fun way,” said Reckelhoff.

The Slugger Museum field trip was planned by seventh grade math teacher Kyle Chase. Students must meet the school requirements to attend the trip. Students will see and experience many interactive experiences there and teachers will incorporate their subject area into lessons before, during, and after the field trip. They will also be walking from Indiana to Kentucky by walking across the Big Four Bridge. 

“My hopes are that students see that what they are learning in school actually applies to the real world! I hope for it to be a fun-filled day in a big city,” said Chase.

Story by Lola Beavers

Unified Champions Event Returns Tuesday

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On Tuesday, May 10, the annual Unified Champions day will come into full swing for students competing or volunteering. Students from Paoli, Salem, West Washington, Springs Valley, East Washington, and Crawford County High School will all be involved with Unified Champions Day. Unified Champion Field Day is an inclusive physical education and gross motor education program designed to bring students with and without disabilities together to learn the skills and knowledge needed to participate successfully in inclusive sports and fitness programs in their schools and communities.

“Unified Champions field day in my opinion is the best day of the year.  It brings together special education students and non special education students in an inclusive manner where all can participate in athletic events without judgment. It is a rewarding experience for all involved whether the students are competing or volunteering,” said Heather Gerlach, Unified Champions Coordinator.

Gerlach will be running the field events for the students who are in Kindergarten-2nd Grade and making sure the entire day runs smoothly ensuring everyone has a fun and rewarding time. Tyler Kumpf, Physical Education teacher at Throop Elementary, will run the track events for students 3rd Grade-12th Grade. Kumpf will also be helping with organizing the track events which are the 25 and 50 meter relay races. 

“For someone like myself who has a passion for health, fitness, and sports, it’s a great way to see students with disabilities compete in an athletic event. We often forget how precious life is. Unified Champions is a great reminder that while some students have disabilities, they can still cross the finish line by themselves or with a little help from a peer,” said Kumpf.

Each special education student participating has a non disabled peer who will be participating in the events as well. The high school students will be helping to run the field events, running events, tug-o-war, and long jump. The South Central Area Special Ed co-op staff will also be in attendance helping to run field events and the concession stands. Superintendents from area school corporations, Paoli, Salem, West Washington, East Washington, Crawford County, and Springs Valley will be cooking lunch for the athletes participating in the event as well.  

Story by Corinne Magner

Morp Returns May 6

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The annual junior high Morp is coming up on Friday, May 6, from 7-10 p.m. Morp is a dance for the seventh and eighth graders to celebrate the end of the year. The event is held each year in the cafeteria. Morp is sponsored by the Junior High Student Council.

“I can’t wait to see how our decorations will look,” said Junior High Student Council Sponsor Tammy Noble. This is Noble’s 18th Morp event.

This year’s event theme is Hollywood. Decorations will include balloons, mock awards and lots of red, black and gold. 

The Student Council is led by two presidents, eighth graders Jaxton Deaton and Kylie Flannery. 

“(Noble) had us write down our ideas for themes and we voted on the top three choices,” said Flannery.

One of the students involved in planning the decorations is eighth grade Student Council Member Madi Collier.

“Well, the main design is pretty simple. Red, gold and black balloons. We have little stars and a red carpet too. Right now our main concern is the big Hollywood sign we’re putting together,” said Collier.

Decorating will be done the day of Morp but some work has already begun.

Tickets will be available for purchase two weeks before the dance. This year, the Morp tickets are $8 per student.

Story by Libby Newkirk

Rams earn big wins; Race Dogs and Senators Tonight

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On Thursday, April 21, the track team faced off against the Shoals Jug Rocks and the Loogootee Lions. The girls won with 108 to the Loogootee score of 16 and the Shoals team score of 16. The first place finishers were: freshman Jericho Hopper in shotput and discus, sophomore Carley Higgins in the 400 meter, 800 meter, and long jump, junior Kyrsten Fehribach in the 100 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles, and high jump, senior Julie Radcliff in the 100 meter and 200 meter, junior Cailyn Baechle in the 1600 meter. 

Hopper had a few things to say about her all around first place finishes. 

“I felt relief, achievement, confidence, and success. I have been practicing throwing so much at practice trying to improve every day and place in every meet. Just because I took first in all three events, doesn’t mean it’s over. I am just getting started, there is more to practice and way more to improve on. Hopefully this is only the beginning!” said Hopper.

The first place finishers in the girls relay teams were in the 3200 meter relay team of sophomore Stella Windhorst, sophomore Eliza Ross, junior Lara Brace, and Hopper, the 400 meter relay team of senior Gracie Walls, sophomore Anna Radcliff, Julie Radcliff, Fehribach, and the 1600 meter relay team of Higgins, Baechle, Anna Radcliff, Gracie Walls.

Baechle set a new personal record for herself, which to her was a big accomplishment.

“I felt really great about my performance. I pushed myself harder to keep up with the boys pace since the girls and boys ran together and got a personal record for myself. First place is great but a PR topped it,” said Cailyn Baechle.

The boys came out with a win with a score of 110 to the Shoals team score of 39 and the Loogootee score of 2.

The first place finishers for the boys were senior Gus Radcliff in the high jump, senior Samson Johnson in the long jump, junior Marty Higgins in the Shotput and Discus, junior Connor Evans in the 100 meter and 400 meter dash, junior Austin Benales in the 110 meter and 300 meter hurdles.

Benales spoke on his many first place finishes.

“I feel pretty solid about my performance, I did my usual hurdles and took both the dubs easy. On top of those two, I did the 4×1 also getting an easy victory and tried out long jump for the first time ever and jumped a 19’1 which I am told to feel confident about,” said Benales.

The first places finishers for the boys in the relay races were the 3200 meter team of sophomore McKinley Stewart, junior Braven Cook, junior Dawson Poe, and sophomore Cameron Apple, the 400 meter team of Benales, sophomore Andrew Kumpf, freshman Dashawn Robertson, and freshman William Baker, and the 1600 meter team of sophomore Willson Windhorst, Johnson, Baker, and Kumpf.

The Rams face off against the Orleans Bulldogs and West Washington Senators at Orleans tonight starting at 5 p.m.

Story by Jeremiah Hutcheson

Museum Event Returns Sunday in the 1970s

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Chris Lindley, U.S. History and Government teacher, will be holding his annual “Night at the Museum” showing on Sunday, May 1, in the PHS cafeteria and will be open for public viewing, 3:30-5 p.m. 

“Each year the students in my class produce a three-dimensional exhibit as their final project in U.S. History and display it for the public to view,” said Lindley. 

This year’s theme is “The 1970s: Decade of Crisis and Challenges” and will include 24 projects, spanning from disco and fashion, Watergate, technological advances and NASA’s space probes and the Iran Hostage Crisis. 

The show is judged by a panel of community leaders and teachers. The Orange County Historical Society is funding the “Best of Show” award, and the DAR is sponsoring the prize for runner-up. Third place will receive an award from the PHS Incentive Fund. There is also a “People’s Choice Award” which is chosen by attendees of the show who select their top three favorite projects. The awards will be announced at the end of the show. It is free to the public. 

“For those who remember the 70s, this will truly be a trip down memory lane,” said Lindley. 

Story by Makiya Russelburg