Teacher Spotlight
Mr. El-Naggar is one of those teachers, you know the one. The kind of teacher that students have one semester and all tell their friends about how fun and awesome his classes are. It’s an almost impossible feat to appeal to all of these different subsections of students, and yet no complaints have been heard about Mr. E’s teaching.
“My career actually began as an Architect. I have been an Architect for over 35 years, owned 2 Architecture and Planning firms, and continue a limited design practice today with my wife focused on Healing Environments and Healthy Living," explained El-Naggar. "I began teaching in the 90’s as a planning consultant to communities in Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. At the same time, I also taught several courses on leadership, research, and technology at a small church college in Indiana. In 2012, I was asked to assume a temporary teaching position at Valparaiso High School in the Engineering Technology Department. Soon after, I agreed to take a permanent teaching position and became the Engineering Technology Department Chair.”
It’s unbelievable to many, at least until students experience one of his classes. Whether it be Intro to Engineering, Communication Systems, or interacting with him after school in Robotics Club, students immediately begin to understand why everyone talks so highly of him. El-Naggar has an infectious, undying personality that is at times stern and goal-oriented; others goofy and sarcastic. The one thing that he does successfully, which proves difficult in many circumstances, is being relatable to students.
“I have been asked on several occasions to consider pursuing an administrative position at the school. I have chosen not to follow that path simply because I truly enjoy being an active part of what takes place in the classroom setting,” said El-Naggar.
Students are drawn to Mr. E for that very reason, as they see someone who understands and is willing to work with them to make the class fun and involving. As students, there's an existent appreciation and respect for every single teacher in the school. It’s just those few that really go beyond what's required that make school extremely special for students, and Mr. El-Naggar is one of those few.
Student Spotlight
The crop of incredibly special students at VHS is never ending. The burden of choosing only one each month to spotlight is immeasurable because there are truly so many wonderful and dedicated people in the school. “I'm involved with just football at VHS, although I did play baseball sophomore year,” said Joey Morris. With the football season recently ended, it only seemed appropriate to highlight one of the players who subverts any stereotypes you may have about how football players act. That enigma is Morris, a senior who has served as a great friend to many at VHS.
Morris is one of those people whose demeanor may come across flat, but when his excitement shows, it is uncontrollably infectious. Talking to joey for even a moment can change your entire day for the better. Not only that, but Morris manages to do this without even batting an eyelash.
“I think that the most profound effect that VHS has had on me was how much opportunity there is here. Even though I'm not very involved with any extra curricular activities beyond football, there's still so many sports or clubs that anybody could join,” said Morris.
Across all of the different people that attend VHS, there is always a common thread between them all: VHS has a profound effect on every person that comes through it’s halls. This effect is due in part to the quality of people that can be met everyday when attending the school. Morris is for sure one of those people, and his future is looking as bright as each and every other person sitting in those seats.
“From this moment, I see myself finishing senior year strong and graduating. I plan on attending college somewhere in Indiana and, one day, I'd like to follow in the footsteps of my mom and own my own business,” explained Morris.
What’s Going On?
There is never a shortage of things going on at Valparaiso High School. From the various performance groups, athletic teams, and competitive clubs house at Valpo, there is always something to serve as a spectacle for the students. The latest in this line of spectacle is the Drama club’s winter production of the 1960 musical 'Bye Bye Birdie,' chronicling the story of a famous musician who is drafted into the war, much to the dismay of his fervent fanbase. The show will be taking place at the Memorial Opera House in downtown Valparaiso from January 12th through the 14th.
Students involved with the project are abuzz with excitement and hope for a great turnout come January.
“I never thought I'd enjoy being in a musical, but I am so glad I decided to try it out because I am having the time of my life,” senior Beth Kupsis said when asked about what drew her to joining this production. “The show will involve high school students as well as community members to help draw in some more audience members who may not know a high school student, which will draw more community members to future Drama Club events.”
Anything that can involve both young, creative high schoolers and the community at large is worth the time and effort. The most wonderful thing about this production is that uncontrollable excitement from those involved. Even in the beginning, it seemed as if every student who made the cut had won the lottery. Since then, the members of the drama club have banded together and worked hard to make sure that, come January, the show will be one to remember.
What’s Happened?
This past school year at VHS has been a very interesting and strange journey thus far. Amid all of the new students, faculty, and day to day procedures, students have been getting used to the switching out of old classrooms with refurbished ones, new sections of the school opening up, and changes in the long stay faculty.
The most recent major change in the day to day proceedings has been the moving of the main office into a new section of the school, built to the immediate right of the former front entrance. With this change in location, new classrooms have been added on, and multiple classes have been displaced to placeholder rooms as their current classrooms get new coats of paint and a little R&R.
"All of these changes are exciting and it kind of bums me out that I won't see how it all comes together,” Senior Riley Dickson said when asked about the recent changes.
The constant shifting of classrooms has been tolerated with the belief that the inconvenience will eventually lead to better, more pleasant classrooms. One thing that students have taken away from all of the things that have taken place thus far, however, is that there is never a dull moment at VHS.