#1StudentNWI: Celebrating the Holiday Spirit at Valpo High School

#1StudentNWI: Celebrating the Holiday Spirit at Valpo High School

SENIORS SHOW HOLIDAY SPIRIT
During the holidays, students who walk through the upstairs senior hallways find themselves in a winter wonderland. Every year, the seniors decorate their lockers and walls around them by wrapping their lockers with Christmas wrapping paper or by stringing lights on the ceilings.This helps everybody to take a step back from school work, and get excited about the break!

Not only do the students participate in decorating the school for the holidays, but the teachers join in as well. Teachers are encouraged by their 7th-hour classes to spice up their entrances into the classroom. Here at the high school, student council is in charge of this Door Decorating Contest. On Thursday, before we leave for break, the doors are considered one by one, and the judges decide which teacher’s door is the winner.

COMING UP FOR VALPO ATHLETICS
The start of winter also brings forth the start of winter sports. Here at the high school, the winter sports include, Boys and Girls Basketball, Gymnastics, Boys and Girls Swimming, Wrestling, Hockey, and the Cheerleading and Vikette Teams.

As many athletes know, with winter break comes the bulk of our seasons. Many teams only get 2 days off this break, Christmas and New Years. The other days are spent training hard at the high school.

Specifically, the boys and girls swim team can tell you what it’s like to spend countless hours both in and out of the pool, training over winter break each year. We work every day, giving 110% at every practice, in hopes of a strong outcome at the Sectional Championship meet.

Valparaiso High School holds great pride in their athletics and this winter season has hopes to be highly successful. Check out the Valparaiso High School athletics calendar on their website for more information on upcoming sports events this winter season! (http://www.valpo.k12.in.us/Domain/129)

TEACHER SHOUT OUT
This month, I have chosen to highlight Mr. Polizotto, a favorite of many students. At the high school, he is involved with students every day in his Biology and Chemistry classes. Each year, around the holiday times, Mr. Polizotto decorates his classroom. Many teachers around the high school do this; however, he goes over the top with his decorations. He teaches students how to make intricate snowflakes, strings lights around his classroom, and has a blowup display in front of his door.

When asked what he enjoys most about teaching, he said, “I enjoy helping kids and seeing them learn and grow with both classroom content and everyday life challenges.” He also mentioned how, “every single day, every single class period, brings new situations and rewards.”

He is involved with a new club at the high school, Juggling Club. Every Friday after school, students meet in his classroom and learn how to juggle, a highly necessary skill to have in your book of talents.

When asked what he enjoys about teaching at Valparaiso High School, he said, “What I like most is the wonderful support that I get at all levels including building and school administrators, fellow teachers, maintenance staff, technology staff, parents, students, and more.

Mr. Polizotto, although I haven’t had him as a teacher, seems like a relatable person. I have had some of my friends tell me multiple times about how they went to him about an issue they had, whether it be school related or not, and he was able to help them. Having someone like that around you at the high school level is a gift.

Thanks for all that you do Mr. Polizotto, and thanks for making the holidays a little brighter at the high school!

STUDENT SHOUT OUT
Being able to successfully be both an educated student and a strong athlete is not a simple thing to do. Someone who is an excellent example of this is Marisa Johnson, and she does while being on the Varsity Girls Swim Team as well as maintaining a 4.4 GPA.

A junior here at the high school, not only is she involved in swimming, but she also takes part in many other activities such as Key Club, UNICEF, Spanish Club, Team LEAD and the Student Athletic Advisory Council.

When asked what she enjoys most about swimming, she said, “I like making goals and working hard to achieve them. It makes me feel strong and accomplished, and it teaches me how to put in the effort to achieve what I want. The swim team is a supportive environment that fosters this dedication and encourages me to give my all in everything I do.”

She is someone who is easy to talk to, and can also lend a helping hand if you’re ever struggling with something in school. She is the kind of person who is strong in her opinions and knows how to help those around her.

As previously mentioned, Marisa is on the swim team. Swimming on Varsity, her personal events are the 50 freestyle and the 100 Fly. She has been a swimmer for the past 7 years and has successfully been able to earn a personal best time of 24.41 in the 50 Free, and 1:00.95 in the 100 Fly. She is truly a leader and it has been a great past 3 years swimming with her on the team!

All in all, Marisa Johnson is not only a great student-athlete, but she is also a compassionate friend.