May 2014 - Pontiac Township High School

PONTIAC TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL
The Chief Online
Goodbye from the President of the
Student Body
Dear Students and Staff of PTHS,
Thank you all for a great final year of high school! Thank you teachers for
creating a learning environment that pushed the students to new limits. Thank you staff
for making a clean, safe environment that enabled everyone to further their education.
Students, thank you for your involvement that allowed this year to be such a success.
To the juniors, good luck next year! You are almost done, but the fun and work is
not complete yet. This year was a great collaboration with all of you. Thank you for
making the junior/senior classes memorable. Making cardboards boats was a great
memory. I encourage you to join with the class of 2016 to lead the school next year.
Also, make the most of next year. Enjoy moments that can only be made in high school.
Go to all the games and create the best fan section ever! Good luck!
To the sophomores, you will now be entering the world of responsibilities as
upperclassmen. Take this time to discover what you enjoy and what you want to do in
life. Take advantage of all the opportunities PTHS has given to you. Also, don’t leave
with any regrets. It isn’t too late to join that club or sport. Go be a part of the Pontiac
Indian legacy.
To the freshman, you made it one year, and it probably went by pretty quickly.
However, the next three years only go by faster. You have had a taste of the life of a
high school student. As much as I hope it went well, I also hope you learned lessons that
can help you through the rest of your high school career. I challenge you to do better
next year at everything you did this year!
This year was a great year and I encourage all of you to make next year’s better.
Take the incoming freshmen under your wing to create the most positive atmosphere
PTHS has to offer. On behalf of the class of 2014, thank you for an awesome high
school experience! It has been a privilege and pleasure to lead 2013-2014 school year.
Sincerely, Madeline Dohleman
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATING
CLASS OF 2014!
SINCERELY, THE STAFF OF THE CHIEF
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May 2014
Inside this Issue:
Music Awards
2
FFA
3
Upperclass
Inside
thisActs
issue: 4
Student Poetry
5
Movie Review
6
Prom
7
Ask Trippy
8
Student Art
9
P2D2
10
PTHS
Baccalaureate
will be held on
May 18th at
6:00 PM at
Pontiac Bible
Church. Chorus
and the Band will
be performing.
PTHS on Social
Media
Check out PTHS on
Facebook and Twitter
using the icons at the top
of our page or click HERE.
PTHS MUSIC STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AT
ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
Cassidy Murphy,
scholarship winner,
and Elizabeth Yago,
Women’s Club
member
Outstanding Class Musicians (L-R)
Front Row: Aubrey Gill - Freshman Chorus; Noah White – Sophomore Band; Chloe
Mayback – Junior Band; Olivia Welshans – Freshman Chorus; Andrea Mehrkens –
Freshman Band
Back Row – Baylee Ritter – Junior Chorus; Cody Hatzer – Junior Chorus; Austin
Bristow – Senior Chorus; Nick Smith – Senior Band; Courtney Amm – Senior Band
& Chorus; Brandi Mueller – Sophomore Band; Eric Zega – Freshman Band
The 48th annual Music Awards Banquet was held at Pontiac High School on Tuesday,
May 6th in the auditorium, sponsored by the PTHS Music Boosters. Dinner was served
by Peg Meier and the PTHS Cafeteria staff. Outstanding musicians and seniors were
honored and recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Music Department.
PTHS Music Boosters President, Candice Vilt, welcomed the guests and recognized
outstanding contributions made by senior parents and community volunteers. Mrs. Vilt
also presented summer camp scholarships to students on behalf of the Music Boosters.
The Pontiac Women's Club also presented a scholarship to junior Cassidy Murphy for
her participation in the Eastern Illinois University Music Camp this coming summer. Club
member, Elizabeth Yago, presented the award.
Retired Flanagan music teacher, Jerry Keck, spoke to the audience, congratulating the
students on an outstanding year, and encouraging them to continue their musical
endeavors and celebrate their unique talents. The audience gave a roaring ovation for
Mr. Keck’s remarks.
PTHS Music Department chair, Keith Schmink, congratulated the audience of students,
family and friends on a year of many fine performances and outstanding support. Student
musicians were then recognized for their years of contribution to the music department
by chorus director Joseph Durbin and band directors Keith Schmink and Scot Schickel.
Click HERE for the Music Dept. website
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Music Booster Camp
Scholarship
Awards (L-R):
Maddie Grundler,
Brandi Mueller,
Molly Kipfer,
Grace Lyons
John Phillip Sousa
Award:
Kennedy Vilt
National Choral
Award:
Josh Anderson
Look for the print
version of
The Chief in
The Pontiac Daily
Leader
AP English Tackles
FFA in May
The Address
Documentarian Ken Burns has
collaborated with PBS on another great
program called The Address, about the
Gettysburg Address. In tandem with
the documentary, they have set up a
website to encourage all of us to learn
"The Address." PTHS AP English
students took the challenge and
submitted a video to the project.
It can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.learntheaddress.org/videos/
date/#z8s0Z3Ri79g
Capital Forum
By Jordan Johns
During the month of April, Pontiac FFA members were busy once again.
Pontiac hosted the Section 9 Livestock and Dairy Judging contests on Friday,
April 11. Our Livestock Judging Team placed first in the section contest, with
team members Anna Landstrom and Victor Johns receiving top ten
recognition. Pontiac FFA members and guests enjoyed our annual banquet
on Saturday, April 12. Members who earned their Greenhand, Chapter, and
State Degrees were recognized. We recapped our entire year, from career
development events to community development activities, conferences, and
conventions. The Ag Peers met on the morning of Wednesday, April 16
during third hour. Livingston County Ag Literacy Coordinator Mrs. Debbie
Ruff gave an enviroscape presentation, and students learned about the
importance of natural resources.
On the evening of April 16, Pontiac FFA members attended the Section 9
Whacky Wednesday, which was held at Prairie Central High School. Our Ag
Mechanics Team, Greenhand Quiz Bowl Team, and Ag Business Team
competed. From 10pm April 17-5:00am April 18, over 100 Pontiac FFA
members and PTHS students attended our annual lock-in at the Rec Center.
Students had the opportunity to swim, play basketball and volleyball, race in
an inflatable obstacle course, take pictures in a photo booth, take drum
lessons, learn taekwondo, and sing karaoke. On Monday, April 21, eight
seniors, Mr. Bane, and Mr. Faber took an early morning trip up to Chicago to
tour the Board of Trade and the Federal Reserve Museum. The seniors got
to learn about contracts and the items traded on the CME. Students at
Washington Elementary completed Earth Day Ag in the Classroom activities
on Thursday, April 24. We ended the month with our April chapter meeting
on Wednesday, April 30.
By Cassidy Murphy
Have you wanted to feel like you could
make a change? Or that you could
make a decision that impacts the whole
th
world? On Thursday, April 10 , several
students represented PTHS at Capitol
Forum at ISU. The students worked
with ISU students and teachers on
ways that they could help improve
foreign policy in the U.S. to help protect
human rights throughout the world. We
also were able to hear presentations
on other world problems. It was a very
eye-opening and exciting experience!
Pontiac FFA would like to thank the area grade schools, preschools, and
community members who came out to see everything that our Ag
Extravaganza had to offer on Friday, May 2. Although it was a little chilly, we
had approximately 1,000 children go through our petting zoo, sit inside a
combine and tractor, and complete Ag in the Classroom activities with our
students. Although April was a busy month, we aren’t finished with all of our
activities yet! Our Livestock Judging Team is awaiting the state contest
results, and our Vet Science Team is practicing for the upcoming state
contest. The officer election for the 2014-2015 school year is fast
approaching, and the team will be announced at our May meeting. The
officer team will be taking their retreat in early June, and State Convention
will be June 10-12 in Springfield! Our state degree recipients, Ag
Communications Team, and Kadi Wells will be recognized.
FFA information can be found HERE
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Upperclass Acts
3 Major Areas of Interest: Spending time with friends, movies, shopping
Plans after High School: Attend Illinois Wesleyan and major in Biology
Favorite Movie: Titanic
Most Inspirational Song: "Roar" by Katy Perry
Favorite Teacher/Class: Mr. Nollen and Anatomy & Physiology
Favorite Author/Book: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Most Positive Moment: Being the MVP two times in volleyball,
getting my personal best in the mile in track
Pet Peeves: People who are always late, rude people
What my friends will remember about me:
My red hair, sense of humor, and intelligence
Alex Brown
Nicknames: Al, Ginger, Red
How would you spend $1,000,000: Buy a house on the beach
Role Model: My mom
If You Were Stranded on a Desert Island, What 3 Items
Would You Want With You? Sunscreen, books, and food
Activities @ PTHS: Volleyball, Track, Key Club,
Student Council, C.A.P.T.A.I.N.S., National Honor
Society
Last Words of Advice: “Be involved and make the most out of
your four years, they go by fast.”
Fondest Memory of High School: All the dances
Zac Dunham
Nicknames: Ham or Hammy
Role Model: Dad
Activities @ PTHS: FFA and
CAPTAINS
Fondest Memory of High School So
Far: When the FFA got the National
Model of Excellence making us Top
Chapter in the Nation!
Favorite Author/Book: To Kill
a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Most Positive Moment:
Taking a younger FFA member
under my wing this year and
showing him how to do things,
including how to be a leader.
Pet Peeves: When people
accuse you of something you
didn’t do and not putting a new
roll of toilet paper on the roll
when you finish one.
3 Major Areas of Interest: Agriculture, What My Friends Will
Business, History
Remember About Me:
A typical farm boy who is
Plans After High School: JJC to get
friendly and someone who will
Gen Ed.’s, then go from there.
drop anything to help you out.
Favorite Movie: The Longest Yard
Most Inspirational Song:
“Amarillo Sky” by Jason Aldean
How Would You Spend
$1,000,000?
I would buy some farm land and
donate to cancer research.
Favorite Teacher/Class:
Mr. Bane/Natural Resources
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If You Were Stranded on a Desert island,
What 3 items would You Want With You?
Knife, toilet paper, and water
Last Words of Advice: “Take math your senior
year or if you don’t it will come back to haunt
you when you go for placement testing in
college.”
Student Poetry Showcase
Celeste Brown
Members of The Chief Staff Recongnized for Journalism
Amy Wyant and Jordan Johns (with teammates Kaitlyn McKee and Rachel Lauritsen) were graphic designers on
Pontiac’s Ag Communications Team. The team wrote a 25-page media plan with objectives and a budget for the Pontiac
FFA Adopt-A-Family Program. The Team will compete next fall at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY.
Several students went to Washington Community High School to compete in Journalism and two students advanced
to the state finals on Friday. Editor of The Chief, competed Aubrie Taylor in photography, along with Liz Meiner in
yearbook copy writing. The state finals took place at Eastern Illinois University.
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Book Review: The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez with Jenna Glatzer
Review by Dena Boatman
Ever since she was young, people were always saying that Gaby was
going to be a teen mom. Her sister and her mother were, so why
wouldn’t she? In her senior year of high school she decided to see what
would happen if she lived up to peoples’ expectations of her. She
decides to fake a pregnancy with only her parents and boyfriend
knowing the truth.
As soon as she starts this experiment, Gaby gets treated differently.
Girls go up to her saying that they can see her baby bump and how
much weight she’s gained. Teachers start treating her with less respect.
Even her friends turn their backs on her. Gaby realizes that being
pregnant can be very difficult for a teenage girl.
The Pregnancy Project shows the hardships that pregnant teens have
to go through. Throughout her experiment, Gaby received so much
ridicule. Nobody deserves the treatment that she was getting from the
people she thought were her friends. This book shows the way you
shouldn’t treat people.
Movie Review: Short Term 12
By Brett Dunlap
I had the opportunity to attend Ebertfest, the film festival held
in film critic Roger Ebert’s honor, on the University of Illinois
campus last month. Ebertfest, or Roger Ebert’s Overlooked
Film Festival, celebrated its sixteenth year this past April.
rd
th
From April 23 – 27 , there was nothing going on at the
Virginia Theatre in Champaign except movies, movies,
movies. And they were all awesome.
I saw eight movies at Ebertfest, but the best one I got to see
was, without a doubt, Short Term 12.
Short Term 12 is the name of the group home for at-risk teens
and is also the setting of the movie. A handful of adults
supervise the home, but the real leader is Grace. If you think
Grace looks familiar, she is. You probably recognize the
actress, Brie Larson, from such movies as Don Jon, The
Spectacular Now, and especially 21 Jump Street. Here’s
some advice: get to know Brie Larson. She lays down one of
the best acting jobs from 2013 in this movie. You won’t be
able to take your eyes off her as she grudgingly reveals her
past while desperately trying to do the same for the kids she
cares for. Bar none, the entire movie is heartwarming and
real. It’s magic from start to finish.
Click HERE for the official website and trailer
Courtesy of Cinedigm
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Prom 2014
Student Survey
By Jessica Ping
All the upperclassmen are pumped for this coming Saturday. The big day
has finally arrived! The girls will spend hours preparing and the guys will
spend all their money trying to impress them. Prom is one of the most
anticipated days of the year for most high school juniors and seniors. The
theme for this year is “On the Red Carpet” and will be held at the Elks
Lodge at 8:00 P.M. The tickets are still selling for $25 each and must be
purchased with a student ID. Everyone attending be sure to bring your ID
with you, be safe, and have a great night!
What are your plans for
summer?
Boating – Jake Curry
Going to Florida for vacation –
Emily Heidenreich
T Ring concert – Josh Kridner
Make a swag calendar – Mike Doran
Students Pay it Forward
Football – Casey Prewitt
Going to Tennessee – Heather
Wilkerson
Basic training for the Army – Scotty
Lamb
Muddin’ – Ryan Railey
Going to South Carolina – Katelyn
McKee
Riding my unicycle – TJ Billings
Being lazy – Abigail Swartz
Be a lifeguard in Odell – Luke Spafford
Students were challenged this month with a way to “pay it forward.” They
could do some sort of community service or raise money in order to donate
it to a charity of their choice. Above, Sam Gleason, Rachel Sypult, Owen
Putnum, and Maddie Kennedy had a bake sale in front of Lydia’s Cup on
nd
May 2 . They raised 190.01 and donated it to Heifer International. Below,
Hannah Tronc, Colin Lakadat, and Jade carter made blankets for an
orphanage in Guatemala. Congratulations, students, on your initiative!
Maybe a spontaneous vacation –
Sarah Saucedo
Nothing! – Brittney Mayotte
Operation Endangered Species - The
Alligator Snapping Turtle Project
State Farm Advisory Board
Click HERE for the Live Turtle Cam!
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Ask Trippy
Art Students Paint Murals
Dear Trippy,
My friend and I used a Ouija board
last week and now I’m terrified that
something weird will kill me in the
middle of the night. I haven’t slept
well since we used the board. What if
we summoned a murderous spirit? I
don’t know what to do. I don’t ever
want to use a Ouija board again!
What should I do?
Sincerely, Petrified
Dear Petrified,
I don’t think there’s anything to worry
about. If nothing has happened yet
then I think you’re fine. Did you
remember to close the board? As long
as you told it goodbye, then I don’t
think you need to worry about any
spirits lingering. Just take a deep
breath and keep calm. Try to think of
other things and don’t panic. Next
time you use a Ouija board, keep
calm and take it seriously. You’ll be
fine.
Above: Chloe Mayback, Art student, poses with mural. Below:
Names of artists
Yours always, Trippy
Have a question for Trippy? Send
it HERE
The Chief Staff
Aubrie Taylor, Editor-in-Chief
Austin Bristow
Dena Boatman
Brett Dunlap
Matt Ferguson
Jordan Johns
Chloe Mayback
Cassidy Murphy
Jessica Ping
Emma Rich
Baylee Ritter
Adam Shelton
Jordan Triplett
Mr. Soares, Faculty Sponsor
NETBOOK CHECK-IN DURING
FINALS MAY 29, 30, JUNE 2
Netbook check-in will be held from 7:30am to 3:00 pm on Thursday,
May 29, Friday, May 30, and Monday, June 2. Students will bring
their netbooks to the Technology Help Desk, Room 109a. Please turn
in your netbook as soon as you are done with it to avoid long lines.
All files and programs on the netbook will be deleted, please save
important files to your H drive. Seniors must turn in netbooks as soon
as they are done, starting May 21. Click the title for more information,
including a FAQ and costs for missing items.
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PTHS Student Art:
Music Review:
BBNG III
Art 3 Masks
By Matt Ferguson
BADBADNOTGOOD is a group BASED out of
Toronto, Ontario. At face value, this band may only
seem like a simple jazz group, but there are many
layers to their music. The trio met in their college
jazz program and shared similar interests in hip-hop.
The group began to experiment by creating
electronic/jazz covers of some of their favorite songs
by artists like MF DOOM, Odd Future, and A Tribe
Called Quest. Officially three albums in, BBNG has
proven to show that they can create an eerie
atmosphere and even thematic instrumentals. They
have a distinct sound and have revived the jazz
genre into something far more modern than the
original could ever be.
By Kaliyah Coffee
On III, they focus more on jazz than hip-hop.
Several of the songs do come off a tad redundant
and underwhelming, like on the track “Differently,
Still” where the beat does start off slow and
emotional but never really progresses to anything
beyond that. Beyond some of the repetitions, III is a
very focused effort that does ear appealing sounds.
The use of synths and bass on tracks like “Since
You Asked Kindly,” “Can’t Leave The Night,” and
“CS60” slide throughout like silk, catching the ear
and never letting go. Not to mention the sevenminute epic Kaleidoscope” that has some serious
progression and a large range of instruments, easily
being one of the best on the album. This track
follows another favorite of mine, “Confessions,”
which has a smooth feature with frequent
collaborator Leland Whitty.
By Meghan Heller
Operation Graduation
The Essentials: “Kaleidoscope,” “CS60,”
“Confessions”
Friday, May 23 11:30 PM -5:00 AM
Pontiac Rec Center
Senior admission Free, Guests $5
Pool open 3:00-4:00
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Do You Have Unwanted or
Unused Medications?
Come to the P2D2 Take Back Day!
When: May 24th
Time: 9 A.M. – 1 P.M.
Where: Fire Station
Drive through or stop by for
a while to enjoy the…
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